After nearly four months of hardcourt action, the calendar now reads March and the most exciting part of the college basketball season is nearly upon us. The NCAA Tournament remains the pinnacle of collegiate postseason and perhaps remains the best postseason event in all of sports. As exciting as it may be to near March Madness again it’s important to remember that we aren’t quite there yet.
There are a few weeks left in the regular season before Selection Sunday and it’s a very important time in the year. Some teams are already concluding their regular season schedules while other leagues have just next week to make their cases to the Selection Committee. Very important games will be played in these coming weeks in the conference tournaments and it’s a time of year when memories and legacies are truly written.
What’s beautiful about this time of year is that virtually every team has their shot to make the Big Dance and every conference gets its moment in the sun. However, only a few teams can realistically run the gauntlet and win the NCAA Tournament and we’ve been thinking about those schools for some time now. We’ve seen grueling combat in the SEC, marvelous teams emerge from the Big 12, and great competitiveness in the Big Ten, but which teams really have been the best this season?
We’re continuing to answer that question with our weekly update to the Top 25 rankings. It’s pretty clear that most if not all of these ranked teams will find their way into the NCAA Tournament in a few weeks. It’s extremely likely that our next national champion will be among them, though each of these teams has work ahead. Whether in their final regular season action or in the league tournaments, what will these teams do down the stretch before hearing their names on Selection Sunday?
25. Vanderbilt (20-9)
Whether or not the masses think they belong in this spot, Vanderbilt has done a remarkable job getting back into national attention in a positive way. Mark Byington’s first season with the Commodores has gone even better than expected, actually competing in this tough SEC after a great start to the year in nonconference. The defense has left some big questions but recent play has helped calm those worries.
Already owning awesome wins over Tennessee and Kentucky, the Commodores got another incredible performance on Wednesday, upsetting Texas A&M 86-84 in College Station. Tyler Nickel excelled in a 21-point performance as the Commodores hit enough shots to get a massive upset over a ranked squad. Another ranked win would come Saturday, with Vanderbilt knocking off Missouri 97-93 in overtime. Chris Manon had 23 points and 11 rebounds, AJ Hoggard added 21 points, and the Commodores made 50% of their field goals, surviving late and doing enough down the stretch.
All of a sudden Vanderbilt has a bevy of impressive wins under their belt, also knocking out Ole Miss during this current win streak. There are still concerns after some rough defensive efforts against other top teams in this league, but the Commodores are riding high entering March and will be back in the Big Dance for the first time in eight years. Before then, they get Arkansas and Georgia to finish off the regular season.
24. Arizona (19-10)
When the season began, Arizona failed to meet initial expectations, but a hot stretch in from mid-December to early February really elevated this team, with wins over Iowa State, Texas Tech, and other prominent programs. They’ve fallen back down to earth in recent weeks with some tough losses, including last weekend’s tough one against BYU, but this team has the talent to salvage the last few weeks of the season.
This team pulled out another win Wednesday, getting an 83-66 victory over Utah. Caleb Love scored 23 points, Tobe Awaka had a double-double, and the Wildcats did enough to bounce back over those Utes. Unfortunately, Arizona’s troubles continued on Saturday night at Iowa State, falling 84-67 in what was a great night for the Cyclones. Jaden Bradley had 18 points and KJ Lewis stood out with 13 points and 6 rebounds off the bench, but it just wasn’t a prosperous night for the Wildcats.
Some disturbing trends have popped up during a stretch where Arizona has lost four of six. The long-range shooting has been pretty bad in recent weeks, even worse than doing that tough stretch to begin the year. The defense has had its shoddy moments as well and you have to wonder just what the peak is for this Wildcats team that was truly rolling just a few weeks ago. They’ll see Arizona State before heading to Kansas for the season finale.
23. Saint Mary’s (27-4)
A recent sweep of Gonzaga catapulted Saint Mary’s back into national attention, but this team has been quietly having a very solid season. Sure they had a few tough outings back before New Year’s, though the Gaels have proven themselves as the class of the WCC, winning another regular season title while only falling to San Francisco nearly a month ago. Can this team actually win a game in the NCAA Tournament unlike last year’s squad?
The Gaels took care of business in a close one on Thursday, knocking off Loyola Marymount in a 58-55 thriller on the road. Paulius Murauskas continued a brilliant season with an 18-point, 12-rebound performance in the win. Saint Mary’s fared a bit better over the weekend, getting a 74-64 home win over Oregon State in the regular season finale. Augustas Marciulionis scored 25 points while both Luke Barrett and Mitchell Saxen put up double-doubles.
