After a two-week period where schools were on winter break and games were few and far between, college basketball is back in the national spotlight! While the off-the-court headlines rule the day, thanks to teams adding midseason additions, including Baylor adding a player who was drafted by the NBA, the on-court product has been outstanding this season, and it’s about time that a national audience gets to view it! Here is our up-to-the-minute top-25!
Top 25 College Basketball Rankings
1. Michigan
The Wolverines are a complete buzzsaw right now, having won their last 3 games by an average margin of 41 points. The 3-big lineup with Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson, and Aday Mara all on the floor, which I had concerns about in the preseason, has been a thing of beauty and produced an elite unit on both sides of the floor. You need to watch this team if you have not already.
2. Arizona
The Wildcats are currently undefeated and ranked #1 in the AP poll, but I have a genuine concern about their ability to win 6 single-elimination games in the NCAA Tournament. The old school offensive philosophy that relies on inside scoring from Koa Peat and Motiejus Krivas is going to be vulnerable to a team that shoots more efficiently and with more volume from behind the 3-point line.
3. Iowa State
I did not foresee Joshua Jefferson taking the big leap forward that he has this season. He has gone from a good player to a legitimate National Player of the Year contender. With Jefferson and a now healthy Tamin Lipsey, the Cyclones have two of the best players on the court almost every time they play.
4. Purdue
Per KenPom, Purdue still boasts the most efficient offense in the country, thanks in large part to the nation’s best floor general in Braden Smith and the nation’s leader in offensive rating in Oscar Cluff. If not for a home loss to Iowa State, this team would likely have been #1 in the AP poll and #1 on these rankings.
5. Gonzaga
If not for a 40-point loss to Michigan in the Championship of the Players Era Festival, the Zags would be on track for an undefeated regular season – they will likely be favored in every game the rest of the way. This should give Mark Few enough time to figure out his guard rotation, as the lineup is constantly being changed and re-worked, and you never know which guard will play well or poorly.
