{"id":327205,"date":"2025-12-04T13:16:20","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T13:16:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/327205\/"},"modified":"2025-12-04T13:16:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T13:16:20","slug":"mens-college-basketball-power-rankings-michigan-leaps-to-no-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/327205\/","title":{"rendered":"Men&#8217;s college basketball Power Rankings: Michigan leaps to No. 1"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/borzello_jeff.png&#038;h=80&#038;w=80&#038;scale=crop.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Jeff BorzelloDec 5, 2025, 12:00 AM<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"icon-font-after icon-close-solid-after\" href=\"#\">Close<\/a>Jeff Borzello is a basketball recruiting insider. He has joined ESPN in 2014.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s been a revolving door at No. 1 the past couple of weeks. <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"0abd1640-6f95-275f-418a-652659452398\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/2509\/purdue-boilermakers\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Purdue<\/a> opened the 2025-26 season in the top spot but got replaced by <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"c845c06f-f087-b63d-1bcc-8013bd715b59\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/12\/arizona-wildcats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona<\/a> after the Wildcats won at <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"c7561e25-c7f2-5ddd-4191-899a98236d54\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/41\/uconn-huskies\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">UConn<\/a> in mid-November &#8212; arguably the single most impressive victory of the season thus far. If not for a Power Rankings hiatus for Thanksgiving, the Boilermakers would have taken the No. 1 spot back just a couple days later when they blew out <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"290cd85f-b644-73a2-e448-ba75569d3222\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/2641\/texas-tech-red-raiders\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Texas Tech<\/a> in the Bahamas.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of a debate between the Wildcats and Boilermakers, though, a third team emerged during Feast Week &#8212; and ultimately jumped both teams to rise to No. 1.<\/p>\n<p><a data-clubhouse-guid=\"c00151c6-cdd4-5aab-0130-37416052eb2a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/130\/michigan-wolverines\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Michigan<\/a>&#8216;s performance at the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas was perhaps the best Feast Week run we&#8217;ve ever seen. Three wins over potential NCAA tournament teams &#8212; <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"e27db1a2-334d-8849-17d4-820ecb0c0336\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/21\/san-diego-state-aztecs\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">San Diego State<\/a>, <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"381c82ac-22fb-e25c-879f-496fd0ca8f10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/2\/auburn-tigers\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Auburn<\/a> and <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"00855c40-f42e-f052-1969-f0fa75d8f5fd\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/2250\/gonzaga-bulldogs\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Gonzaga<\/a>, the last of which looked like a No. 1 candidate before the loss &#8212; by a combined 110 points. The Wolverines rose to No. 1 in nearly every metric, from KenPom to Bart Torvik to the NET.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the stats were simply eye-popping, with this one standing out:<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Michigan is the first team in the AP Poll era (since 1948-49) with consecutive 30-point wins, both coming against ranked opponents \ud83e\udd2f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6YRG6siO1s\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/6YRG6siO1s<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ESPNInsights\/status\/1993909098056732896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">November 27, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>Dusty May has the best defense in the country and a team that&#8217;s huge, deep, old and can win playing different ways. Entering the second quarter of the regular season, Michigan is the national title favorite &#8212; and No. 1 this week.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/_end_rule.png\" width=\"100%\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/130.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 13<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gn-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>In terms of individual performances from Vegas, UAB transfer <a data-player-guid=\"b037d625-6e30-391c-a906-b39ea32c281f\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5175737\/yaxel-lendeborg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Yaxel Lendeborg<\/a> was, frankly, mildly disappointing through the first couple games of the season, averaging 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds and not looking like the first-round draft pick Michigan thought it was getting out of the portal. That&#8217;s changed quickly, and Lendeborg has played himself into the Player of the Year discussion. Over the past five games, he&#8217;s averaging 18.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.6 steals &#8212; while shooting 43.5% from 3.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. Rutgers (Dec. 6), vs. Villanova (Dec. 9)<\/p>\n<p>Editor&#8217;s Picks<\/p>\n<p>2 Related<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2509.