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College basketball power rankings: Auburn cause for concern, UCLA falling

By Mike Phillips

ATHENS, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 05: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers attacks the basket against Kario Oquendo #3 and Jabri Abdur-Rahim #1 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at Stegeman Coliseum on February 05, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 05: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers attacks the basket against Kario Oquendo #3 and Jabri Abdur-Rahim #1 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at Stegeman Coliseum on February 05, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – FEBRUARY 02: Oscar Tshiebwe #34 and Keion Brooks Jr #12 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrate against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Rupp Arena on February 02, 2022, in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – FEBRUARY 02: Oscar Tshiebwe #34 and Keion Brooks Jr #12 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrate against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Rupp Arena on February 02, 2022, in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

5. Week 14 College Basketball Rankings: Purdue Boilermakers (4)

  • Record: 20-3 (9-3 in Big Ten)
  • Last Week: Won 88-73 at Minnesota, Won 82-76 vs. Michigan
  • This Week: Vs. No. 18 Illinois 2/8, At Michigan 2/10, At Maryland 2/13

The Boilermakers won twice but dropped a spot since they didn’t really tackle impressive competition. That will change this week with three games on tap for Purdue, including a huge showdown on Tuesday against Illinois that could determine the Big Ten’s regular-season champion.

4. Week 14 College Basketball Rankings: Kentucky Wildcats (7)

  • Record: 19-4 (8-2 in SEC)
  • Last Week: Won 77-70 vs. Vanderbilt, Won 66-55 at Alabama
  • This Week: At South Carolina 2/8, Vs. Florida 2/12

The fact that Kentucky won twice after a huge win over Kansas is a great sign for the long-term viability of this team as a national title contender. It is just unfortunate that they don’t get another crack at Auburn before the SEC Tournament since that loss on the road to the Tigers could decide the conference’s regular-season title.

3. Week 14 College Basketball Rankings: Arizona Wildcats (5)

  • Record: 19-2 (9-1 in Pac-12)
  • Last Week: Won 76-66 vs. No. 3 UCLA, Won 72-63 vs. No. 19 USC
  • This Week: At Arizona State 2/7, At Washington State 2/10, At Washington 2/12

It was truly an excellent week for the Wildcats, who swept UCLA and USC at home to put themselves firmly in the driver’s seat in the Pac-12. A three-game road trip is on tap for this week with the trickiest game coming on Thursday against a Washington State outfit that has won six of its past seven games to creep into the bubble conversation.

2. Week 14 College Basketball Rankings: Auburn Tigers (1)

  • Record: 22-1 (10-0 in SEC)
  • Last Week: Won 100-81 vs. Alabama, Won 74-72 at Georgia
  • This Week: At Arkansas 2/8, Vs. Texas A&M 2/12

That Georgia performance is the reason that Auburn is no longer on top of the rankings since that stinker, combined with a tough trip at Missouri two weeks ago, portends a loss coming soon in a brutal SEC. This week sees the Tigers take on a pair of the league’s bubble teams with Tuesday’s trip to Arkansas being a game that has upset potential.

1. Week 14 College Basketball Rankings: Gonzaga Bulldogs (2)

  • Record: 19-2 (8-0 in WCC)
  • Last Week: Won 92-62 at San Diego, Won 90-57 at BYU
  • This Week: Vs. Pacific 2/10, Vs. Saint Mary’s 2/12

Time is a flat circle as Gonzaga is back to crushing all of its opponents, including an effortless 90-57 demolition at the WCC’s second-best team in BYU on Saturday. The next WCC bubble hopeful to take a shot at the Bulldogs arrives in Spokane this Saturday night in the form of Saint Mary’s.

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