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College basketball power rankings: Lone Star State supremacy

By Mike Phillips

G Brock Cunningham, Texas Longhorns (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
G Brock Cunningham, Texas Longhorns (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /
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Jarace Walker, Houston Cougars
F Jarace Walker, Houston Cougars (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

5. Week 5 College Basketball Power Rankings – Kansas Jayhawks (LW: 6)

  • Record: 8-1
  • Last Week: Won 87-55 vs. Texas Southern, Won 91-65 vs. Seton Hall
  • This Week: At Missouri 12/10

Any time you can blow out a power conference foe at home it’s a great sign and Kansas has to feel very good about itself after dominating Seton Hall at Allen Fieldhouse. Saturday’s trip to Missouri is a mismatch in terms of talent but a welcome return from a tremendous college hoops rivalry that was lost for several years due to hard feelings over realignment.

4. Week 5 College Basketball Power Rankings – Purdue Boilermakers (LW: 8)

  • Record: 8-0 (1-0 in Big Ten)
  • Last Week: Won 79-69 at Florida State, Won 89-70 vs. Minnesota
  • This Week: Vs. Hofstra 12/7, At Nebraska 12/10

It looked for a bit like the Boilermakers would fall into a trap at struggling Florida State but it was impressive to see Purdue rally for a win. Matt Painter’s team gets its first conference road test at Nebraska on Saturday and they have to be careful not to overlook a Cornhuskers team that just beat Creighton by 10 in Omaha.

3. Week 5 College Basketball Power Rankings – Virginia Cavaliers (LW: 3)

  • Record: 7-0 (1-0 in ACC)
  • Last Week: Won 70-68 at Michigan, Won 62-57 vs. Florida State
  • This Week: Vs. James Madison 12/6

The weight of expectations fell on Virginia last week and they weathered the storm from opposing teams by grinding out two good wins, including a road victory against Michigan in the final edition of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Cavaliers have a soft landing this week as their only action is a home game against James Madison.

2. Week 5 College Basketball Power Rankings – Texas Longhorns (LW: 2)

  • Record: 6-0
  • Last Week: Won 72-67 vs. No. 7 Creighton
  • This Week: Vs. No. 16 Illinois 12/6, Vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff 12/10

Texas’ showdown with Creighton was a highlight of the week and the Longhorns demonstrated significant mental toughness by withstanding a late Bluejays rally to improve to 6-0. Tuesday’s neutral-site showdown with Illinois at the Jimmy V Classic is Texas’ first game outside of the Longhorn State, making it an important gauge of how good this team can be.

1. Week 5 College Basketball Power Rankings – Houston Cougars (LW: 1)

  • Record: 8-0
  • Last Week: Won 100-52 vs. Norfolk State, Won 53-48 vs. Saint Mary’s
  • This Week: Vs. North Florida 12/6, Vs. No. 11 Alabama 12/10

The Cougars found themselves atop the polls for the first time in 39 years and should maintain their position after a 2-0 week highlighted by a neutral-site win over Saint Mary’s. The target on Houston’s back will be enormous ahead of Saturday’s home date with Alabama in a rematch of a classic matchup last season that the Crimson Tide won by 1 in Tuscaloosa.

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