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 2<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/sw_ye_40.png\" width=\"17\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Saturday&#8217;s matchup against Iowa State will feature the nation&#8217;s best offense against one of the nation&#8217;s elite defenses. The Cyclones thrive off defensive pressure, forcing turnovers at a higher clip than anyone in college basketball. <a data-player-guid=\"a609551a-802c-382d-bbdb-4bbe1d8d556e\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5105854\/braden-smith\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Braden Smith<\/a> should be up to the task, although a head-to-head matchup between Smith and <a data-player-guid=\"26cd511d-7b66-3248-9516-6804fae3a285\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5106254\/tamin-lipsey\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tamin Lipsey<\/a> &#8212; should the latter play, having missed three straight games with a lower-body injury and likely a game-time decision &#8212; could be special. Don&#8217;t ignore <a data-player-guid=\"9100e842-c240-3173-94f5-3303637e5eb4\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4897438\/trey-kaufman-renn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Trey Kaufman-Renn<\/a> vs. <a data-player-guid=\"ce3cc2fe-3faf-3710-9e7d-b5d304cf99eb\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4870564\/joshua-jefferson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Joshua Jefferson<\/a>, two of the best power forwards in the country, either.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. Iowa State (Dec. 6), vs. Minnesota (Dec. 10)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/12.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 1<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/rd-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Can Arizona continue to win at a high level while still shooting &#8212; or not shooting &#8212; the way it does? The Wildcats have made just two 3s in three of the first seven games, including the wins over Florida and UConn. Through one month, they rank 359th in 3-point attempt rate (26.8%), even though they&#8217;re making triples at a 37.2% clip. For some historical context, only seven NCAA tournament teams ranked in the bottom 50 in 3-point attempts last season, including Michigan State and St. John&#8217;s. Two seasons ago, nine tournament teams ranked in the bottom 50, but none advanced to the second weekend.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. Auburn (Dec. 6)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/41.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 5<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gn-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ve still yet to see a fully healthy UConn, but the version we&#8217;ve gotten through the first month of the season is good enough to compete for a third title in four years. <a data-player-guid=\"9482f812-6a5c-3353-b712-8159dd983244\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5196916\/braylon-mullins\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Braylon Mullins<\/a> made his debut against Illinois last week and didn&#8217;t take long to show why the Huskies have been so eager to get him on the floor. He was a key catalyst in the win at Kansas, finishing with 17 points and three 3-pointers. Meanwhile, <a data-player-guid=\"360f2005-a262-3680-9882-38c27ed1c5e0\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5105809\/tarris-reed-jr\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tarris Reed Jr<\/a>. returned against the Illini but played only 15 minutes, then sat against Kansas. Freshman <a data-player-guid=\"85b097d7-6682-3d57-bd12-76f1da11affc\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5152763\/eric-reibe\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Eric Reibe<\/a> has provided a huge lift in Reed&#8217;s absence, averaging 12.8 points and 6.3 boards over the past four games.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. East Texas A&amp;M (Dec. 5), vs. Florida in the Jimmy V Classic in New York (Dec. 9)<\/p>\n<p><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\"\/>play<\/p>\n<p>1:04<\/p>\n<p>Mullins&#8217; breakout performance lifts UConn over KU<\/p>\n<p class=\"contentItem__subhead\">Mullins&#8217; breakout performance lifts UConn over KU<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/150.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 7<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gn-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-player-guid=\"da7388f4-9ebf-3817-b810-a0711c384656\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5041935\/cameron-boozer\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cameron Boozer<\/a> continues to establish himself as the most productive player in college basketball, and the front-runner for both Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year. After a couple of &#8220;down&#8221; games against Kansas and Niagara, his past three games, against Howard, Arkansas and Florida, have resulted in averages of 30.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists, shooting nearly 65% from the field and 44% from 3. Boozer&#8217;s 90 points in three games is the most by a Duke player in a three-game span since JJ Redick in 2006 and the most by a Duke freshman in program history, according to ESPN Research.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: @ Michigan State (Dec. 6)<\/p>\n<p><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\"\/>play<\/p>\n<p>1:18<\/p>\n<p>Cameron Boozer leads Duke to victory<\/p>\n<p class=\"contentItem__subhead\">Jeff Borzello recaps Duke&#8217;s win over Florida and Cameron Boozer&#8217;s performance.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/127.