NCAA Basketball: OK State jumps up, Villanova crashes down in latest top-25 ranking

18. Texas Tech Red Raiders (17-8, 9-7)

After a three-game losing streak, the Red Raiders have since won three straight, including home wins this week against TCU and Iowa State. Neither were competitive, including the 81-54 beating over the Cyclones. Mac McClung led Texas Tech with 20 points on an efficient 7/12 shooting.

With Oklahoma losing, the Red Raiders are guaranteed to avoid paying in Round 1 of the Big 12 Tournament. But first, they’ll have to deal with Baylor on the road, in what will be a massive opportunity at a resume-building win. Beating the Bears alone could take them up a seed line or two a week from now.

17. Kansas Jayhawks (19-8, 12-6)

The Jayhawks already completed their Big 12 schedule so they scheduled a decent team from Conference USA in UTEP at home for their lone game of the week. That was nearly a fatal mistake, as the Miners jumped out to a 16-point lead early and at the break. But Kansas was able to slowly climb back to re-take the lead before winning, 67-62. Ochai Agbaji had 19 points to lead the way, along with 18 points and 10 rebounds from David McCormack.

Kansas will be the No. 2 seed in the Big 12 Tournament, with a chance to take on Baylor in the finals in the rubber match. The Jayhawks won’t be regular-season champions but could get the tournament title, along with possibly a 2 seed in the Big Dance.

16. Loyola-Chicago Ramblers (23-4, 16-2)

The Missouri Valley Conference is ready underway, with Loyola-Chicago the 1 seed and favorite. They’ve looked the part so far, beating Southern Illinois by 24 points in the quarterfinals and just beat Indiana State, 65-49 in the semifinals. Conference Player of the Year Cameron Krutwig led all scorers with 18 points in the win.

There have been lots of 1 seeds going down in the early conference tournaments so far but the Ramblers have been the exception. They look to win their own tournament on Sunday against the Drake Bulldogs, who they split with earlier in the season. But unlike many of those other mid-major 1 seeds, Loyola-Chicago is already safely into the NCAA Tournament Field of 68.