NCAA Basketball Power Rankings: Illinois rises, Dayton keeps impressing

Thanks to back-to-back home victories over Washington State and Washington, Colorado returns to my Top 25 power rankings this week. The Buffaloes have been tough to figure out throughout this season but it is clear that they belong as one of the better teams in the nation. They already feature wins over Dayton and Oregon while reaching a strong record of 16-4 (5-2 P12).

In fact, I might have Colorado ranked far too low this week considering its level of play throughout the season.

This is particularly true with Colorado’s efforts on the defensive end of the floor. The Buffaloes absolutely own the paint with their ability to defend inside and dominate the glass in every single contest. Additionally, their guards force plenty of turnovers and all of these factors lead to the team ranking 15th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency. Colorado belongs as one of the top contenders to win the Pac-12 title this season and its defense is the main reason why.

Additionally, though, Colorado also turns to a trio of strong juniors to lead its offense on most nights. McKinley Wright IV is the all-around offensive star of the team but Tyler Bey deserves more national credit as well as a double-double threat. D’Shawn Schwartz is also a huge piece of the puzzle as a high-volume perimeter shooter connecting on 40.2% of his 3-point attempts so far this season. His floor-spacing is necessary.