It feels like the Pac-12 is being a bit underrated this season -- and that's coming from someone who doesn't have a single Pac-12 team in his Power Rankings. But the league has four teams in the top 28 at KenPom, four teams in the top 35 of the BPI and four teams in the top 31 of the NET rankings. That pales in comparison to the Big Ten and Big 12, but those are head and shoulders above everyone else this season. Compared to every other league, the Pac-12 is right in line.
UCLA and USC's road sweeps of the Arizona schools this past weekend put the rest of the league on notice, but Oregon and Colorado are also in the mix. The Ducks will have maybe the most on-paper depth in the league once Will Richardson returns from injury, while Colorado has already defeated USC and Oregon. Stanford has a lottery pick in Ziaire Williams and a star senior in Oscar da Silva, while Arizona has plenty of young talent and has a blowout win over Colorado.
One team I haven't mentioned? Preseason favorite Arizona State. The Sun Devils are really struggling and sit at just 4-5, but if Bobby Hurley can get everyone healthy and get his rotation intact at some point, they're going to be a dangerous group. And in terms of individual talent, the league has two players ranked in the top 10 of ESPN's 2021 NBA draft rankings and two more in the top-25.
The Pac-12 hasn't had more than four NCAA tournament bids since 2016 (although they might have received that many last season), but that could change come Selection Sunday.
Teams of the Week: UCLA Bruins/USC Trojans
This is cheating, I know. But the Pac-12's Los Angeles schools pulled off the same feat this past week, so it's probably unfair to differentiate the crosstown rivals. The Pac-12 hasn't been won by a Los Angeles school since 2013, when UCLA edged out Arizona, Oregon and California by one game in Ben Howland's final season at the helm. Since then, the trophy has been north in Eugene and Seattle, and southeast in Tucson. And Arizona State has been rattling off 20-win seasons and NCAA tournament appearances under Bobby Hurley. But after this past weekend, that all might be changing.
UCLA and USC went to the Arizona schools on Thursday and Saturday and pulled off a double sweep. USC was the more impressive of the two teams, handling Arizona by 14 and then beating an undermanned Arizona State team by nine. Future top-five pick Evan Mobley was fantastic, averaging 19.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in the two games. But UCLA was gritty, knocking off Arizona State in overtime and then holding off Arizona down the stretch. Including the three-point win over Colorado on Jan. 2, the Bruins are now 3-0 since Chris Smith went down with a season-ending knee injury. UCLA now sits atop the standings at 5-0, with USC at 3-1. The L.A. schools made a statement this weekend.
Player of the Week: Andrew Jones, Texas Longhorns
Could it really be anyone else? Three years to the day that Shaka Smart told his team Jones had been diagnosed with leukemia, Jones hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left to Texas a key road win at No. 14 West Virginia. He also scored his 1,000th career point during Saturday's game against the Mountaineers. That might have been enough for Jones to win Player of the Week for this past week, but that wasn't all. Jones had 23 points, six rebounds and four assists in the previous win over Iowa State, then followed that up with 16 points, three rebounds and four 3-pointers in the win over West Virginia. It's really an unbelievable story. Jones missed the better part of two seasons while undergoing leukemia treatment, including chemotherapy, then came back last season and played in 31 games and has now started 10 straight games for the top-five Longhorns. Oh, and he's averaging career-highs nearly across the board.
Win of the Week: Texas Longhorns 72, West Virginia Mountaineers 70
To be honest, there weren't a ton of marquee wins this past week. Michigan drilling Minnesota was impressive, but the Golden Gophers have been blown out in every road game this season. Ohio State winning at Rutgers was solid, but we'll get to the Scarlet Knights in a minute. It's unclear how good Michigan State is, so Purdue's road win in East Lansing doesn't quite make it.
