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College basketball power rankings: How good is Tennessee?

By Mike Phillips

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 28: Olivier Nkamhoua #13 of the Tennessee Volunteers completes an alley-oop against the Texas Longhorns in the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 28, 2023 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 28: Olivier Nkamhoua #13 of the Tennessee Volunteers completes an alley-oop against the Texas Longhorns in the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 28, 2023 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) /
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Courtney Ramey, Arizona Wildcats
G Courtney Ramey, Arizona Wildcats. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

10. Week 13 College Basketball Power Rankings – UCLA Bruins

  • Previously: 7th
  • Record: 17-4 (8-2 In Pac-12)
  • Last Week: Lost 77-64 At USC
  • This Week: Vs. Washington 2/2, Vs. Washington State 2/4

Getting blown out by USC marked the second straight loss for the Bruins, who are clinging to a half-game lead over Arizona in the Pac-12. The Wildcats already have a head-to-head win over UCLA so Mick Cronin’s team needs to take care of business against the Washington schools at home this week to maintain that lead.

9. Week 13 College Basketball Power Rankings – Kansas Jayhawks

  • Previously: 6th
  • Record: 17-4 (5-3 In Big 12)
  • Last Week: Lost 75-69 At No. 17 Baylor, Won 77-68 At Kentucky
  • This Week: Vs. No. 5 Kansas State 1/31, At No. 12 Iowa State 2/4

The Big 12 meat grinder continued to punish the Jayhawks’ lack of size as Kansas dropped a third-straight league game with a loss at Baylor. A win over Kentucky was a necessity to stop the bleeding but things won’t get any easier this week as K-State heads to Allen Fieldhouse to bid for a season sweep of the Jayhawks, who then have to head to Iowa State on Saturday for a rematch against a team they only beat by two at home.

8. Week 13 College Basketball Power Rankings – Arizona Wildcats

  • Previously: Honorable Mention
  • Record: 19-3 (8-3 In Pac-12)
  • Last Week: Won 63-58 At Washington State, Won 95-72 At Washington
  • This Week: Vs. Oregon 2/2, Vs. Oregon State 2/4

It certainly appears as if the Wildcats have gotten their groove back with four consecutive wins in league play to nip at UCLA’s heels for Pac-12 supremacy. The Oregon schools are headed to Tucson this week and Thursday’s game against the Ducks is a revenge opportunity after Oregon blew out Arizona at home earlier this month.

7. Week 13 College Basketball Power Rankings – Marquette Golden Eagles

  • Previously: Honorable Mention
  • Record: 17-5 (9-2 In Big East)
  • Last Week: Won 89-69 At DePaul
  • This Week: Vs. Villanova 2/1, Vs. Butler 2/4

The revolving door at the top of the Big East now has Marquette looking like the league’s best team after climbing into a first-place tie with Xavier over the weekend. The Musketeers hold the tiebreaker for now but the Golden Eagles need to take care of two winnable home games this week to try keeping pace with Xavier.

6. Week 13 College Basketball Power Rankings – Kansas State Wildcats

  • Previously: 3rd
  • Record: 18-3 (6-2 In Big 12)
  • Last Week: Lost 80-76 At No. 12 Iowa State, Won 64-50 Vs. Florida
  • This Week: At No. 9 Kansas 1/31, Vs. No. 10 Texas 2/4

There’s no shame in losing a tough road game in the Big 12, which Kansas State did this week, but they recovered nicely by taking care of business against a mediocre Florida team at home in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. The Wildcats have a tremendous opportunity to establish themselves as the league’s front runners if they can complete a season sweep of the in-state rival Jayhawks on Tuesday.