College basketball power rankings: Should we be worried about Purdue?

5. Week 17 College Basketball Power Rankings – Marquette Golden Eagles

• Previously: 10th
• Record: 23-6 (15-3 In Big East)
• Last Week: Won 73-71 At No. 19 Creighton, Won 90-84 Vs. DePaul
• This Week: At Butler 2/28, Vs. St. John’s 3/4

Finding a way to beat red-hot Creighton in Omaha was extremely impressive as the Golden Eagles went 2-0 on the week to secure at least a share of the Big East’s regular season title. A victory against either Butler or St. John’s will be enough for Marquette to claim the crown outright.

4. Week 17 College Basketball Power Rankings – Alabama Crimson Tide

• Previously: 4th
• Record: 25-4 (15-1 In SEC)
• Last Week: Won 78-76 (OT) at South Carolina, Won 86-83 Vs. Arkansas
• This Week: Vs. Auburn 3/1, At No. 25 Texas A&M

While Alabama’s on-court results were good, it would be remiss not to mention the huge distraction the Brandon Miller situation has become. The revelation that Miller brought the gun that former teammate Darius Miles used in a homicide, the cavalier response from Nate Oats to the media about it, and Miller’s ill-timed “patdown” celebration have cast a dark cloud over one of the most successful seasons in program history.

3. Week 17 College Basketball Power Rankings – UCLA Bruins

• Previously: 2nd
• Record: 25-4 (16-2 In Pac-12)
• Last Week: Won 78-71 At Utah, Won 60-56 At Colorado
• This Week: Vs. Arizona State 3/2, Vs. Arizona 3/4

A shaky performance against Colorado on Sunday was enough to drop the Bruins by one this week in the rankings, but they did at least earn the win, unlike a lot of other Top 25 teams. UCLA still lacks a signature victory on its NCAA Tournament resume, a void they can fill by avenging an earlier loss to Arizona in the regular-season finale on Saturday.

2. Week 17 College Basketball Power Rankings – Kansas Jayhawks

• Previously: 3rd
• Record: 24-5 (12-4 In Big 12)
• Last Week: Won 63-58 At No. 24 TCU, Won 76-74 Vs. West Virginia
• This Week: Vs. Texas Tech 2/28, At No. 8 Texas 3/4

No team in the Big 12 has been hotter than Kansas, which has ripped off eight wins in its last nine games to climb on top of the league’s most brutal conference. Winning the regular season finale at Texas on Saturday would be enough for the Jayhawks to secure the Big 12 regular-season title and the top seed in the nation’s most fascinating conference tournament.

1. Week 17 College Basketball Power Rankings – Houston Cougars

• Previously: 1st
• Record: 27-2 (15-1 In American)
• Last Week: Won 89-59 Vs. Tulane, Won 76-57 At East Carolina
• This Week: Vs. Wichita State 3/2, At Memphis 3/5

The Cougars breathed a huge sigh of relief on Saturday as star Marcus Sasser appeared to avoid a serious ankle injury in their win over East Carolina on Saturday. With the AAC regular-season title wrapped up, it will be curious to see how Houston balances its last two games in terms of trying to maintain a vice grip on a No. 1 seed and getting rest for key players.