Certainly one of the hottest mid-major teams in the nation, Saint Mary’s finished 17-1 in WCC play and have been on quite the tear against their league mates. Obviously, that pair of wins over Gonzaga really elevates this team and has them in this ranked position, though it’s fair to wonder what’ll happen beyond the WCC Tournament next week. Do they have enough raw talent to win a game or two, potentially as a 6 or 7-seed in the Tourney field?
22. BYU (21-8)
The first few months of the season saw BYU not exactly standing out. This team lost road games to Providence, TCU, and Utah and struggled especially on the defensive end at times. However, Kevin Young’s first season in Provo has seen this team really start to come together and this significant winning streak down the stretch is evidence of that.
The streak wasn’t ending this week, continuing thanks to a 91-81 win at Arizona State earlier this week. Richie Saunders had 26 points and 6 rebounds in another strong effort as the Cougars made 50% of their 3-pointers. BYU didn’t stop there, winning 77-56 in another double-digit affair over West Virginia late Saturday night. Fousseyni Traore had 20 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, leading another fantastic shooting performance for the Cougars.
Now winners of six straight, BYU has proven that they belong in these kinds of conversations among the better teams in the Big 12, having knocked off Arizona and Kansas during this streak. The offense, in particular, has clearly been on another level, scoring at least 90 points in three straight games before that lower-scoring thriller against the Mountaineers. The winning streak is in serious jeopardy at Iowa State in a few days before ending the regular season against Utah.
21. Memphis (23-5)
All things considered, Memphis has done some really solid work this season and this team looks even stronger than more highly touted Tigers squads from years past. Penny Hardaway’s group has a sensational nonconference schedule, beating Missouri, UConn, Michigan State, and Clemson, with many of their early wins aging impressively. While they’ve stubbed their toe a couple times against a weak AAC, the Tigers have done enough to be in this good position.
Back on Sunday they finished the job against Florida Atlantic, securing an 84-65 home win over the Owls. Transfers Dain Dainja and PJ Haggerty continued solid seasons with 22 points apiece, though clearly Haggerty has been one of the best offseason additions for any team. Winning continued Wednesday as Memphis prevailed 84-72 over Rice. Dainja excelled with 25 points and 10 rebounds, Haggerty had another 21 points, and the Tigers maintained their slight lead in the AAC standings.
Conference losses to Temple and Wichita State, teams in the middle of the league standings, conveyed disappointment but Memphis keeps showing up when needed. The Tigers should be firmly in the NCAA Tournament field thanks to those November and December efforts but haven’t yet secured their league title. An important game comes Sunday at UAB before slightly easier matchups with UTSA and South Florida to finish things off.
20. Texas A&M (20-9)
Overall this has been another very good season for Texas A&M. A few of their losses have come when this group hasn’t been at full strength and it’s hard to win without a full lineup especially in the SEC. Just a few weeks ago the Aggies sat 9-3 in the SEC and already boasting 20 wins on the season, but they chose a tough time for their rough stretch of results.
Their recent troubles continued Wednesday night, taking a tough 86-84 home loss to Vanderbilt. Pharrel Payne had 23 points and Wade Taylor IV added 21, but the Aggies’ two stars didn’t have enough against the Commodores. Things did not improve on Saturday, as Texas A&M picked up a fourth straight loss, falling 89-70 at Florida. Zhuric Phelps led the scoring with 16 points but this team didn’t make enough shots and had another regrettable defensive performance.
While this four game slide is coming at a terrible time, it’s hard to say that any of these losses have been abysmal, even that home loss to Vanderbilt this week. The Aggies need to shore things up, especially on defense, but might not have time before it’s too late. Still, Buzz Williams’ squad has the talent to win important games in the coming weeks though face a potential fifth straight loss when they face Auburn in just a couple days.
19. Purdue (20-9)
Even when not quite matching the same level of success as last season’s breakthrough, Purdue has been a great team this year. They’ve just chosen the worst time for a backwards slide, dropping three straight tough games entering play this week. The Boilermakers have had some great moments throughout the season and have been better on offense recently, but it’s just been a really tough stretch in their schedule.