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 8<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gn-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The consistent dominance with which Michigan State is playing right now is incredibly impressive. The Spartans have scored between 1.21 and 1.24 points per possession in four straight games, and they&#8217;ve yet to allow a single opponent to reach 1.00 points per possession. <a data-player-guid=\"b7595a2e-cc31-310c-814f-7cc93c593db2\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4711255\/jeremy-fears-jr\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jeremy Fears Jr<\/a>. is also playing the best basketball of his career, leading the nation in assists and becoming a more reliable threat as a scorer. He has hit double figures in scoring five times so far this season, including 19 points against North Carolina and 14 points against Iowa.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. Duke (Dec. 6)<\/p>\n<p>All of ESPN. All in one place.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/plus.espn.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"imageLoaded\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/r1531432_1296x729_16-9.jpg\" width=\"100%\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Watch your favorite events in the newly enhanced ESPN App. Learn more about what plan is right for you. <a href=\"https:\/\/plus.espn.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Sign Up Now<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/66.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 17<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gn-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-player-guid=\"ce3cc2fe-3faf-3710-9e7d-b5d304cf99eb\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4870564\/joshua-jefferson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Joshua Jefferson<\/a> has quietly played himself into the National Player of the Year discussion, averaging career highs &#8212; 18.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists &#8212; across the board. What makes his season even more impressive, though, is how much his game has developed over the course of his career. The 6-foot-9 senior has become one of the elite playmaking bigs in the country, dishing out 10 assists in each of his past two games. This is a player who had 76 assists total in 60 games at Saint Mary&#8217;s. If Iowa State is without Lipsey against Purdue, Jefferson will again be the offensive fulcrum.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: @ Purdue (Dec. 6)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2250.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 12<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gn-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Gonzaga looked like one of the elite teams in college basketball prior to its 40-point loss to Michigan in the Players Era title game. Despite the lopsided defeat, the Zags are still likely in that conversation. Mark Few made a lineup change after the first four games of the season, inserting <a data-player-guid=\"e9d15bca-aedf-3a0d-9beb-80531ed0ca66\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5313012\/mario-saint-supery\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mario Saint-Supery<\/a> at the point guard spot and <a data-player-guid=\"747fb45c-ff51-3e11-ab62-04ce5059c582\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4700527\/tyon-grant-foster\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tyon Grant-Foster<\/a> on the wing. According to BartTorvik.com, Gonzaga was No. 52 in offense and No. 2 in defense in its first four games; that has flipped to No. 25 in offense and No. 45 in defense since the lineup change. If you remove the Michigan game, it&#8217;s No. 3 on offense and No. 23 on defense.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: @ Kentucky (Dec. 5), vs. North Florida (Dec. 7)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/252.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 11<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gn-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Coach Kevin Young has singled out <a data-player-guid=\"37c18106-793b-34e3-ac0a-910848638246\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5060709\/robert-wright-iii\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Robert Wright III<\/a> as the primary reason for BYU&#8217;s improved play over the past couple of weeks. The Baylor transfer was at it again against California Baptist on Wednesday night, finishing with 15 points, 11 assists, three steals and just one turnover, going 3-for-5 from 3-point range. Over his past four games, Wright is averaging 16.3 points, 8.0 assists, 2.3 steals and shooting 9-for-15 from 3-point range &#8212; while turning it over just eight times.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. Clemson in the Jimmy V Classic in New York (Dec. 9)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/333.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 4<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/rd-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;re still waiting for Nate Oats to have his full allotment of players, but the Crimson Tide continue to find impactful players on their bench. <a data-player-guid=\"942815f1-f616-3ef0-8f9f-9d497231a88c\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4684276\/aden-holloway\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Aden Holloway<\/a> was the latest addition to the injury report Wednesday, joining <a data-player-guid=\"a09db4c9-c644-3d8b-8f40-a061e48180e5\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4702484\/latrell-wrightsell\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Latrell