So we'll go back to the well with Texas' win at West Virginia. The Mountaineers had not lost in Morgantown all season entering the weekend, and it looked like that streak would continue when a Taz Sherman jumper gave them a five-point lead with less than two minutes remaining. West Virginia led for most of the final 30 minutes of the game, extending the margin to as many as nine points in the second half. After a Courtney Ramey layup cut West Virginia's lead to one, the Mountaineers responded with two offensive rebounds and had Emmitt Matthews -- an 88% free-throw shooter -- going to the line. He missed both, Shaka Smart smartly (sorry) elected not to call a timeout, Ramey came down, kicked it to Jones, and the rest was history. For those wondering, the answer is Feb. 2 -- the only time this season Texas and Baylor are scheduled to face each other.
Coach of the Week: Juwan Howard, Michigan Wolverines
It's probably too early for Coach of the Year talk since many teams have played fewer than 10 games, but Juwan Howard should merit serious consideration -- and should rank alongside Shaka Smart among the favorites. Michigan was inconsistent last season in its first year without John Beilein, but was on track for a 5- or 6-seed on Selection Sunday. And then UM lost senior stalwarts Zavier Simpson and Jon Teske. So there were questions entering the season on how Howard would do mixing freshmen, graduate transfers, plus some pieces still remaining from the Beilein era. Turns out, he's doing pretty well. Michigan sits at 10-0 after beating Minnesota by 25 last week, and only one of its 10 wins came by single digits. Freshman Hunter Dickinson has been terrific, but Franz Wagner is also on a tear lately, and Howard has four experienced seniors among his top six players. The Big Ten is ridiculous at the top, but the Wolverines have a legit shot at taking home the conference crown.
Three teams with questions
Northwestern Wildcats: Maybe we were all a little too excited to board the Northwestern hype train following wins over Michigan State, Indiana and Ohio State. The Wildcats have now lost three straight games, and none of the three was particularly close. There's really no let-up in the schedule until home games against Maryland and Nebraska -- in March.
Florida Gators: It was always going to be tough for the Gators following the loss of Keyontae Johnson for the season, both emotionally and from an on-court perspective. They did have a couple of wins over Vanderbilt and LSU to open SEC play, but got blitzed last week by both Alabama and Kentucky. The offense is struggling without Johnson, and the defense has been an issue for more than a year now.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights: As demonstrated by Northwestern, the Big Ten is unforgiving. But even during their struggles last season, the Scarlet Knights were still dominant at home. The RAC was a fortress. Obviously, not having fans has a huge impact, but Rutgers has now lost four of its past five games -- including two at home.
Power Rankings
1. Gonzaga Bulldogs (12-0)
Previous ranking: 1
This week: vs. Pepperdine (Thursday), at Saint Mary's (Saturday)
There's been plenty of attention paid to Jalen Suggs, Corey Kispert and Drew Timme this season -- and for good reason -- but junior guard Joel Ayayi stole the show this past weekend and achieved something no other player in program history had done: a triple-double. He finished with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 14 assists against Portland, and he hit the triple-double mark with 17 minutes still remaining in the game. Ayayi is the Zags' fourth option on offense this season, but he's dramatically improved his all-around game, becoming a better shooter, rebounder and distributor. Don't ignore his scoring ability in big games, though. Ayayi had 21 points against West Virginia earlier this season and went for 15 in the opener against Kansas.
2. Baylor Bears (11-0)
Previous ranking: 2
This week: vs. West Virginia (Tuesday), at Texas Tech (Saturday)
He hasn't received the attention of Luka Garza or any of Gonzaga's players, but Jared Butler is playing as well as any guard in college basketball this season. He was one of the best guards in the country a season ago and is playing even better. Butler has improved his shooting, both inside and outside the arc, and he's distributing far more effectively than last season. At the other end, he's racking up steals at a high clip. Baylor's offense wasn't firing on all cylinders for most of Saturday's game against TCU, but Butler was terrific, finishing with 28 points, eight rebounds, four assists, five steals and four 3-pointers. By the way, Baylor has won every single game by double digits, but that will be tested in the next three games: West Virginia, Texas Tech, Kansas.
