NCAA Basketball top 25 power rankings: Tennessee and Villanova rise, Alabama falls

25. Connecticut (10-3)

There has been increased reason for optimism in this Huskies program in recent years, with their return to the Big East and the work of Dan Hurley, both on and off the court. Connecticut has looked like a much better program since getting rid of Kevin Ollie, but this team still has work ahead to get back to those glory days nearly a decade ago.

This season has seen the Huskies pick up a couple of nice wins, but also suffer a few losses in games they very certainly could’ve won. Among those three losses to Michigan State, West Virginia, and Providence, none are by more than four points, with that Huskies offense really struggling in all three outings.

The Huskies do have a nice double-overtime win over Auburn and their wins over VCU and St. Bonaventure could look better in the coming months. This past week also saw them add a nice road win at Marquette, getting their first win in Big East play.

Sometimes the offense struggles and those are the games that are tricky for this Huskies team. The defense has been solid for the most part, but some of their best games have come against really inferior competition, as the Huskies played six programs that could be considered low majors. The Big East is really talented and loaded this season, but R. J. Cole and Adama Sanogo help lead an upstart Huskies team that will have a say in who wins this conference.