Wrightsell<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"80d2a20f-ff2d-3930-a1c7-acaa7776f5c6\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5241440\/keitenn-bristow\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Keitenn Bristow<\/a>. And while Miami transfer <a data-player-guid=\"f54586fa-a8b3-383e-be0d-ece0efb346dd\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5101656\/jalil-bethea\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jalil Bethea<\/a> made his debut against Clemson, it was freshmen <a data-player-guid=\"9c020499-353c-318a-bf77-f9097f4ece9a\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5101833\/amari-allen\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Amari Allen<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"f0d861b5-5064-34d0-ab34-2391bebc1ba8\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5144139\/london-jemison\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">London Jemison<\/a> and sophomore big man <a data-player-guid=\"6ef05838-fa38-3fe1-b549-4ce22a38e2cf\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4873184\/aiden-sherrell\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Aiden Sherrell<\/a> who stepped up against the Tigers. Allen had his fourth straight double-figure scoring game and first career double-double; Jemison scored in double figures for his third straight game; and Sherrell posted 10 boards and eight blocks.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. UTSA (Dec. 7)<\/p>\n<p><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\"\/>play<\/p>\n<p>1:19<\/p>\n<p>Clemson Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide: Game Highlights<\/p>\n<p class=\"contentItem__subhead\">Clemson Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide: Game Highlights<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/153.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 16<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gn-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Hubert Davis might have found something late in the win over Kentucky: Freshman guard <a data-player-guid=\"a16f8eda-86af-3387-836d-843a81892d85\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5144097\/derek-dixon\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Derek Dixon<\/a> hit the go-ahead 3 with just under a minute to go and then drove for the eventual game-winning layup with 16 seconds to go. Dixon played a season-high 24 minutes against the Wildcats, with starting point guard <a data-player-guid=\"f08aa248-fd39-3daf-880d-45b883cc8fd1\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5093253\/kyan-evans\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kyan Evans<\/a> playing a season-low 16. Dixon provides extra physicality and athleticism in the backcourt, and he clearly has the moxie to take &#8212; and make &#8212; big shots late in games. It&#8217;s a position battle to monitor.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. Georgetown (Dec. 7)<\/p>\n<p><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\"\/>play<\/p>\n<p>0:51<\/p>\n<p>Tar Heels get statement win over Kentucky<\/p>\n<p class=\"contentItem__subhead\">Jeff Borzello recaps the blue-blood matchup between North Carolina and Kentucky.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/248.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 3<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/rd-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Through one month of the season, Houston is clearly not what people expected entering the campaign. But there&#8217;s no need to sound any alarm bells or sell all your Houston stock. Exiting the Players Era Festival last year, Kelvin Sampson&#8217;s team was 4-3 with losses to Auburn, Alabama and San Diego State. The Cougars had allowed at least 1.12 points per possession in all three games. They lost just one game the rest of the regular season, allowing only two teams to hit that points per possession mark.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. Florida State (Dec. 6), vs. Jackson State (Dec. 10)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/97.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 6<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/rd-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Louisville&#8217;s success on the offensive end is predicated on a few different things: pace, points off turnovers and volume 3-point shooting. The Cardinals struggled with all three against Arkansas on Wednesday. They didn&#8217;t have a single fast-break point or a single point off turnovers in the first half and had their worst 3-point shooting performance since Dec. 11 of last season (8-for-37). Despite all of that, they were in the game late &#8212; but then also happened to have their worst defensive performance of the season and couldn&#8217;t get crucial stops. They&#8217;ll have chances to bounce back with Indiana, Memphis and Tennessee up next.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. Indiana in Indianapolis (Dec. 6)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/356.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 10<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/rd-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a data-player-guid=\"f14bb50c-ba08-3255-b7e5-148b4030dbb6\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4684269\/kylan-boswell\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kylan Boswell<\/a> is having by far the best season of his career, but it&#8217;s not just the numbers &#8212; career highs across the board &#8212; that are jumping out. It&#8217;s the way he has performed in the Illini&#8217;s biggest games. He had 22 points and three 3s in the big win over Texas Tech in early November, 22 points and seven assists in the loss to Alabama, and he was Brad Underwood&#8217;s best player in the defeat to UConn. He went for 25 points and nine rebounds against the Huskies, carrying the rest of the team for stretches.