NCAA Basketball Power Rankings: Duke, Michigan vie for the top spot

RENO, NV - DECEMBER 15: Cody Martin #11 of the Nevada Wolf Pack and brother Caleb Martin #10 of the Nevada Wolf Pack talk to head coach Eric Musselman of the Nevada Wolf Pack during the game between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Lawlor Events Center on December 15, 2018 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 04: Oklahoma Sooners head coach Kruger claps. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

21. Oklahoma Sooners

Record: 11-1 (0-0 Big 12)

Last Week: No. 21

One of the best defensive teams in the nation, Oklahoma is giving up just 66.1 points per game while exhibiting the ninth-best adjusted defensive efficiency rating in the nation. Head coach Lon Kruger has his team exceeding expectations to this point in the year by posting a superb 11-1 record despite playing the 14th-toughest schedule in the nation.

And a large reason for this, in addition to the defense, is that Christian James has emerged as a legitimate college superstar. The senior guard has taken on a massive amount of offensive responsibility in the absence of Trae Young (NBA Draft) this year and is posting 17.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. With James leading the way and a fairly strong supporting cast around him, this team has what it takes to compete near the top of the Big 12.

During this past week, the Sooners continued their superb start by landing two more impressive victories. First, they took down Creighton in what was one of the better defenses performances of any team this season. The Sooners held the Bluejays, who boast one of the nation’s most high-powered offenses, to just 70 points in that matchup. OU then left home to take down Northwestern in a hard-fought overtime battle.

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