3. Villanova Wildcats (8-1)
Previous ranking: 3
This week: NONE
I'm short on material to write about Villanova these days. The Wildcats haven't played since Dec. 23 and they currently don't have a game scheduled until Jan. 19 due to COVID-19 issues. Villanova went on pause due to positive COVID-19 tests following a break for Christmas, returned to practice last Sunday, then went on pause again a day later because of further COVID-19 problems. And then late last week, the Wildcats' game at UConn scheduled for Friday was postponed.
4. Texas Longhorns (10-1)
Previous ranking: 4
This week: vs. Texas Tech (Wednesday), vs. Kansas State (Saturday)
We already went fairly deep into Texas' win over West Virginia and the stellar performances of Andrew Jones, so let's take a look at one of the unsung heroes of the Longhorns' terrific season so far: Courtney Ramey. Outside of one bizarrely poor outing against Oklahoma State (zero points, two turnovers, five fouls in 30 minutes), Ramey has been outstanding this season. He's putting up career-high numbers across the board on the offensive end, while shooting 44.4% from 3-point range. Ramey had 18 points in the blowout win at Kansas, and went for 19 points and six assists -- including the game-winning drive-and-kick to Jones -- in the win over West Virginia.
5. Kansas Jayhawks (10-2)
Previous ranking: 5
This week: at Oklahoma State (Tuesday), vs. Iowa State (Saturday)
This is the David McCormack that Bill Self and Kansas were waiting for this season. Stepping in for Udoka Azubuike, McCormack simply hadn't been consistent enough on the interior for the Jayhawks. He was missing too many easy shots in the paint, having issues staying on the floor for longer than 20 or so minutes in a game. But this past week might have been a turning point. McCormack was dominant against TCU, finishing with 20 points and eight rebounds on 7-for-9 shooting. And he followed that up with 17 points in a win over Oklahoma on Saturday, and was a reliable option late in the game. If McCormack can be a consistent piece down low, that will be a huge boost for the Jayhawks.
6. Iowa Hawkeyes (11-2)
Previous ranking: 6
This week: vs. Michigan State (Thursday), at Northwestern (Sunday)
Jordan Bohannon returning to his sophomore year form would raise the ceiling for the Hawkeyes -- and over the past couple weeks, he's been that and more. Bohannon, who missed most of last season due to a hip injury, struggled to find consistency over the first nine games this season. He was averaging just 6.9 points and 4.3 assists, while shooting 27.9% from 3-point range. But over the past four games, Bohannon is averaging 18.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists -- and shooting 63.3% from behind the arc. He had arguably his best game of the season on Sunday, finishing with 19 points, seven rebounds, 14 assists and four 3-pointers in a win over Minnesota. Luka Garza had 33 points against the Gophers and continues his status as the Wooden Award favorite, but Bohannon's recent form is the key for Iowa moving forward.
7. Tennessee Volunteers (9-1)
Previous ranking: 7
This week: at South Carolina (Tuesday), vs. Vanderbilt (Saturday)
After Tennessee's first loss of the season against Alabama last weekend, Rick Barnes tweaked his starting lineup. The four returning starters from last season -- Santiago Vescovi, Josiah-Jordan James, Yves Pons and John Fulkerson -- remained the same for both games this past week, but Victor Bailey moved to the bench. In his place moved freshman Keon Johnson, who went for 14 points in the win over Arkansas on Wednesday. And then on Saturday, it was freshman Jaden Springer who earned the fifth starting spot -- and he had 10 points and six assists. Bailey didn't really miss a beat either, scoring 17 points off the bench against the Razorbacks. Barnes looks like he's tightening his rotation to seven main pieces, but the Volunteers still have as much versatility as anyone in the SEC.