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. Tennessee in Nashville (Dec. 6), @ Ohio State (Dec. 9)<\/p>\n<p>The enhanced ESPN App<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/plus.espn.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"imageLoaded\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/r1534225_1296x729_16-9.jpg\" width=\"100%\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Watch your favorite events in the newly upgraded ESPN App. Learn more about what plan is right for you. <a href=\"https:\/\/plus.espn.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Sign Up Now<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/238.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: Unranked<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gn-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The Commodores might be the biggest surprise of the first month of the season. They&#8217;re pummeling teams right now, and not just the cupcakes on their schedule. They beat a good VCU team by 15 points on Nov. 27, destroyed a previously unbeaten Saint Mary&#8217;s team by 25 on Nov. 28 and then dominated a previously unbeaten SMU team by 19 on Dec. 3. They have one of the elite offenses in college basketball and <a data-player-guid=\"2d499f13-6e5f-30f2-b48a-721ea51e4dcb\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5187600\/tyler-tanner\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tyler Tanner<\/a> is perhaps the most underrated point guard in the country. He had 26 points and six assists in the win over SMU.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: No games<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 19<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gn-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Arkansas lost narrowly to Michigan State and Duke in its two previous marquee nonconference matchups but set the tone early in Wednesday&#8217;s win over Louisville. The Razorbacks kept the Cardinals at arm&#8217;s length for most of the game and led by as many as 20 points in the second half. The freshman guard duo of <a data-player-guid=\"2d9a5748-cbb5-3a2d-81d9-01a474f70dfd\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5142620\/darius-acuff-jr\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Darius Acuff Jr<\/a>. and <a data-player-guid=\"4963b9d7-868a-376f-ad8d-55fd0c59be5f\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5041951\/meleek-thomas\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Meleek Thomas<\/a> are getting much of the attention, but <a data-player-guid=\"5d2e6b2b-3638-3b9a-924c-1312fc39cbf6\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4698719\/trevon-brazile\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Trevon Brazile<\/a> is playing arguably his best basketball since the 2022 Maui Invitational. He had 21 points and five boards against Louisville and is now averaging nearly 14 and eight over his past five games, shooting 40% from 3.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. Fresno State in North Little Rock (Dec. 6)<\/p>\n<p><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\"\/>play<\/p>\n<p>1:12<\/p>\n<p>Highlight: No. 25 Arkansas fends off No. 6 Louisville in ACC\/SEC Challenge<\/p>\n<p class=\"contentItem__subhead\">Trevon Brazile puts up 21 points and snags five rebounds while Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas pour in 17 each in the Razorbacks&#8217; 88-80 victory over the Cardinals.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 23<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gn-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Auburn&#8217;s offense is clicking right now. At the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas, star point guard <a data-player-guid=\"fee62a21-ee07-3ead-8fc3-4c4faef79abd\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4873089\/tahaad-pettiford\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tahaad Pettiford<\/a> snapped out of a slump, averaging 22.3 points and shooting 42.1% from 3. He did struggle against NC State (six points), but the Tigers got huge shotmaking performances from <a data-player-guid=\"99cec652-cebb-3119-a456-58e9f7b09edb\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5176314\/kevin-overton\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kevin Overton<\/a> (29 points, six 3s) and <a data-player-guid=\"a5226493-ce3d-3c1d-84d4-8330a891423c\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5075625\/keyshawn-hall\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Keyshawn Hall<\/a> (28 points, five 3s). Steven Pearl&#8217;s team has responded well to the blowout loss to Michigan. Over their past three halves &#8212; a 55-point second half against St. John&#8217;s and Wednesday&#8217;s 83-73 win over the Wolfpack &#8212; the Tigers are shooting 60.8% from the field and 56.7% from 3.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: @ Arizona (Dec. 6)<\/p>\n<p><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\"\/>play<\/p>\n<p>1:18<\/p>\n<p>NC State Wolfpack vs. Auburn Tigers: Game Highlights<\/p>\n<p class=\"contentItem__subhead\">NC State Wolfpack vs. Auburn Tigers: Game Highlights<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/30.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: Unranked<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gn-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>USC avoided a letdown after winning the Maui Invitational by getting a solid road win at Oregon despite the absence of <a data-player-guid=\"fca49f38-d2b2-3a5b-a16e-62d207132c12\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4684634\/rodney-rice\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rodney Rice<\/a> due to injury. <a data-player-guid=\"0142884f-0cbf-324b-a0de-6fd8ede3a952\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4700877\/chad-baker-mazara\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chad Baker-Mazara<\/a> has been terrific for the Trojans, scoring at least 23 points on four occasions &#8212; including averaging 24.0 points over his past two games. He came up huge late against the Ducks, getting three straight USC baskets in the final minutes while it was a one-possession game. The Trojans&#8217; schedule the rest of 2025 looks fairly manageable, so it wouldn&#8217;t be a surprise to see them head into their Jan. 2 visit at Michigan undefeated.