College basketball power rankings: Who’s No. 1 after Houston, Kansas fall?

5. Week 12 College Basketball Power Rankings – Tennessee Volunteers

• Previously: 8th
• Record: 16-3 (6-1 In SEC)
• Last Week: Won 70-59 At Mississippi State, Won 77-56 At LSU
• This Week: Vs. Georgia 1/25, Vs. No. 7 Texas 1/28

The dominant version of Tennessee showed up this week as the Volunteers dismantled two SEC bubble contenders on the road to surge back into the Top 5. Rick Barnes will be highly motivated to beat his former employer on Saturday as Tennessee welcomes Texas for one of the more highly-anticipated games in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

4. Week 12 College Basketball Power Rankings – Houston Cougars

• Previously: 1st
• Record: 18-2 (6-1 In American)
• Last Week: Won 80-60 At Tulane, Lost 56-55 Vs. Temple
• This Week: At UCF 1/25, Vs. Cincinnati 1/28

Teams looking to secure top seeds in the NCAA Tournament can’t afford to lose to mediocre teams at home, which is what Houston did on Sunday when they got tripped up by a smothering Temple defense. Perhaps the Cougars were looking ahead to Wednesday’s showdown against UCF but Kelvin Sampson won’t be a happy camper at practice this week after a damaging loss to the Owls.

3. Week 12 College Basketball Power Rankings – Kansas State Wildcats

• Previously: Honorable Mention
• Record: 17-2 (6-1 In Big 12)
• Last Week: Won 83-82 (OT) Vs. No. 2 Kansas, Won 62-58 Vs. Texas Tech
• This Week: At No. 12 Iowa State 1/24, Vs. Florida 1/28

The Big 12 runs through Manhattan as Kansas State made a huge statement with its overtime win over Kansas before consolidating its gain with a home win over struggling Texas Tech. The Wildcats have a tough road game at Iowa State on Tuesday before a soft landing in the Big 12/SEC Challenge against struggling Florida.

2. Week 12 College Basketball Power Rankings – Purdue Boilermakers

• Previously: 5th
• Record: 19-1 (8-1 In Big Ten)
• Last Week: Won 64-63 At Michigan State, Won 61-39 At Minnesota, Won 58-55 Vs. Maryland
• This Week: At Michigan 1/26, Vs. Michigan State 1/29

The divide between Purdue and Alabama for the top spot is razor-thin but the Boilermakers fall just behind the Crimson Tide thanks to some struggles this week against the Spartans and Terrapins. Purdue gets another crack at the Spartans on Sunday after they head to Ann Arbor for a tough shot from Michigan, which has been one of the nation’s most Jekyll-and-Hyde teams this season.

1. Week 12 College Basketball Power Rankings – Alabama Crimson Tide

• Previously: 2nd
• Record: 17-2 (7-0 In SEC)
• Last Week: Won 78-66 At Vanderbilt, Won 85-64 At Missouri
• This Week: Vs. Mississippi State 1/25, At Oklahoma 1/28

Nate Oats’ team is on top thanks to its strong performance in the rugged SEC, going 7-0 against a tough part of their schedule with every win by double digits. Alabama has a tricky draw in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge against Oklahoma, a quality basketball team that is better than its 11-8 record and could use a win over the Crimson Tide to springboard a run toward the bubble.