Compiled by RYAN McDONOUGH with liner notes by JOSH KAY
- Kansas (25-4/13-3)
Points: 348. (12 first-place votes)
Previous ranking: 2.
Upcoming: Monday at No. 22 Texas, Saturday vs. No. 24 Iowa State.
With a win against Texas Tech, Kansas has claimed at least a share of the BIG 12 Title for the 12th consecutive year.
2. Michigan State (24-5/11-5)
Points: 323. (two first-place vote)
Previous ranking: 5.
Upcoming: Wednesday at Rutgers, Saturday vs. Ohio State.
The Spartans pulled a Steph Curry by only playing their starters for seven minutes in the second half; defeated Penn State 88-57.
3. Villanova (25-4/14-2)
Points: 320.
Previous ranking: 1.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. DePaul, Saturday vs. Georgetown.
The Wildcats allowed 75+ points in back-to-back games for the first time all season.
4. Virginia (22-6/11-5)
Points: 303.
Previous ranking: 3
Upcoming: Tuesday at Clemson, Saturday vs. No. 12 Louisville.
The Cavaliers improved to 5-1 against ranked opponents this season by defeating North Carolina.
5. Xavier (25-4/13-4)
Points: 290.
Previous ranking: 4.
Upcoming: Saturday vs. Creighton.
Maybe it’s just me (being from Syracuse, N.Y.), but for the first time since 2013, I saw a glimpse of what Big East basketball used to be with physical play from two top five teams in Villanova and Xavier.
6. Miami (23-5/12-4)
Points: 274.
Previous ranking: 12.
Upcoming: Wednesday at Notre Dame, Saturday at Virginia Tech.
With wins over Louisville and Virginia, the Hurricanes have won back-to-back games against top-15 teams for the first time in program history.
7. Oklahoma (22-6/10-6)
Points: 271.
Previous ranking: 7.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. No. 20 Baylor, Saturday at TCU.
Sooners are 4-4 in their last eight.
8. North Carolina (23-6/12-4)
Points: 261.
Previous ranking: 6.
Upcoming: Monday vs. Syracuse, Saturday at No. 21 Duke.
The Tar Heels have allowed just one opponent to shoot over 50 percent from the field this season.
9. Oregon (23-6/12-4)
Points: 236. Previous ranking: 13.
Upcoming: Wednesday at UCLA, Saturday at USC.
Oregon’s strength of schedule ranks 1st in the country.
10. West Virginia (22-7/11-5)
Points: 212.
Previous ranking: 14.
Upcoming: Wednesday vs. Texas Tech, Saturday at No. 20 Baylor.
Mountaineers are second in the nation forcing more than 18 turnovers a game.
11. Indiana (23-6/13-3)
Points: 173.
Previous ranking: 17.
Upcoming: Tuesday at No. 17 Iowa, Sunday vs. No. 13 Maryland.
The Hoosiers can clinch an outright regular season BIG 10 Title with a win over Iowa.
12. Louisville (22-7/11-5)
Points: 162.
Previous ranking: 11.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Georgia Tech, Saturday at No. 4 Virginia.
The Cardinals lost to Miami (FL) for the first time since 1963.
13. Maryland (23-6/11-5)
Points: 151.
Previous ranking: 10.
Upcoming: Thursday vs. Illinois, Sunday at No. 11 Indiana.
Maryland dropped to 4-5 on the road this season including 0-3 vs. ranked opponents.
14. Utah (23-7/12-5)
Points: 136.
Previous ranking: 23.
Upcoming: Saturday vs. Colorado.
Jordan Loveridge became the 15th player in Utes history to score 1,500+ points as Utah upset Arizona en route to their sixth straight victory.
15. Arizona (22-7/10-6)
Points: 130.
Previous ranking: 9.
Upcoming: Thursday vs. No. 25 California, Saturday vs. Stanford.
Arizona’s PAC 12 title hopes may have been dashed as they went 0-2 on the road last week.
16. Texas A&M (22-7/11-5)
Points: 120.
Previous ranking: 20.
Upcoming: Tuesday at Auburn, Saturday vs. Vanderbilt.
With six helpers on Saturday Alex Caruso became the new leader in assists in Aggies program history.
17. Iowa (20-8/11-5)
Points: 121.
Previous ranking: 8.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. No. 11 Indiana, Saturday at Michigan.
After starting the Big 10 season 10-1 the Hawkeyes are just 1-4 in their last five including three losses in a row.
18. Kentucky (21-8/11-5)
Points: 116.
Previous ranking: 15.
Upcoming: Tuesday at Florida, Saturday vs. LSU.
Talk about road struggles; The Wildcats are just 3-7 away from Rupp Arena.
19. Purdue (22-7/10-6)
Points: 104.
Previous ranking: 21.
Upcoming: Tuesday at Nebraska, Sunday vs. Wisconsin.
After a win over Maryland, Purdue is now 16-1 at home, tying the most wins at Mackey Arena in program history.
20. Baylor (21-8/10-6)
Points: 100.
Previous ranking: 16.
Upcoming: Tuesday at No. 7 Oklahoma, Saturday vs. No. 10 West Virginia.
The Bears out rebounded TCU 45-21 including 16-3 on the offensive glass.
21. Duke (21-6/10-8)
Points: 78.
Previous ranking: 18.
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Wake Forest, Saturday vs. No. 8 North Carolina.
Christian Laettner welcomed Grayson Allen to the Duke Villains Club with open arms.
22. Texas (19-10/10-6)
Points: 66.
Previous ranking: not ranked.
Upcoming: Monday vs. No. Kansas, Friday at Oklahoma State.
23. SMU (24-4/14-2)
Points: 50.
Previous ranking: 22.
Upcoming: Thursday vs. UConn, Sunday at Cincinnati.
The Mustangs are tied with Temple for the AAC lead with two games to play.
24. Iowa State (20-9/9-7)
Points: 45.
Previous ranking: 19.
Upcoming: Monday vs. Oklahoma State, Saturday at No. 1 Kansas.
Iowa State claimed its fifth consecutive 20-win season with a win against Kansas State on Saturday.
25. California (21-8/11-5)
Points: 40.
Previous ranking: not ranked.
Upcoming: Thursday at No. 15 Arizona, Saturday at Arizona State.
California finished a perfect 18-0 at home this season.
Also receiving votes:
Seton Hall (27), Wichita State (22), Saint Mary’s (15), Saint Joseph’s (14), Wisconsin (8), Dayton (7), Valparaiso (6), Princeton (5), Notre Dame (5), Texas Tech (4), St. Bonaventure (3), Arkansas-Little Rock (3), Providence
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