NCAA Basketball top 25 power rankings: Illinois rises, Baylor and UCLA fall

By Joey Loose | Jan 16, 2022

WACO, TX - JANUARY 11: James Akinjo #11 of the Baylor Bears handles the ball as Kevin McCullar #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders defends in the second half at the Ferrell Center on January 11, 2022 in Waco, Texas. Tech defeated Baylor in an upset 65-62. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /

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NCAA Basketball Braden Norris Loyola Chicago Ramblers (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /

25. Loyola-Chicago (13-2)

With all the craziness of this past week, there were many teams fighting for some of the bottom spots in this week’s poll. Loyola-Chicago has only lost twice, with losses to Michigan State and Auburn quite forgivable, giving them what is quite possibly the best resume of the non-Gonzaga mid-major teams. However, that doesn’t mean the Ramblers have been shining now in conference play in the MVC.

After needing overtime last week against Bradley, the Ramblers needs double overtime to take care of Valparaiso on Tuesday, eventually prevailing 81-74, with 23 points and late heroics from Braden Norris. The Ramblers then won their first MVC road game at Indiana State on Saturday, hanging on for the win after trailing by 15 early in the game.

These slow starts by the Ramblers are going to come back to bite them sooner rather than later, but for now has led them to nine straight wins. These kinds of performances would not fly in one of the power conferences, but Loyola gets the good fortune of one final year in the MVC. Next week they have an easy game at Evansville and an intriguing date with Missouri State, one of the other good teams in the MVC. Let’s see if Loyola deserves this entry into the Top 25.

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