{"id":166408,"date":"2026-02-16T06:10:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T06:10:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/166408\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T06:10:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T06:10:17","slug":"mens-college-basketball-top-25-rankings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/166408\/","title":{"rendered":"Men’s College Basketball Top-25 Rankings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every week, we have incredible storylines this season in men’s college basketball<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This week, previously undefeated and top-ranked Arizona<\/a> lost back-to-back games to bring the Wildcats back down to Earth a bit. Miami (Ohio)<\/a> now remains the lone unbeaten team<\/a>, so I need to address why I still don’t have them ranked in my rankings. I have tremendous respect for the RedHawks and coach Travis Steele for what they\u2019ve accomplished. No matter the conference, going undefeated into late February is difficult to do. It\u2019s a great story, and we love the underdog in America. However, I don’t believe Miami is one of the 25 best teams in college basketball.<\/p>\n

The word “undefeated” does matter, but not so much that I feel obligated to rank them. I\u2019m still rooting for them to win, and I believe they should be included in the NCAA Tournament field \u2014 even if they don\u2019t win their conference.<\/p>\n

That said, here\u2019s the latest edition of my men’s college basketball rankings, as of Feb. 15.<\/p>\n

Utah State<\/a> is tied with San Diego State<\/a> for first place in the Mountain West<\/a>. On Saturday, the Aggies flexed their muscles against a struggling Memphis<\/a> team, beating the Tigers by 24 points.<\/p>\n

Louisville<\/a> is back in my rankings after winning five consecutive games, including dropping 118 points against NC State<\/a> and then beating Baylor<\/a> handedly in a random non-conference game in February. (More of this, please!)<\/p>\n

Tennessee<\/a> moved up two spots in my rankings after beating Mississippi State<\/a> and LSU<\/a>, which was expected. The Vols’ defense is still one of the toughest around. This Saturday’s contest at Vanderbilt<\/a> is a big one.<\/p>\n

Alabama<\/a> has won four games in a row in the SEC<\/a> and made 31 3-pointers combined this week. Next up is a conference matchup against Arkansas<\/a> on Wednesday. That will be a fun one!<\/p>\n

Wisconsin<\/a> seems too low here, right? The backcourt duo of Nick Boyd<\/a> and John Blackwell<\/a> is wreaking havoc on the Big Ten<\/a> right now. Wisconsin now has road wins at Michigan<\/a> and Illinois<\/a>, the conference’s two most talented teams.<\/p>\n

[COLLEGE HOOPS: 4 Takeaways From Wisconsin’s Dominant Big Ten Win Over Michigan State<\/a>]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS – FEBRUARY 14: Tahaad Pettiford #0 of the Auburn Tigers goes to the basket in the second half against Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on February 14, 2026 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Tigers 88-75. (Photo by Wesley Hitt\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Arkansas<\/a> freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr.<\/a> is one of the best players in the country \u2014 period. Auburn<\/a> had no answers for him on Saturday night, but they aren\u2019t the only ones.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m so bummed that one of the best players in the country, Caleb Wilson<\/a>, is injured (hand) and out indefinitely<\/a>. He’s the heartbeat of this team, while also being the most talented performer. I had to drop North Carolina<\/a> because of this.<\/p>\n

Saint Louis<\/a> played two bad teams this week but smashed them both by a combined 51 points. The Billikens are dominating the Atlantic 10<\/a> and rank 23rd in KenPom.<\/p>\n

St John\u2019s<\/a> win at Providence<\/a> was marred by a fight followed up with the dirtiest play I\u2019ve seen all year<\/a>. Lost in some of the aftermath was the stellar play of St. John\u2019s Dylan Darling<\/a>, who had 23 points and eight rebounds off the bench.<\/p>\n

After its three-game skid a couple of weeks back, Vanderbilt<\/a> is back to playing its fun brand of offensive basketball, and the Dores are winners of five of their past six games. Forward Tyler Nickel<\/a> had 25 points against Texas A&M<\/a> on Saturday.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

SOUTH BEND, IN – JANUARY 27: Jalen Haralson (10) of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish handles the ball while defended by Thijs De Ridder (28) of the Virginia Cavaliers during a college basketball game on January 27, 2026 at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) <\/p>\n

I watched Virginia<\/a> beat an average Ohio State<\/a> team on Saturday, but the Cavaliers did it very methodically. That\u2019s meant to be a high compliment; Virginia plays both ends of the ball and doesn\u2019t beat itself.<\/p>\n

Gonzaga<\/a> is the most difficult team to rank. I understand those who think that the Zags have no business in my top 15 after Braden Huff<\/a>\u2019s injury (knee) and their loss to lowly Portland<\/a>. However, I still believe this is a good team \u2014 but they are slowly falling in my rankings.<\/p>\n

Michigan State<\/a> has lost three of its past four, including a road loss to Wisconsin<\/a> on Saturday. The good news is that the Spartans get to host UCLA<\/a> and Ohio State<\/a> this week to get right.<\/p>\n