Things got much worse last Sunday, as a 12-point halftime lead at Indiana quickly evaporated in a 73-58 loss to their in-state rivals. Fletcher Loyer scored 20 points and was part of that great first half but Purdue fell way short in the second period. Thankfully their 4-game losing streak was snapped Friday night with a 76-66 home win over UCLA. A close game with the Bruins went Purdue’s way thanks to heroics from Trey Kaufman-Renn, who had 29 points, and a 23-point, 8-assist romp from Braden Smith.
Concerns remain about Purdue’s defense, especially with some dire numbers inside the arc during this recent skid. Kaufman-Renn is not the same level of defender as Zach Edey and that’s not the end of the world. The Boilermakers have this homegrown talent that can win serious games in the weeks ahead even if they won’t win another Big Ten crown. They wrap up the season with a rematch with Rutgers before their season finale at Illinois next Friday.
18. Louisville (23-6)
You can say what you want about the recent past or the lack of competition in this year’s ACC, but Louisville fans wouldn’t trade this feeling for anything after what we’ve seen. After two straight abhorrent seasons, new head coach Pat Kelsey has done marvelous works with a brand new roster, putting themselves near the very top of the league standings right off the bat.
A strong effort on Tuesday night led to another win, as Louisville survived 71-66 at Virginia Tech for another conference road win. Chucky Hepburn led the scoring in a 15-point, 6-assist performance. On Saturday, the Cardinals delivered the latest death knell to Pittsburgh, winning 79-68 over the Panthers. Hepburn was on another level with 37 points while Terrence Edwards Jr. added 23 points and 7 rebounds.
The Cardinals frankly couldn’t win anywhere in recent years and now have won nine road games in league play, with a very impressive 16-2 record in the ACC. Sure, this team faltered against stronger teams like Duke, Kentucky, and Ole Miss, but those games were all nearly three months ago and this team looks different now. We’ll have to see it against non-ACC clubs, but for now the focus is on Cal and Stanford to finish off this last week.
17. Kentucky (19-10)
After a 10-1 start to the season that included wins over Duke, Gonzaga, and Louisville, the Wildcats have taken a slight yet understandable step back. The SEC is an absolute beast of a conference this season and Kentucky hasn’t won three games in a row since that point. They’re sitting just .500 in league play but have a handful of nice performances that have them sitting in pretty desirable shape for the Big Dance.
Mark Pope’s squad did just enough on Wednesday night, prevailing 83-82 at Oklahoma thanks to a layup from Otega Oweh in the final seconds. Oweh had a standout performance with 28 points, spearheading the Wildcats to their first road win in nearly a month. Another major opportunity went by the wayside on Saturday as Kentucky fell 94-78 at home to top-ranked Auburn. Koby Brea shot well with 21 points while Andrew Carr added 20 points but the Tigers proved again why they’re the nation’s top team.
Even with players like Lamont Butler back in the lineup there are still considerable questions about the Wildcats. The defense in particular has had shortcomings, allowing more than 90 points in losses each of the last two weekends. Pope pieced this lineup together in the offseason and has great firepower on offense, but can this team do significant damage when the games matter most? They’ll welcome LSU to town for Senior Night before heading to Missouri next weekend.
16. Marquette (22-7)
Across the last month there’s been a bit of disappointment in Milwaukee. The Golden Eagles were in a great position at 9-1 in the Big East after a hot start to the season but ran into a rough stretch once February began. Last week’s 15-point loss at Villanova was another brutal step backwards, but can Shaka Smart’s crew still put their best foot forward in the weeks to come?
Whether or not they’ve answered that question, they came to play on Tuesday, winning 82-52 in an easy one against Providence. They coasted thanks to 17 points apiece from Ben Gold and Kam Jones, outdoing the Friars in virtually every way. Marquette took their show on the road over the weekend by getting a 76-61 win at Georgetown. All five starters scored in double figures, most notably including a 13-point, 13-assist effort from Jones as the team shot 56% from the field.
These recent losses may have shown that Marquette isn’t in the absolute top tier in the conference, but there’s no questioning that this is one of the Big East’s strongest programs. The level of talent in that starting lineup is almost unmatched and they get a chance to really show that ahead. Even before the Big East Tournament begins, Marquette will hunt for revenge against UConn and St. John’s next week.
