NCAA Basketball top 25 rankings: Gonzaga, Providence rise, Alabama falls
By Joey Loose
10. Auburn (10-1)
Auburn is still lacking a top-level win, but they’re also lacking a disappointing performance. The Tigers have looked marvelous in the early going, with great performances at times from both sides of the ball, and enough to get to 10-1. A double-overtime loss to UConn remains their only blemish, while they added two more to the win column this past week. Tuesday was easy, scoring a 70-44 win against North Alabama, while Saturday was much trickier. The Tigers traveled to Saint Louis and left with a hard-fought 74-70 win over the Billikens, getting 19 points from Walker Kessler.
Maybe Auburn is the best team in the SEC? It’s not as crazy as it may sound, seeing as how teams like Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee have slipped at times in non-conference play. They’ll certainly get a chance to add to their resume once conference play gets going but they also have an intriguing game next week. The Tigers welcome Murray State to town for their final tune-up before SEC play begins.
9. Houston (10-2)
With the uneven play of Memphis, it’s fair to say that Houston should be the team to watch in the AAC, and this team is getting back on track. After last year’s Final Four trip, this remains a talented group, whose two losses have come to currently ranked teams by a combined 3 points. This past week, they survived some rough shooting to beat Louisiana 71-56. Over the weekend, they knocked off Oklahoma State 72-61, with Jamal Shead’s 18 points leading all scorers.
The Cougars offense ranks highly, but the defense is even better, sitting 5th in the nation in defensive efficiency. This Houston program has certainly had their share of struggles, especially earlier in the season, but looks like a true contender for a deep postseason run once again. Early wins over Virginia and Oregon may not look great anymore, but the Cougars should be favored in most of their ACC games. Ahead, they get a home date with Texas State as their last nonconference game.