College basketball power rankings: Why doesn’t Alabama get more respect?

5. Week 15 College Basketball Power Rankings – Texas Longhorns

• Previously: 8th
• Record: 20-5 (9-3 In Big 12)
• Last Week: Lost 88-80 At No. 9 Kansas, Won 94-60 Vs. West Virginia
• This Week: At Texas Tech 2/13, Vs. Oklahoma 2/18

The Longhorns acquitted themselves really well in Monday’s loss at Kansas and followed it up by pummeling West Virginia by 34 to remain in first place in the highly-competitive Big 12. No game in this league is easy, however, so Monday’s trip to Texas Tech is dangerous since the Red Raiders just tripped up Kansas State in Lubbock over the weekend.

4. Week 15 College Basketball Power Rankings – Kansas Jayhawks

• Previously: 9th
• Record: 20-5 (8-4 In Big 12)
• Last Week: Won 88-80 Vs. No. 5 Texas, Won 78-55 At Oklahoma
• This Week: At Oklahoma State 2/14, Vs. No. 14 Baylor 2/18

Monday’s huge win over No. 5 Texas allowed the Jayhawks to remain one game behind them in the Big 12 and keep open their path to the regular season title. This week is particularly difficult, however, as a dangerous road trip to Oklahoma State precedes Saturday’s showdown with Baylor, who has already beaten Kansas once this season, at Allen Fieldhouse.

3. Week 15 College Basketball Power Rankings – UCLA Bruins

• Previously: 7th
• Record: 21-4 (12-2 In Pac-12)
• Last Week: Won 62-47 At Oregon State, Won 70-63 At Oregon
• This Week: Vs. Stanford 2/16, Vs. Cal 2/18

Sweeping the Oregon trip, which the Bruins did for the first time in 12 years on Saturday, is a tremendous sign for a talented team that hasn’t gotten enough respect nationally as a title contender. UCLA is two games up on Arizona in the loss column and will look to maintain its margin this week with home dates against Cal and Stanford.

2. Week 15 College Basketball Power Rankings – Alabama Crimson Tide

• Previously: 2nd
• Record: 22-3 (12-0 In SEC)
• Last Week: Won 97-69 Vs. Florida, Won 77-69 At Auburn
• This Week: At No. 6 Tennessee 2/15, Vs. Georgia 2/18

Another strong week has the Crimson Tide holding serve at No. 2 and in firm command of the SEC. Beating Tennessee on the road on Wednesday, in a game that is one of the two toughest contests left on Alabama’s schedule, would likely be enough to vaunt the Crimson Tide to the top of these rankings (if not the polls as well).

1. Week 15 College Basketball Power Rankings – Houston Cougars

• Previously: 1st
• Record: 23-2 (11-1 In American)
• Last Week: Won 80-42 Vs. Tulsa
• This Week: At SMU 2/16, Vs. Memphis 2/19

The Cougars remain on top of the rankings because they usually demolish every foe they come across, which was the case again last week when they nearly doubled up Tulsa in an 80-42 laugher. Sunday’s game against Memphis brings Houston a contest against a bubble team for the first time in months so it will be interesting to see how Kelvin Sampson’s team fares.