8. Creighton Bluejays (10-2)
Previous ranking: 8
This week: at Butler (Saturday)
Preseason All-American point guard Marcus Zegarowski missed Saturday's game against St. John's -- and the Bluejays simply went out and had their best offensive game of the season. They made a season-high 16 3-pointers, their seventh game of the season making double-digit 3-pointers, and they've now hit 39 3-pointers in their past three games. Highly-efficient offense is nothing new for Greg McDermott teams, however. One notable difference for this year's team from recent Creighton iterations is the Bluejays' interior defense. They're in the top 60 nationally in block percentage and in the top 25 nationally in 2-point percentage defense -- and that's down to the addition of freshman 7-footer Ryan Kalkbrenner and the steadiness of Christian Bishop. Kalkbrenner is averaging 1.6 blocks in just 13.2 minutes.
9. Wisconsin Badgers (10-2)
Previous ranking: 10
This week: at Michigan (Tuesday), at Rutgers (Friday)
Wisconsin has one of the most experienced teams in the country, with five seniors starting all 12 games so far this season for the Badgers. But it's two underclassmen who are hitting their stride as Big Ten play heats up and could give Greg Gard two consistent options off the bench moving forward. Freshman Jonathan Davis had some preseason hype, but he's immediately stepped in as a key member of the rotation, even logging 41 minutes against Indiana last week -- grabbing eight rebounds and notching three steals. Then there's sophomore Tyler Wahl, who had a career-high 12 points in the win over the Hoosiers, including two late 3-pointers in the second overtime to provide some separation for the Badgers.
10. Michigan Wolverines (10-0)
Previous ranking: 16
This week: vs. Wisconsin (Tuesday), at Minnesota (Saturday)
Hunter Dickinson has been on the radar of basketball junkies for nearly a half-decade. Dickinson was a touted prospect early in his high school career, and remained near the top of the rankings for most of his recruitment. But despite being consistently productive, there were questions about how his game would translate to today's basketball. After all, he's 7-foot-1 and plays almost exclusively inside the arc; there aren't too many of those players around. But maybe that's why he's been so dominant so far. Opponents just don't have answers for his size, skill set and ability to facilitate offense as a passer. Statistically, there's a case to be made he's the best freshman in the country this season.
11. Houston Cougars (10-1)
Previous ranking: 12
This week: at South Florida (Thursday), vs. UCF (Sunday)
The departure of Caleb Mills should theoretically have an impact on the Cougars; after all, he was the team's leading scorer last season and the preseason AAC Player of the Year. But Mills had only played four games this season due to injuries and has now left the program via transfer. I'm not overly concerned about Houston, especially on the perimeter. And while the emergence of Quentin Grimes and the versatility of DeJon Jarreau is a factor, Marcus Sasser's breakout campaign is another big reason. The sophomore showed flashes last season, but he's become a consistently reliable scorer this season. Over the past five games, Sasser is averaging 18.0 points and has made 18 3-pointers over that stretch.
12. Clemson Tigers (9-1)
Previous ranking: In the waiting room
This week: vs. Virginia (Saturday)
After yet another close win in which the Tigers kept their opponent below one point per possession, they've moved to No. 1 in adjusted defensive efficiency at both KenPom and BartTorvik.com. They have yet to allow an opponent to score above one point per possession, they're forcing turnovers at a high rate and they're contesting shots inside and outside the arc -- while also consistently dictating their tempo on opponents. Unfortunately, Clemson went on pause on Friday due to COVID-19 issues. The Tigers' game at North Carolina on Saturday and their game this week against Syracuse were both postponed.
