NCAA Basketball Power Rankings: Gonzaga tops the list, Texas Tech rises

BOISE, ID - MARCH 17: Josh Perkins #13 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs celebrates during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 17, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 03: Bohannon of the Iowa Hawkeyes. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

25. Washington Huskies

Washington has responded quite well following their lone conference loss a couple of weeks ago. They have won three in a row since then and it is once again time to bring up the fact that they have lost just one game since Dec. 15. The Huskies have not played the most rigorous schedule in the country but it is relatively clear that they are playing at a high level. Head coach Mike Hopkins has implemented a great defensive scheme and his players have completely bought in. Washington is the clear-cut favorite in the Pac-12 right now and there is very little reason to think that they are not going to be a potential second-weekend threat in the Big Dance. Their defense will be very difficult to gameplan for on short notice.

24. Cincinnati Bearcats

Cincinnati, who has only lost two games in AAC play so far this year, has definitely flown under the radar due to their lack of high-profile games. Their SOS sits near the bottom of teams ranked in my top-25 but their record (23-4, 12-2 AAC) is quite impressive and worthy of discussion. I understand that he is highly unlikely to win the award but I would not be surprised to hear Mick Cronin’s name mentioned among those contending for National Coach of the Year. Very few teams have exceeded expectations quite like the Bearcats this season given the massive amount of talent that they lost. The biggest game of the entire season, though, approaches in a couple of weeks as Houston comes to town for a major showdown.

23. Iowa Hawkeyes

Jordan Bohannon has the clutch gene. Seemingly regardless of the situation, Bohannon is always the one with the ball in his hands for the Hawkeyes and he almost always finds a way to get it done. He might not be the flashiest player in the country, nor the tallest, but he can get his shot off no matter the pressure and it seems to always have a decent shot at dropping in. The Hawkeyes have certainly lived on the edge as of late – each of their five games has been decided by five points or fewer (Iowa is 4-1) – but they have managed to come out on the right side more often than not. Playing everyone tight might not exactly be a great sign for the NCAA Tournament but they just keep winning them. That matters.

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