NCAA basketball power rankings: Buckeyes ascend to #1

Another top-ranked team suffered a loss to an unranked opponent. Following in the footsteps of Kentucky and Duke, the Louisville Cardinals are the third top-ranked squad to fall to a team without a number next to its name—although they are the only one in this group to lose to a Power Five team. Texas Tech isn’t bad, either, and has been in these power rankings already a couple of times this year. However, we now have our fifth team atop the rankings so far this season, so let’s jump in and see who has survived so far.

1. Ohio State (9-0)

The Buckeyes have had a terrific start to the season and have steadily moved up the rankings. They are one of only five unbeaten teams remaining in Division 1 basketball and have a pair of 25-point wins over teams ranked in the top 10 of the polls as of their meeting (Villanova and North Carolina). They already have a win in conference play and a pair of relatively easy games before they face off against Kentucky in Las Vegas in a week and a half.

This week: Minnesota

2. Kansas (8-1)

Since Kansas lost to Duke in the Champions Classic on opening night, the Jayhawks have improved nearly every game. That improvement was evident with Ochai Agbaji, who has scored 42 points and grabbed 20 rebounds over their last two games.

If he can be a solid third option for the Jayhawks, partnering with Devon Dotson and Udoka Azubuike, they can become a legit title contender. A trip to Villanova on December 21 will be a test of what can be expected from this team moving forward.

This week: Missouri-Kansas City

3. Duke (9-1)

After a stunning defeat to Stephen F. Austin, the Blue Devils have rebounded quite nicely. They have consecutive double-digit road wins over Michigan State and Virginia Tech, and now have an entire week without a game, during which they can get Cassius Stanley back to fitness. It’s likely Duke will face seven consecutive unranked opponents before Louisville visits Raleigh on January 18, so expect this ranking to hold or improve over the next month.

This week: none

4. Louisville (9-1)

The loss to Texas Tech wasn’t a huge shock, but the Cardinals lost to a squad that was missing its top scorer. But their first nine wins, including a win over a red-hot Michigan squad, should not be written off just because of a single loss. Few teams will overcome 19 turnovers, and none will do so when their star goes 4-of-16 from the floor. It will be rare to see Jordan Nwora play this poorly, and I expect a much tighter performance over Louisville's next two outings, before the Cardinals travel down Interstate 64 to face Kentucky in a couple weeks.

This week: Eastern Kentucky

5. Baylor (8-1)

The Bears mad a quick climb up the rankings, as they defeated their third ranked opponent in four games with a 53-52 win over No. 18 Butler on Tuesday night. With wins over Villanova and Arizona also on their résumé, and their only loss coming to Washington by three points, the Bears are showing they are a legit threat to Kansas in the Big 12.

Jared Butler and MaCio Teague are a terrific backcourt partnership that averages more than 32 points per game. Butler is shooting better than 44% from the floor and from three-point range, and 90% from the free-throw line. Baylor has a pair of cupcakes before it starts conference play, and if the Bears can avoid the upset bug, they may be in contention for the top spot in these rankings before long.

This week: none

6. Kentucky (7-1)

The Wildcats have improved since their shocking loss to Evansville, and it’s their two big men who are raising their stock. Nick Richards and EJ Montgomery were both big question marks coming into the season, and over the past few weeks they have provided some answers. The two combined for 37 points, 19 rebounds and three blocks in a blowout win over Fairleigh Dickenson, and while it’s a fair point out their competition was overmatched, they are making plays they failed to make against similar opposition last year.

Georgia Tech comes to town this weekend, before the Wildcats begin a tough three-game stretch that will tell us much more about them.

This week: Georgia Tech

7. Oregon (6-2)

The Ducks lost consecutive games in late November, but they were on consecutive days, to Gonzaga and North Carolina, and by a combined five points. With one of the toughest KenPom schedules in the nation, their early season performance warrants this ranking.

Payton Pritchard averages nearly 19 points and six assists per game and had a 20 and 11 outing against Hawaii. With N’Faly Dante set to join the team later this month, the Ducks are only going to get stronger.

This week: Michigan

8. Michigan (8-2)

Michigan rebounded from a rough shooting performance against Louisville and hit 10 three-pointers in a win over Iowa to start Big Ten play. The most impressive stat of the game, however, was the Wolverines' 21 assists to just nine turnovers, with five different players registering at least a trio of dimes. The loss to a 7-3 Illinois team was another instance of poor three-point shooting (3-of-18).

This week: Oregon

9. Gonzaga (10-1)

The Bulldogs rebounded nicely from their only loss, an 18 point defeat to Michigan. They devoured a cupcake (Texas Southern) and then defeated a ranked Washington squad, 83-76, over the weekend. With two ranked wins and a bunch of beatdowns of lesser opponents, the Bulldogs have set themselves up to vault up the rankings if they can get wins over their next two opponents. That won’t be easy, as they will visit Arizona on Saturday and host North Carolina on Wednesday.

With five players averaging double figures in scoring, and two more sitting at more than nine points per contest, the Bulldogs feature the kind of depth that can challenge any team.

This week: Arizona

10. Maryland (10-1)

The Terps suffered their first loss of the season this week, when they fell on the road to Penn State, 76-69, but they have been one of the better teams in the nation this season. Their dynamic duo of Jalen Smith and Anthony Cowan Jr. combined for 28 points on 8-of-22 shooting, and the team shot just 33% against Penn State.

Maryland has more than a week off before it will face Seton Hall on December 19, which will be the Terrapins' first shot at a win over a ranked team this season. The big matchup with Ohio State in about a month looms large.

This week: none

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