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NCAA Basketball Power Rankings: Creighton, Penn State soaring

By Lukas Harkins

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - JANUARY 29: Lamar Stevens #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions is introduced before during a college basketball game against the Indiana Hoosiers at the Bryce Joyce Center on January 29, 2020 in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - JANUARY 29: Lamar Stevens #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions is introduced before during a college basketball game against the Indiana Hoosiers at the Bryce Joyce Center on January 29, 2020 in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OHIO – FEBRUARY 15: Ohio State Buckeyes react. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO – FEBRUARY 15: Ohio State Buckeyes react. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

21. Butler Bulldogs

Butler was unable to hold serve on a two-game homestand as it defeated Xavier early in the week before falling to a shorthanded Georgetown team on the weekend. It is glaringly obvious this team misses Aaron Thompson, arguably its second-most important player, as he has missed 4+ games of late. Butler had been up 17 points during the time with Thompson on the floor against Xavier and was looking like the team many thought it to be early in the year before he was hit in the head. If he can return soon from concussion symptoms, then Butler might be back to looking like itself again. The Dawgs need him back ASAP, though, as road matchups with Seton Hall and Creighton loom next. Injuries have been killing this team as of late (not just with Thompson).

20. Oregon Ducks

Oregon took down Colorado and Utah this week in front of its home crowd to move up in the rankings a bit. The Ducks are sitting at 20-6 (9-4 P12) on the season and are about to embark on arguably their toughest two-game stretch of the conference schedule. Oregon will be tasked with facing Arizona State and Arizona, both on the road, during this coming week as the team looks to prove that it belongs among the national title contenders.

19. BYU Cougars

BYU has now won six games in a row and sits with a strong record of 21-7 (10-3 WCC). With Yoeli Childs on the floor, the Cougars are one of the best teams in the country and efficiency metrics agree with that. This team shoots a ton of 3-pointers but is also among the most accurate units in the country. When the three-ball isn’t dropping, though, it is nice that BYU can rely on one of the best forwards in the country in Childs to get it done inside the arc. This is a very potent offensive squad and the upcoming home matchup with Gonzaga is worth circling on everyone’s calendars.

18. Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State lost six of seven games a few weeks back. Now, though, the Buckeyes have won five of their last six to propel themselves back into the rankings. This was a team that many were quick to give up on and head coach Chris Holtmann has his squad trending in the right direction once again. Ohio State currently sits at 17-8 (7-7 B10) and defended its home court from Rutgers and Purdue during this past week. Admittedly, those are two of the worst away-from-home performers in the country but the wins will still be highly respected. Ohio State is on the right trajectory heading into the final month.

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