1. Kentucky (23-0, 10-0 SEC). Last week: 1
It was another week without a blemish for Kentucky. The Wildcats held off Georgia and Florida last week to remain unbeaten. According to Kenpom, they are now more likely to finish the regular season without a loss than with a loss.
2. Virginia (21-1, 9-1 ACC). Last week: 2
Virginia recorded two more impressive wins, defeating North Carolina and Louisville last week. The Cavaliers have a relatively easy stretch coming up, but they will be without star guard Justin Anderson for possibly the rest of the regular season. Anderson broke a bone in his hand and will be out for 3-4 weeks, according to several reports Saturday.
3. Duke (20-3, 7-3 ACC). Last week: 3
Duke built off its win at Virginia with home victories over Georgia Tech and Notre Dame. The Blue Devils’ offense tore up the Fighting Irish for 1.45 points per possession.
4. Wisconsin (21-2, 9-1 Big Ten). Last week: 4
Wisconsin has won six straight games since the shocking loss at Rutgers. The Badgers will be big favorites in games this week against Nebraska and Illinois.
5. Gonzaga (24-1, 12-0 WCC). Last week: 5
Gonzaga warded off a pair of upset bids during its Bay Area road trip, defeating Santa Clara and San Francisco. The Bulldogs return home this week to face Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine.
6. Villanova (21-2, 8-2 Big East). Last week: 8
Villanova got revenge on Georgetown with a 69-53 win. The Wildcats have two big road games coming up against Providence and Butler.
7. Louisville (19-4, 7-3 ACC). Last week: 10
Louisville’s five-game winning streak ended Saturday with a 52-47 loss at Virginia. The Cardinals host a surging Pittsburgh team Wednesday.
8. Kansas (19-4, 8-2 Big 12). Last week: 7
Kansas’ lead in the Big 12 title race closed to one game Saturday as the Jayhawks were upset by Oklahoma State.
9. Iowa State (17-5, 7-3 Big 12). Last week: 12
Iowa State has won three of its last four games entering a crucial week with games against Oklahoma and West Virginia. The Cyclones are one game behind Kansas in the Big 12 standings and split the season series with the Jayhawks.
10. Arizona (20-3, 8-2 Pac-12). Last week: 6
Arizona’s six-game winning streak ended Saturday with an 81-78 loss at Arizona State. The Wildcats remain on the road this week to face Washington and Washington State.
11. Utah (18-4, 8-2 Pac-12). Last week: 13
Utah dominated Colorado on the road Saturday for its second win in a row. The Utes return home for the first time this month to host Stanford on Thursday.
12. North Carolina (18-6, 8-3 ACC). Last week: 11
North Carolina ended a two-game slide with a 79-68 win at Boston College. The Tar Heels’ only game this week will be at Pittsburgh.
13. Baylor (18-5, 6-4 Big 12). Last week: 23
Baylor has won five of its last six games, with two of them coming against ranked teams. The Bears finally got a big road win last weekend, blowing out West Virginia.
14. Notre Dame (21-4, 9-3 ACC). Last week: 9
Notre Dame has slumped ever since its momentous win against Duke. The Fighting Irish nearly blew a big lead against Boston College and then were blown out in their rematch with the Blue Devils.
15. Northern Iowa (22-2, 11-1 MVC). Last week: 15
Northern Iowa’s winning streak reached 11 games with victories against Indiana State and Drake last week. Kenpom gives the Panthers at least an 82 percent chance of winning in each of its next five games.
16. Wichita State (21-3, 12-1 MVC). Last week: 16
Wichita State barely beat Bradley but then looked more like its old self with a 78-35 domination of Missouri State. The Shockers have a pair of tough matchups this week in Indiana State and Illinois State.
17. Butler (18-6, 8-3 Big East). Last week: 19
Butler is on a tear with five straight wins and seven victories in its last eight games. The Bulldogs can take control of first place in the Big East when they play Villanova on Saturday.
18. Oklahoma (16-7, 7-4 Big 12). Last week: 22
Oklahoma had a strong week with double-digit wins against West Virginia and TCU. The Sooners will try for their biggest win of the season when they host Iowa State on Monday.
19. VCU (18-5, 8-2 A10). Last week: 17
Without stars Briante Weber (done for the season) and Treveon Graham (day-to-day), VCU lost on a buzzer-beater to Saint Bonaventure. The Rams are now 1-2 in their last three games, and they have a big game coming up Saturday at George Washington.
20. West Virginia (18-5, 6-4 Big 12). Last week: 14
West Virginia did not look good at all last week. The Mountaineers lost to Oklahoma by 19 points, and then to Baylor by 18.
21. Oklahoma State (16-7, 6-5 Big 12). Last week: Unranked
Oklahoma State is on track to make its third straight NCAA Tournament after edging Kansas and Texas last week. The Cowboys erased an 11-point halftime deficit Saturday to upset the Jayhawks.
22. Ohio State (18-6, 7-4 Big Ten). Last week: 20
Ohio State bounced back from a loss at Purdue with an easy victory at Rutgers, thanks to a D’Angelo Russell triple-double. The Buckeyes get another of the Big Ten’s bottom feeders when they host Penn State on Wednesday.
23. Arkansas (18-5, 7-3 SEC). Last week: Unranked
Arkansas has won five of its last six games, with the only loss coming by one point at Florida. The Razorbacks are in a three-way tie for second place in the SEC.
24. SMU (19-5, 10-2 American). Last week: Unranked
SMU lost at home to Cincinnati but then won at Tulsa to pull within a half-game of first place in the American.
25. Maryland (19-5, 7-4 Big Ten). Last week: 18
Maryland’s slump continued Sunday with a 71-55 loss at Iowa. The Terrapins have lost their last three road games by an average of 19.7 points. Overall, they have lost three of their last five with the only wins coming in close games against Northwestern and Penn State.
