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College Basketball Power Rankings: UCLA surges back into the Top 10

By Mike Phillips

F Jaylen Clark, UCLA Bruins. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
F Jaylen Clark, UCLA Bruins. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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Tyger Campbell, UCLA Bruins
G Tyger Campbell, UCLA Bruins. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

10. Week 7 College Basketball Power Rankings – Gonzaga Bulldogs (LW: HM)

  • Record: 9-3
  • Last Week: Won 88-67 vs. Northern Illinois, Won 100-90 vs. No. 4 Alabama
  • This Week: Vs. Montana 12/20

The Bulldogs were in the honorable mentions last week before climbing back into the Top 10 after an impressive win over Alabama in Birmingham. The victory completes an impressive 9-3 start to non-conference play that saw Gonzaga deal with quality tests against Michigan State, Texas, Kentucky, Purdue, Xavier, Baylor and Alabama.

9. Week 7 College Basketball Power Rankings – Texas Longhorns (LW: 8)

  • Record: 9-1
  • Last Week: Won 87-81 (OT) vs. Rice, Won 72-62 vs. Stanford
  • This Week: Vs. Louisiana 12/21

The Longhorns drop a spot thanks to two sluggish performances that may be a result of the distractions from the Chris Beard situation. Wednesday’s tilt with Louisiana should be a victory but there is a cloud over Texas now until Beard’s status is resolved.

8. Week 7 College Basketball Power Rankings – UCLA Bruins (LW: HM)

  • Record: 10-2 (2-0 in Pac-12)
  • Last Week: Won 87-60 at No. 20 Maryland, Won 63-53 vs. No. 13 Kentucky
  • This Week: Vs. UC Davis 12/21

The Bruins made a statement with a 27-point road win over future conference foe Maryland and followed it up by outlasting Kentucky in New York at the CBS Sports Classic. Those two results offer a glimpse of UCLA’s true potential and provide a resume boost for a team whose only two losses came on a November weekend against Illinois and Baylor in Las Vegas.

7. Week 7 College Basketball Power Rankings – Arizona Wildcats (LW: 10)

  • Record: 10-1 (1-1 in Pac-12)
  • Last Week: Won 99-61 vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Won 75-70 vs. No. 6 Tennessee
  • This Week: Vs. Montana State 12/20, Vs. Morgan State 12/22

Saturday night’s showdown in Tucson felt like a Sweet 16 preview and the Wildcats got revenge for last season’s loss at Tennessee with a five-point victory over the Volunteers. Arizona looks well prepared to joust with UCLA for Pac-12 supremacy all season long.

6. Week 7 College Basketball Power Rankings – Alabama Crimson Tide (LW: 3)

  • Record: 9-2
  • Last Week: Won 91-88 vs. Memphis, Lost 100-90 vs. No. 15 Gonzaga
  • This Week: Vs. Jackson State 12/20

When you schedule as aggressively in the non-conference as Nate Oats does you will take some losses so there is no shame in losing by 10 to a Gonzaga team that has Final Four potential. These kinds of games, along with Alabama’s victory over Memphis earlier in the week, are very helpful in getting the Crimson Tide prepared for the rigorous nature of the NCAA Tournament.