College basketball power rankings: Making the case for Houston

5. Week 16 College Basketball Power Rankings – Virginia Cavaliers

• Previously: 7th
• Record: 21-4 (13-3 In ACC)
• Last Week: Won 61-58 At Louisville, Won 57-55 Vs. Notre Dame
• This Week: At Boston College 2/22, At North Carolina 2/25

It wasn’t necessarily beautiful to watch but the Cavaliers’ Pack Line defense helped them grind out two necessary wins to remain atop the ACC. Virginia’s trip to North Carolina on Saturday will be a good test for them as the Tar Heels desperately need to win that game in order to end up on the right side of the cut line on Selection Sunday.

4. Week 16 College Basketball Power Rankings – Alabama Crimson Tide

• Previously: 2nd
• Record: 23-4 (13-1 In SEC)
• Last Week: Lost 68-59 At No. 10 Tennessee, Won 108-59 Vs. Georgia
• This Week: At South Carolina 2/22, Vs. Arkansas 2/25

Losing at Tennessee is an understandable defeat but one that will end the Crimson Tide’s run atop the polls after just seven days. The good news is that Saturday’s beatdown of Georgia allowed Alabama to demonstrate the form that made them the No. 1 overall seed in the Top 16 seed reveal.

3. Week 16 College Basketball Power Rankings – Kansas Jayhawks

• Previously: 4th
• Record: 22-5 (10-4 In Big 12)
• Last Week: Won 87-76 At Oklahoma State, Won 87-71 Vs. No. 9 Baylor
• This Week: At No. 22 TCU 2/20, Vs. West Virginia 2/25

There are still concerns about how the Jayhawks match up against teams with size but Saturday’s dramatic comeback against Baylor showcased the guts necessary for Kansas to be the first repeat national champion in 15 years. Life in the Big 12 is always a grind, however, as the Jayhawks have to get back on the horse quickly against TCU on Monday as the Horned Frogs bid for a season sweep.

2. Week 16 College Basketball Power Rankings – UCLA Bruins

• Previously: 3rd
• Record: 23-4 (14-2 In Pac-12)
• Last Week: Won 73-64 Vs. Stanford, Won 78-43 Vs. Cal
• This Week: At Utah 2/23, At Colorado 2/26

The Bruins have done a great job taking care of business but their resume is surprisingly light on marquee wins as victories over Kentucky and Maryland in the non-conference season haven’t aged well. A road trip to Utah and Colorado this week is trickier than it looks so the Bruins would be well advised to sweep it if they want to maintain the profile of a Top-2 seed in March.

1. Week 16 College Basketball Power Rankings – Houston Cougars

• Previously: 1st
• Record: 25-2 (13-1 In American)
• Last Week: Won 80-65 At SMU, Won 72-64 Vs. Memphis
• This Week: Vs. Tulane 2/22, At East Carolina 2/25

It’s incredible to think how flawless Houston’s resume would be if they hadn’t lost at home to Temple, which sticks out like a sore thumb compared to the results from the rest of the Cougars’ schedule. Sunday’s win over Memphis was an important one as it marked the first real test against an NCAA Tournament team in conference play and Houston passed.