11. Gonzaga
I was beginning to think that this year’s Gonzaga team might be different from the Gonzagas of the last four years, and more like the teams from 2017 and 2021 that got to the precipice of a National Championship. But a loss to Portland certainly changes things. If you can lose to Portland, you can lose early in the NCAA Tournament.
12. Purdue
After a 3-game skid, the Boilermakers got the ultimate pick-me-up: back-to-back games against Maryland and Oregon. Fletcher Loyer has led them in scoring in back-to-back games, and he’s going to need to be good if Trey Kaufman-Renn and Ocar Cluff aren’t going to pick it up.
13. North Carolina
The Tobacco Road Rivalry always delivers, and Seth Trimble delivered an indelible image with his buzzer-beater last Saturday. But let’s shout out Derek Dixon, who had an incredible drive and kick through traffic to make it all possible.
14. Nebraska
The Cornhuskers got to right their two-game skid thanks to a game against Rutgers. I’m still personally not on board with this team being a National Championship contender. They will go as far as Rienk Mast can take them.
15. Kentucky
The Wildcats got a huge emotional win on Saturday night as they beat Tennessee on a night where they were honoring the 30th anniversary of their 1996 National Championship game. Head Coach Mark Pope was a captain on that team, and now has so much more job security than he had just six weeks ago when the Wildcats were 9-6.