15. Maryland (22-7)
Every single one of Maryland’s losses this season have come by six points or less. This Terrapins team has been in all of their games and looked competitive in a strong Big Ten. They won’t win the regular season title but there’s no question that they’ve belonged among the top teams, especially with wins over Illinois and Wisconsin during a recent winning streak.
Unfortunately, they chose a terrible time for an offensive stinker, falling 58-55 to Michigan State back on Wednesday in a defensive struggle. Rodney Rice had 20 points while Derik Queen had a double-double, but a miracle shot from Michigan State delivered another tough loss for the Terrapins. It wasn’t easy on Saturday, but they got back into the win column with a 68-64 win at Penn State. Queen had 23 points, Julian Reese grabbed 15 boards, and the Terrapins did enough to down the Nittany Lions.
After what wasn’t a particular inspiring week of shooting, Maryland hopes to get back on track before the postseason begins in a few weeks. This team certainly has the talent to make a run, both in the Big Ten Tournament and the Big Dance afterwards. Even before that, we’ll see what this team is made of next week at Michigan before ending the regular season with Northwestern next Saturday.
14. Missouri (21-8)
We won’t harp too long on last season, but what Dennis Gates is doing this year is absolutely incredible. One year ago this team was 0-18 and looked useless in the SEC, and now they’re an actual competitor in a stronger and bigger version of the league. Caleb Grill and Tamar Bates have both looked great and helped spearhead quite the turnaround in Columbia, but what exactly is the ceiling for this team?
We saw their offensive potential on display again on Tuesday, with Missouri flying high in a 101-71 win over South Carolina. Grill led the charge with 22 points off the bench as the Tigers nailed 63% of their shots and 58% from outside the arc. The weekend matchup didn’t quite go their way, losing 97-93 in an overtime matchup at Vanderbilt. It was a nice 28-point effort from Grill paired with 20 points and 7 rebounds from Mark Mitchell, but the Tigers fell just short in the extra period, faltering after a 9-point halftime lead.
All things considered, the Tigers are really showing what they can do and could be a pretty interesting team to watch in March. The scoring has been significant, though the defense has created some worries in some of these higher scoring games. That interior defense in particular has performed poorly if you look at the metrics and it’s fair to wonder how they’d match up against teams with strong frontcourts in the weeks ahead. Before then, Oklahoma and Kentucky are the final regular season tuneups as the Tigers currently sit at 10-6 in this league.
13. Michigan (22-6)
It’s pretty incredible how different this program looks under Dusty May this season after faltering in Juwan Howard’s final campaign. The Wolverines finished just 3-17 in the Big Ten last year and had already quadrupled that conference win total before this current week even began. This Michigan team has really emerged as a major player in the Big Ten and will have national attention as a result.
A stressful week began at Nebraska, as the Wolverines won a Monday night defensive battle 49-46 in Lincoln. The shooting was putrid but the defense showed up, with Roddy Gayle Jr.’s 10 points and another double-double from Danny Wolf. Another absolute nailbiter on Thursday night also went Michigan’s way, as a buzzer beater from Nimari Burnett gave the Wolverines an 84-82 home win over Rutgers. Vladislav Goldin had 22 points and 11 rebounds while Burnett himself scored 20 in another close win.
The Wolverines have surprisingly made a habit out of these close contests, with each of their last nine wins coming by 4 points or fewer. Whether or not they keep winning all of these battles, they are up to 14-3 and in a tie for the Big Ten lead with very little time left in the season. Unfortunately, it’s three fierce battles in the next eight days, hosting Illinois and Maryland before a matchup at Michigan State that could determine the regular season champion.
12. Iowa State (22-7)
The Cyclones have had a few injuries and players in and out of the lineup at times this season, but when they’re fully healthy are certainly a force. They proved that in a 15-1 start to the season that included wins over Marquette, Kansas, and at Texas Tech. The Cyclones picked up some losses further into Big 12 play, including last weekend at Houston, but there’s still immense potential for this unit.
Tuesday wasn’t the best showcase of that potential, as they’d fall 74-68 at Oklahoma State in a rough performance. Joshua Jefferson had 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists but the Cyclones came up short on the road. The Cyclones fared much better over the weekend, getting back on track against a ranked Arizona team with an 84-67 victory. Shooting 50% from the field, Iowa State double-digits from five of their eight players led by Milan Momcilovic’s 17-point effort.