13. Missouri Tigers (7-2)
Previous ranking: 9
This week: vs. Vanderbilt (Tuesday), at Texas A&M (Saturday)
Missouri getting the weekend off might have come at a good time for the Tigers. They were drilled at home by Tennessee by 20 on Dec. 30, bounced back with a thoroughly impressive road win at Arkansas, then got crushed in the second half by Mississippi State last Tuesday. And if you go back a little further, they needed last-minute heroics to beat Bradley at home. So what's going on? Well, we've mentioned it before, but Missouri is barely a threat from the perimeter. The Tigers have made five or fewer 3-pointers in each of their past six games, shooting just above 27% from the 3. They rank in the bottom 50 nationally in percentage of points from 3s. That puts a ton of pressure on everything else to go right: consistently scoring around the rim, getting second-chance opportunities and getting to the free throw line -- and guarding for 40 minutes at the other end.
14. Alabama Crimson Tide (9-3)
Previous ranking: Unranked
This week: at Kentucky (Tuesday), vs. Arkansas (Saturday)
Alabama has really turned things around over the past few weeks, winning five in a row after a sluggish start to the campaign. The Crimson Tide lost by 18 to Stanford in late November, lost to Clemson, struggled to beat Furman at home and also lost to Western Kentucky in Tuscaloosa. But Nate Oats' team has really looked the part since the defeat to the Hilltoppers. Jahvon Quinerly had been a catalyst in wins over Ole Miss and Tennessee, but he's missed the past two games, forcing other players to step up in his place. 'Bama has improved its inside play the past two games too, with James Rojas contributing 15 points and seven boards off the bench against Florida, and Yale graduate transfer Jordan Bruner going for 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists against Auburn.
15. Louisville Cardinals (8-1)
Previous ranking: Unranked
This week: at Wake Forest (Wednesday), at Miami (Saturday)
Chris Mack and the Cardinals are still far from full strength, with Malik Williams and Charles Minlend sidelined since the beginning of the season, but they're unbeaten with former Radford graduate transfer Carlik Jones in the lineup. To be fair, Jones likely wouldn't have helped Louisville all that much in Louisville's lone loss this season, at Wisconsin by 37 points. But Jones has been arguably the most impactful transfer in the country so far this season, and he and David Johnson could keep the Cardinals near the top of the ACC standings. If that ends up being the case, Mack could be a sneaky candidate in the aforementioned discussion with Howard and Smart for Coach of the Year.
16. Virginia Tech Hokies (9-2)
Previous ranking: 13
This week: vs. Duke (Tuesday), at Wake Forest (Sunday)
Illinois' loss late Sunday night keeps the Hokies inside the Power Rankings, as they bounced back from their two-point road loss at Louisville with a 14-point win over Notre Dame. Jalen Cone continues to produce off the bench. After missing the first three games due to injury, Cone took a few games to find his rhythm, but has been terrific over his past five outings. In those five games, Cone is averaging 17.8 points in 22.2 minutes -- shooting 41.8% from 3-point range on nearly 11 attempts from behind the arc per game. He doesn't contribute much in any other categories, and he's taken 13 2-pointers compared to 68 3-pointers this season, but when Cone is feeling it from the perimeter, he can carry the Hokies for stretches.
Dropped out: Minnesota (No. 11), Rutgers (No. 14), Illinois (No. 15)
In the waiting room
Ohio State Buckeyes: The Buckeyes picked up their second double-figure win over Rutgers in the past few weeks, with Saturday's victory coming at the RAC -- and without C.J. Walker. Former Bucknell transfer Jimmy Sotos slotted into the lineup and dished out four assists while turning it over just once. But Sotos might have suffered a late-game injury, so that's something to monitor.
UConn Huskies: The Huskies are two missed R.J. Cole free throws from being unbeaten so far this season, as their only loss came in overtime against Creighton. They also own a win over USC that looks better and better -- and James Bouknight is in the conversation to be a top-10 NBA draft pick.
Illinois Fighting Illini: It's really hard to keep Illinois out of my top 16 -- watching the Fighting Illini, I think they're a borderline top-10 team in the country. But they now have four losses after Sunday's home defeat to Maryland, and marquee wins over Duke, Minnesota and Indiana just don't carry enough weight right now.