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. Washington (Dec. 6), @ San Diego (Dec. 9)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2305.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: Unranked<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gn-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Kansas went 3-0 in Las Vegas at the Players Era Championship, getting improved play from <a data-player-guid=\"84b4c7bc-7761-3282-abce-2b9856bea72b\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5041958\/bryson-tiller\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bryson Tiller<\/a> and <a data-player-guid=\"b34e4040-4dc4-356f-8af3-0fe77bf1b228\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5103571\/jamari-mcdowell\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jamari McDowell<\/a> and looking like it had the chops to survive without <a data-player-guid=\"98c9be44-26fe-32a9-b11d-542800eb8e5b\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5041955\/darryn-peterson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Darryn Peterson<\/a>. And through one half against UConn on Tuesday, it was more of the same. But down the stretch, the Jayhawks really struggled to find any consistent offense. That said, there should be more optimism about this team once Peterson returns. Veterans like <a data-player-guid=\"33732fb9-de23-3fd6-b6b5-04722e2417f5\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5177301\/melvin-council-jr\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Melvin Council Jr<\/a>. and <a data-player-guid=\"482903b8-62df-330c-b37c-4c6086d88aa1\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5105643\/tre-white\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tre White<\/a> can fill roles, <a data-player-guid=\"bca74454-8b6e-379a-b2e3-992ff739329e\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5044426\/flory-bidunga\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Flory Bidunga<\/a> has really emerged and <a data-player-guid=\"6e7b5618-56fe-3914-98e6-2d15a82639fb\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4872739\/elmarko-jackson\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Elmarko Jackson<\/a> is playing better, too.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. Missouri in Kansas City (Dec. 7)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2633.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 18<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/rd-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>After the Volunteers looked like a potential top-10 team again by beating Houston in their second Players Era Championship game, they&#8217;ve now lost back-to-back games to Kansas and Syracuse. Against the Jayhawks, they simply couldn&#8217;t get stops when they needed, but it was the offense that really struggled against Syracuse. <a data-player-guid=\"6e1757e3-1cfb-362f-8654-38c86896fae1\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5107968\/jakobi-gillespie\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ja&#8217;Kobi Gillespie<\/a> had 10 points, his fewest since the season opener, while <a data-player-guid=\"4a23fcbf-7a87-35d2-97af-f80b753e159c\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5164559\/nate-ament\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nate Ament<\/a> went 2-for-10 from the field. Tennessee doesn&#8217;t have the firepower to survive when its top two shotmakers aren&#8217;t scoring.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. Illinois in Nashville (Dec. 6)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/57.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 9<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/rd-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Florida&#8217;s new-look backcourt has been a work in progress, though one half of the transfer tandem seems to be finding his way. <a data-player-guid=\"3b5ea3e0-1ac8-337f-8b15-29fcb20474c3\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5238195\/boogie-fland\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Boogie Fland<\/a> had 17 points against Providence out in San Diego, then had 16 points in the one-point loss to Duke &#8212; including the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute. He turned it over on the final possession, but his aggressiveness and confidence are back. Now, can Todd Golden coax the same jump from <a data-player-guid=\"789c6b1b-1167-3b61-9159-a2c93f4cc1ba\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5107169\/xaivian-lee\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Xaivian Lee<\/a>? It was notable he opted to play <a data-player-guid=\"cfeecfe6-10a1-30ba-9d90-0c01a606e324\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5238200\/urban-klavzar\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Urban Klavzar<\/a> more in the second half against Duke, and Klavzar responded with a pair of 3s.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. UConn in New York (Dec. 9)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2641.