There’s been a lot of good from Iowa State, even here with two losses in their last three games. That win over Arizona was their first real standout effort against a strong Big 12 team in some time and helped get them back up to 12-6 in the league. There’s not going to be a regular season title and this team has slid a bit recently, but they have the talent to beat BYU and Kansas State next week before making a statement this March.
11. Clemson (24-5)
What’s clearly been a down year in the ACC has turned into a major opportunity for this Clemson program. Few have forgotten their run to the Elite Eight last year but this is a different team and Brad Brownell’s squad could be even better right now. They’re sitting in great shape near the very top of the league standings and have just kept rolling against this conference.
Gaining what would be another double-digit win, the Tigers prevailed with ease on Wednesday, downing Notre Dame 83-68. Clemson took care of the basketball, made the right plays, and got a 24-point, 9-rebound performance from Ian Schieffelin. There wasn’t much to complain about on Saturday either as Clemson won 71-58 at Virginia, their seventh road win in a row. Schieffelin starred again, this time with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while the Tigers did more than enough on a day where the 3-pointers weren’t falling.
That early February upset over Duke seemed to spark Clemson, who are now 16-2 in the league and have won six games in a row. Three of the Tigers’ five losses came in overtime and this team has truly been taking care of their business time after time this season. They’re in comfortable position for the Big Dance again but need to shoot the ball better, especially when playing much tougher foes than these ACC teams. Boston College and Virginia Tech are all that’s left before the postseason, with 18-2 in sight.
10. Texas Tech (22-7)
When these Red Raiders lost to Saint Joseph’s back in November few likely expecting their season to reach this current point. Although Texas Tech has had a few headscratching losses, they really invigorated their season with their performance in the Big 12, knocking off teams like Arizona, BYU, and Houston, with that road win against the Cougars of particular note just over a month ago.
Unfortunately, those same Cougars got revenge this Monday, as Texas Tech fell 69-61 in the rematch in Lubbock. The Red Raiders hung in the game despite poor shooting while playing without injured starters Chance McMillian and Darrion Williams and were spearheaded by another double-double from JT Toppin. However, they did get back on track in a major way over the weekend, winning 78-73 at Kansas. Toppin scored 21 while Christian Anderson had 15 points and 6 assists off the bench during a great day in Lawrence.
A few regrettable performances have not sunk Texas Tech’s season by any means. The Red Raiders are up to 13-5 in the Big 12 and should be very happy on Selection Sunday, barring a collapse to finish the regular season. When healthy, this team has immense talent in this eight-man rotation and have shown that night after night in this tough league. Colorado and Arizona State remain in the regular season and it’ll be interesting to see if this team can strike gold in the Big 12 Tourney ahead.
9. Wisconsin (22-6)
Although the Badgers have had a few regrettable moments and performances this season, the news is overall good out of Madison. The offseason addition of John Tonje has turned into one of the best moves of the year, as he’s boosted a Wisconsin team that plays elite offensive basketball at times. This just might be the best potential that the Badgers have had since those Final Four runs a decade ago.
Coming off a tough loss to Oregon last weekend, Wisconsin got back on track with an 88-62 home win over Washington on Tuesday. The offense performed at a high level once again, though this time it was John Blackwell really standing out with a 24-point, 10-rebound performance. The Badgers continue to excel inside the arc in another efficient contest.
Wisconsin is a few bounces of the basketball away from a potential Big Ten title, though technically they aren’t quite out of the running yet. They have a major matchup with conference leader Michigan State on Sunday, though the game is in East Lansing and will be a tough battle. After that, the Badgers have two easier games against bottom of the league teams and should have a chance to continue to flex their muscles before the postseason.
8. Alabama (23-6)
The Crimson Tide has done some really sensational things with their offense this season, as evident again this week, and is nearly unmatched when at their best. Nate Oats’ work in Tuscaloosa has been on another level over the last half decade and he might have a team that can match last year’s run to the Final Four.
That display was really emphatic, as the Crimson Tide hit their high water mark of the season in a 111-73 win over Mississippi State. Alabama was an insane 22 of 45 from beyond the arc, shot 52% from the field, and got 27 points from Chris Youngblood in another ranked win. Their Saturday matchup ended far more unfortunately, falling 79-76 at Tennessee thanks to a buzzer beater from the Volunteers. Mark Sears scored 24 points and Labaron Philon added 13 but Alabama lost thanks to an incredible early March moment.
