NCAA Basketball Power Rankings: Illinois rises, Dayton keeps impressing

Baylor and Gonzaga continue to sit atop our NCAA Basketball Power Rankings but there were plenty of shifts further down the list.

Another week of NCAA basketball is complete and a new edition of my power rankings arrives as a result. To no one’s surprise, Baylor and Gonzaga remain as the top tier in my rankings but there were plenty of shifts throughout the Top 25. Perhaps the biggest mover was Illinois, who shot up the rankings behind back-to-back stellar Big Ten road wins.

Before diving straight into my Top 25 Power Rankings for this week, though, I want to make note of a few teams that have been playing exceptionally well as of late. Although their body of work isn’t quite enough to put them into the rankings, these squads are worth monitoring as those that have taken their games to the next level as of late.

Alabama Crimson Tide: Head coach Nate Oats is already starting to make his mark in Tuscaloosa in just his first season. Alabama struggled out of the gates this year but has found its rhythm over the past few weeks. The Tide have won eight of their last 10 games with the only losses coming on the road to Florida and Kentucky. They have moved up ~40 spots on KenPom since starting just 5-5 and are looking like a team capable of reaching the NCAA Tournament. Kira Lewis Jr. and John Petty are studs and their supporting cast is solid. This team plays at a frenetic pace and it is fun to watch.

ETSU Buccaneers: East Tennessee State might not boast a ton of quality wins but starting the year at 18-3 (7-1 SC) deserves to be recognized. The Buccaneers have played at a high level all season long and are starting to make a two-bid SoCon look like a realistic possibility. Road wins over LSU and UNC-Greensboro are not something to overlook.

Rhode Island Rams: Jeff Dowtin and Fatts Russell make up one of the most dangerous backcourt duos in the Atlantic 10 and the Rams are rolling as a result. Rhode Island has rattled off six straight wins over the past few weeks and it is making a push for NCAA Tournament at-large consideration. Wins over VCU, Duquesne, and Davidson have headlined this stretch for the team as it has climbed ~30 spots on KenPom since the turn of the decade.

Now, without any further ado, let’s dive into my NCAA Basketball Top 25 Power Rankings for this week.