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 15<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/rd-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Texas Tech has yet to fully hit its stride, with concerns on both ends of the court. Offensively, the Red Raiders are struggling to make shots from the perimeter against capable opponents. In two losses to Illinois and Purdue, they went a combined 14-for-56 from 3. It was only marginally better (16-for-52) in narrow wins over Wake Forest and Wyoming. Defensively, they&#8217;ve allowed at least 1.06 points per possession in five of their eight games. Upcoming contests against LSU, Arkansas and Duke will test them further.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. LSU in Forth Worth (Dec. 7)<\/p>\n<p><img class=\" lazyload lazyload\"\/>play<\/p>\n<p>1:19<\/p>\n<p>Wyoming Cowboys vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders: Game Highlights<\/p>\n<p class=\"contentItem__subhead\">Wyoming Cowboys vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders: Game Highlights<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/158.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: Unranked<\/p>\n<p>Another new addition to the rankings, the Cornhuskers actually own the nation&#8217;s longest win streak dating back to last season, winning four games to take the inaugural College Basketball Crown and then ripping off eight straight to open this 2025-26 campaign. The victory over Oklahoma looks better, too, after the Sooners won at Wake Forest. <a data-player-guid=\"da79d480-a59e-36b5-8e6f-4b5b50ea873e\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/4592677\/rienk-mast\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rienk Mast<\/a> has been awesome after missing all of last season with a knee injury; he&#8217;s averaging 17.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. Creighton (Dec. 7), vs. Wisconsin (Dec. 10)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2628.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: Unranked<\/p>\n<p>TCU might have had the most highs and lows of any team in these rankings over the first month of the season. The Horned Frogs opened the campaign with a home loss to New Orleans &#8212; which won four games last season and has won one game since beating TCU. They fell late to Michigan, which looks even better in retrospect. They then went to San Diego and had one of the best Feast Weeks in the country, beating Florida and Wisconsin on back-to-back nights. It&#8217;s an uneven r\u00e9sum\u00e9, but they&#8217;re exceeding expectations and <a data-player-guid=\"0c54adc3-17bf-3924-8c93-5c92768d1945\" href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mens-college-basketball\/player\/_\/id\/5103589\/brock-harding\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Brock Harding<\/a> (17.5 PPG, 8.5 APG last two games) is a fun watch.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. Notre Dame (Dec. 5), vs. North Texas in Forth Worth (Dec. 7)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"floatleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2599.png&#038;w=110&#038;h=110.png\" width=\"30\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Previous ranking: 14<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/rd-arrow.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>St. John&#8217;s edged out another team in the midst of a tailspin, Kentucky, for the final spot in this week&#8217;s rankings. The Red Storm did not have a great time in Las Vegas, losing by one to Iowa State before bouncing back to beat Baylor &#8212; and then allowing 55 points in the second half in a loss to Auburn. They now need to take advantage of their remaining nonconference tests, given the way the Big East is shaping up. Ole Miss visits Madison Square Garden this weekend, and Kentucky awaits in Atlanta on Dec. 20.<\/p>\n<p>Next seven days: vs. Ole Miss (Dec. 6)<\/p>\n<p>Dropped out: <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"90520a70-9714-8c22-a25d-f33f79c455a2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/26\/ucla-bruins\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">UCLA Bruins<\/a> (No. 20), <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"3f4a343d-73be-addb-846c-86b280f1a9c6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/275\/wisconsin-badgers\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Wisconsin Badgers<\/a> (No. 21), <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"833a6d9d-cedf-2d2e-563d-16bd1a289ed2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/152\/nc-state-wolfpack\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NC State Wolfpack<\/a> (No. 22), <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"71774c28-3107-36f7-b5ff-417d929d48ce\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/96\/kentucky-wildcats\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kentucky Wildcats<\/a> (No. 24), <a data-clubhouse-guid=\"4492fe92-59f4-713c-c83a-bf31d413d897\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com.au\/mens-college-basketball\/team\/_\/id\/46\/georgetown-hoyas\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Georgetown Hoyas<\/a> (No. 25)<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Jeff BorzelloDec 5, 2025, 12:00 AM CloseJeff Borzello is a basketball recruiting insider. He has joined ESPN in&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":327206,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[574],"tags":[64,63,726,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-327205","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-basketball","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-basketball","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327205","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=327205"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327205\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/327206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=327205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=327205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=327205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}