One shot going in at the buzzer doesn’t demean what Alabama has accomplished recently, even with a few other losses in the middle of February. The Crimson Tide mean business and have put up points in bunches against nearly every opponent in SEC play. Their incredible season has featured a hellish final stretch that they’re handling decently, but games with Florida and Auburn to finish it off is really brutal.
7. Michigan State (23-5)
When February began, Michigan State sat in an insanely great position, sitting perfect atop the Big Ten while building a really great resume in the process. That 13-game winning streak came and went with a tough start to the month, but the Spartans certainly didn’t buckle under the pressure. A fantastic late kick on this current winning streak includes wins at Illinois and Michigan as well as a nice win over Purdue, though they added another to that streak this week.
Continuing their excellent play outside of East Lansing, the Spartans headed to Maryland on Wednesday for their lone game of the week and left town with a 58-55 win. Tre Holloman’s half-court buzzer beater gave the Spartans an incredible victory in a tight defensive struggle with the Terrapins. Jase Richardson starred with 15 points and 8 rebounds, but Holloman’s shot is clearly the headliner.
After faltering during that trip to Los Angeles, Michigan State has gotten back on the horse and proven that they’re the best team in the Big Ten this season. Tom Izzo’s squad looks very different than in recent years, leaning heavily on their depth and raw talent and continues to deliver. This tough regular season finish isn’t quite over, as the Spartans see Wisconsin and Michigan on the last two Sundays, though both games will be back in East Lansing, with a regular season crown in sight.
6. St. John’s (26-4)
It’s hard to find the words to describe just what Rick Pitino has meant to St. John’s. A program that hasn’t been nationally relevant in decades is not only the top team in the Big East but right here as an actual national contender. This team isn’t perfect by any means and does have their flaws, but they just kept racking up wins this week.
Back on Sunday they completed an incredible sweep over UConn with an 89-75 win at home, with all five starters in double figures. Zuby Ejiofor and Kadary Richmond both had 18 points in that victory over the Huskies. Three days later, the Red Storm survived a trip to Butler with a 76-70 victory, getting 24 points from RJ Luis Jr. On Saturday, St. John’s did enough against Seton Hall, winning 71-61 for their fifth win in a row. Luis had 21 points, Ejiofor added 17 points and 10 rebounds, and this incredible season rocked onwards.
St. John’s doesn’t shoot or make a lot of 3-pointers but they beat you in virtually every other aspect on the court. The other teams in the Big East have slowly learned this lesson the last two months and it’s why the Red Storm sit at 17-2 atop the league standings. Pitino might nab those national coach of the year honors for this incredible turnaround, but can they punctuate this regular season with a win at Marquette next weekend?
5. Florida (25-4)
The Gators have done some really special things this season, really showing up time and time again especially in SEC play. After a 13-0 start to the season, Florida stumbled a few times but that resume now includes great wins over Tennessee and Auburn and have certainly built a team that can do damage in March. Again, things haven’t been perfect and that was clear this week, but this looks like the best team out of Gainesville in at least a decade.
Struggle came Tuesday as the Gators dug a big hole at Georgia that they couldn’t come back from, falling 88-83 on the road. Will Richard stood out with 30 points and a great shooting performance but it wasn’t a great defensive effort against a suddenly hot Bulldogs squad. There was no panic, as Florida bounced back nicely with an 89-70 victory over ranked Texas A&M this weekend. Richard again starred with 25 points and 6 rebounds, Thomas Haugh had 17 points, and Florida did more than enough for another resume-enhancing win.
A potential top-seed in the NCAA Tournament, things have really been working this season, as the Gators rank highly in both offense and defense this season. The offense in particular has done the important work during this recent stretch, as Florida had won six straight before that loss in Athens. There’s absolutely no rest in March as a trip to Alabama awaits next week before closing the regular season against Ole Miss.
4. Tennessee (24-5)
We’ve come to expect certain things from a Rick Barnes coached team and we’ve seen that elite defense many times this season, especially in wins over Florida and Mississippi State during league play. We’ve seen much better offense from this squad in recent years and those important offseason additions have kept the Volunteers right there in a competitive SEC. They’ve somewhat caught fire here in recent weeks and continued that trend this week.
