NCAA Basketball Power Rankings: Duke rises, newcomers snag spots

I was admittedly hesitant to place UCLA in my preseason top-25 but they have been impressive so far this season. And while it is impossible to draw conclusions from just two regular-season games, the Bruins have earned this spot to this point. Kris Wilkes and Jaylen Hands have been as advertised so far this season but the real standout performer has been Moses Brown. The 7-foot-1 freshman big man has shown no signs of struggle thus far, averaging 18.0 points and 13.5 rebounds per game through two contests.

Also, it is important to mention that they have not faced cupcake teams. Purdue Fort Wayne and Long Beach State might not compete for any national titles this year but they are solid teams within their respective conferences and could prove to be challenging early in the season. Yet, the Bruins took care of business with double-digit victories in both games.

This stretch of facing underrated opponents will continue during this coming week. as well On Nov. 16, UCLA will take on St. Francis (PA), the preseason favorite to take the NEC title. Then, the first real test will not come until Nov. 22 when they face off against Michigan State. On the whole, the Bruins have a fairly challenging non-conference schedule but should be favored in the vast majority of matchups.