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College basketball power rankings: Who made a big move ahead of Champ Week?

By Mike Phillips

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - FEBRUARY 19: Kennedy Chandler #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers drives down the court against JD Notae #1 of the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on February 19, 2022 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Tigers 58-48. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - FEBRUARY 19: Kennedy Chandler #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers drives down the court against JD Notae #1 of the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on February 19, 2022 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Tigers 58-48. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – MARCH 01: Kellan Grady #31 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball against the Ole Miss Rebels at Rupp Arena on March 01, 2022, in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – MARCH 01: Kellan Grady #31 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball against the Ole Miss Rebels at Rupp Arena on March 01, 2022, in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

5. Week 18 College Basketball Rankings: Kentucky Wildcats (7)

  • Record: 25-6 (14-4 in SEC)
  • Last Week: Won 83-72 vs. Ole Miss, Won 71-63 at Florida
  • Next Game: SEC Tournament Quarterfinals 3/11

It was good to see Kentucky bounce back from its loss at Arkansas by sweeping their final two games of the season. The SEC Tournament will be a tough lift for the Wildcats, who fell to the No. 3 seed by losing a tiebreaker to the Volunteers and may have to get past Alabama before earning another shot at Tennessee in the semifinal round.

4. Week 18 College Basketball Rankings: Auburn Tigers (6)

  • Record: 27-4 (15-3 in SEC)
  • Last Week: Won 81-68 at Mississippi State, Won 82-71 vs. South Carolina
  • Next Game: SEC Tournament Quarterfinals 3/11

This was an encouraging week for the Tigers, who picked up a convincing road win against a good Mississippi State outfit before taking care of South Carolina on Senior Day. Auburn has a much easier path through the SEC Tournament in their half of the bracket as they should be favored to reach the final by beating either Arkansas or LSU in the semifinals.

3. Week 18 College Basketball Rankings: Baylor Bears (3)

  • Record: 26-5 (14-4 in Big 12)
  • Last Week: Won 68-61 at No. 21 Texas, Won 75-68 vs. Iowa State
  • Next Game: Big 12 Tournament Quarterfinals vs. Oklahoma 3/10

The Bears built off of last week’s gains by picking up a gutty road win at Texas before polishing off Iowa State to earn a share of the Big 12’s regular-season title. First up for Baylor in the conference tournament will be a chance to end Oklahoma’s season by knocking the Sooners out in the quarterfinals, which would likely cost them a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

2. Week 18 College Basketball Rankings: Arizona Wildcats (2)

  • Record: 28-3 (18-2 in Pac-12)
  • Last Week: Won 91-71 at No. 16 USC, Won 81-69 vs. Stanford, Won 89-61 vs. California
  • Next Game: Pac-12 Tournament Quarterfinals 3/10

The Wildcats sealed off an unexpected Pac-12 regular-season crown by winning at USC on Tuesday and followed that up with a pair of dominant wins to cap a 28-3 regular season. Unless Oregon finds a way to win two games and get to the semifinals Arizona should cruise into the Pac-12 Tournament final on Saturday night.

1. Week 18 College Basketball Rankings: Gonzaga Bulldogs (1)

  • Record: 24-3 (13-1 in WCC)
  • Last Week: Idle (Triple Bye in WCC Tournament)
  • Next Game: WCC Tournament Semifinals vs. San Francisco 3/7

Gonzaga has had to stew in its loss to Saint Mary’s for eight days, which isn’t good news for San Francisco when they face off in the WCC Tournament semifinals on Monday night. A win there would likely set the Bulldogs up for a rematch with the Gaels on Tuesday with the WCC’s automatic bid on the line.

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