Riding high after last weekend’s win at Texas A&M, the Volunteers hung on and took care of business at LSU, winning 65-59 against the Tigers. Longtime star Zakai Zeigler stood out with a 17-point effort while transfer Chaz Lanier had 14 points and 9 rebounds. Saturday was more of a thriller, as Jahmai Mashack hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to win 79-76 over Alabama in a Top 6 matchup. Both Lanier and Jordan Gainey scored 18 points and the Volunteers did just enough to knock down the Crimson Tide with one of the most memorable moments of the season.
A tough effort at Kentucky was Tennessee’s only loss in February. The SEC is murderous and they’ve knocked off some pretty great teams during this stretch as winners of seven of their last eight. That shot against Alabama really emphasizes Tennessee’s rise this season though they might want even more from that shutdown defense to succeed in March. They’ll be at Ole Miss in a few days before closing the season at home against South Carolina for what should be a drama-free Senior Night.
3. Houston (25-4)
When the season was still young, we had legitimate questions about this team, especially since replacing Jamal Shead and other recent talent seemed to be an issue. Those questions are long in the past after a 4-3 start to the season as Houston has blitzed their way through a very tough Big 12. LJ Cryer, J’Wan Roberts, and the rest of the talent on this team has been more than enough in what’s another banner season for Kelvin Sampson’s program.
The Cougars brilliantly avenged their only Big 12 loss in a Monday night thriller, winning 69-61 at Texas Tech. Milos Uzan continued his late season brilliance with a 22-point performance while Roberts added 16 points and 7 rebounds. Though not a massive win, Houston took care of business on Saturday with a 73-64 home victory over Cincinnati. Cryer led with 20 points on a night where the team shot 53% despite rough shooting outside the arc.
Not only have the Cougars won eight games in a row, that Texas Tech loss in early February is their only defeat since November. Almost no other team is playing the way this team has played in recent months and they have again established themselves as the class of the Big 12, winning a second league title in their second year in the league. There’s no rest now that March has hit, as the Cougars host Kansas and still head to Baylor before the Big 12 Tournament.
2. Duke (26-3)
Elite prospect Cooper Flagg is proving his value and he’s not the only young talent that’s making this a special season in Durham. The Blue Devils have answered basically every question throughout a season where they’ve dominated the ACC, losing to only Clemson during an incredible stretch. Duke boasts a great home win over Auburn and has been nearly unstoppable, with their offense really showing up this past month.
The latest emphatic performance came Tuesday with a 97-60 win at Miami on a night where Duke shot 56% from the field. Kon Knueppel had 20 points, Flagg and Isaiah Evans had 16 apiece, and the Blue Devils were 15 of 25 from beyond the arc. The fantastic offense continued Saturday with a 100-65 win over Florida State. The 3’s weren’t going down, but the Blue Devils dominated the game in other ways, getting 19 points from Evans and a double-double out of Khaman Maluach.
The Blue Devils have been an absolute machine, collecting their third straight 100-point Saturday performance. It’s hard to find another offensive stretch quite like this and Duke just keeps winning, making their ACC rivals look very little in comparison. Now winners of six in a row, the Blue Devils have just Wake Forest and a trip to Chapel Hill before the focus turns towards the postseason where the real magic needs to begin.
1. Auburn (27-2)
Covered time and time again in these rankings alone, we’ve stressed that nearly every SEC matchup is a fierce battle, usually containing a pair of teams with Tournament hopes. However, Auburn has established themselves as the class of this conference and the best team in the nation with emphatic performances and continued winning. They sit atop the SEC standings and that wasn’t about to change even with two more challenging matchups.
After a few closer games last week, the Tigers made quick work of Ole Miss, winning 106-76 back on Wednesday. Auburn set a season-high for total points, getting24 points and 9 rebounds from Johni Broome and a 22-point game from Chad Baker-Mazara. Another emphatic win came Saturday, with the Tigers triumphing 94-78 on the road against a ranked Kentucky squad. Miles Kelly really emerged with a 30-point performance while Tahaad Pettiford added 21 points off the bench.
Not only do the Tigers boast perhaps the nation’s top player in Broome but they have talent throughout this rotation. Nobody can come anywhere close to their resume or the total package of wins they’ve accumulated this season. Sitting 15-1 in this killer SEC, it’s been nothing but greatness from an Auburn team with their eyes on making history this March and into April. The regular season ends with a trip to Texas A&M and a rematch with rival Alabama.
We’ve taken another close look at the top teams in the nation in our weekly Top 25, but which of these teams are really going to make an impression in March? Was there someone else worthy of inclusion or did we focus on the right schools?