My early skepticism about Nebraska<\/a> was well documented, but I’ve come around. Despite a home loss to an excellent Purdue<\/a> team, Nebraska is one of the toughest teams in the country. No lead is safe, because the Huskers put five guys on the floor that can all shoot from 3. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Illinois<\/a> lost at home to a surging Wisconsin team but recovered on Sunday against Indiana<\/a>, so it didn’t drop far. Home losses matter, of course, but I would still take the Fighting Illini on a neutral floor in the NCAA Tournament against all the teams that are below them right now.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

TUCSON, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 14: JT Toppin #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders controls the ball during the second half against the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center at ALKEME Arena on February 14, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. The Red Raiders defeated the Wildcats 78-75 in overtime. (Photo by Chris Coduto\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Texas Tech<\/a> picked up the second-best win of any team this season by taking down top-ranked Arizona<\/a> in Tucson. (Iowa State<\/a> beating Purdue<\/a> by 23 at Mackey Arena is still my No. 1.) That goes nicely with the Red Raiders’ neutral-court win over Duke<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Kansas<\/a> beat Arizona<\/a> at home without Darryn Peterson<\/a> (illness) and then got dominated at Iowa State<\/a> with Peterson playing (only 10 points), so I kept the Jayhawks right where they were last week. The Arizona win means a lot about where this team can go.<\/p>\n

Florida<\/a>‘s 5-4 start to this season seems like another lifetime ago at this point, and I won\u2019t hold it against the Gators because none of the losses were bad. The Gators are every bit what we thought they could be at the start of the season and are now the favorite to win the SEC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I was ready to leave Purdue<\/a> out of the title contender conversation a few weeks ago, but their overtime win at Nebraska<\/a> followed by a Saturday demolition of Iowa<\/a> has the Boilermakers back in my top 10. \u00a0<\/p>\n

UConn<\/a> barely beat Georgetown<\/a> at home on Saturday. Not that impressive \u2014 I know \u2014 but other than that entertaining loss at St John\u2019s<\/a> last week, UConn is one of the most consistent teams in the nation.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 14: Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against the Clemson Tigers at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Duke<\/a> might be underrated at No. 5 because the Blue Devils’ defense is elite (and their NET is 2). They completely shut down a good Clemson<\/a> team on Saturday. Their defense will give them a chance to win every game, but their offensive depth is what worries me.<\/p>\n

My feelings about who Iowa State<\/a> is (top five) and what the Cyclones are capable of (national title) haven’t wavered much since the start of the year. Their revenge win against Kansas<\/a> just confirmed that. Milan Momcilovic<\/a>\u2019s corner fade-away 3 in the first half was the most ridiculously made shot I\u2019ve seen this season.<\/p>\n

Back-to-back losses aren\u2019t ideal for Arizona<\/a> fans, but I think it could be a good thing for this group. I think the Wildcats will regroup. Koa Peat<\/a>\u2019s injury (lower leg) is way more concerning, however. We\u2019ll keep an eye on that.<\/p>\n

Houston<\/a> is now in the lead in the Big 12<\/a>. This will be an intriguing race and a fascinating conference tournament in March. The Cougars will host Arizona<\/a> this week, which is one of the most important regular-season games of the year.<\/p>\n

Michigan<\/a> demolished an improved UCLA<\/a> team by 30 points on Saturday, a result that surprised no one. That\u2019s why this team is the best in the land. Aday Mara<\/a> got to beat up on his old coach, too. That had to be fun for him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Every week, we have incredible storylines this season in men’s college basketball.\u00a0 This week, previously undefeated and top-ranked…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":166409,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[778,2698,2747,67577,67575,315,67574,13845,2692,4857,2745,4861,2742,763,4860,2764,4856,770,795,67576,776,9819,791,57717,9764,4858,790,27,29,28,415,20578,5322,796,762,4859],"class_list":{"0":"post-166408","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-texas","8":"tag-alabama-crimson-tide","9":"tag-arizona-wildcats","10":"tag-arkansas-razorbacks","11":"tag-atlantic-10","12":"tag-atlantic-coast","13":"tag-big-12","14":"tag-big-east","15":"tag-big-ten","16":"tag-college-basketball","17":"tag-duke-blue-devils","18":"tag-florida-gators","19":"tag-gonzaga-bulldogs","20":"tag-houston-cougars","21":"tag-illinois-fighting-illini","22":"tag-iowa-state-cyclones","23":"tag-kansas-jayhawks","24":"tag-louisville-cardinals","25":"tag-michigan-state-spartans","26":"tag-michigan-wolverines","27":"tag-mountain-west","28":"tag-nebraska-cornhuskers","29":"tag-north-carolina-tar-heels","30":"tag-purdue-boilermakers","31":"tag-saint-louis-billikens","32":"tag-sec","33":"tag-st-johns-red-storm","34":"tag-tennessee-volunteers","35":"tag-texas","36":"tag-texas-headlines","37":"tag-texas-news","38":"tag-texas-tech-red-raiders","39":"tag-uconn-huskies","40":"tag-utah-state-aggies","41":"tag-vanderbilt-commodores","42":"tag-virginia-cavaliers","43":"tag-wisconsin-badgers"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166408","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=166408"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166408\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/166409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166408"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=166408"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=166408"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}