Men’s college basketball Power Rankings: A 1-2 showdown on tap this weekend

No. 1 vs. No. 2.

Michigan vs. Duke on Saturday has been circled on calendars of males’s faculty hoops diehards because it was introduced in June. With each groups ranked within the preseason prime 10, it was at all times going to be probably the most anticipated nonconference video games of the season — particularly as a result of it was scheduled in February, providing a marquee respite from the meat and potatoes of convention video games.

However because of Arizona and UConn dropping two video games apiece over the previous couple of weeks, this sport is now extra than simply two potential Remaining 4 contenders stepping out of league play to face off on a impartial court docket.

It is No. 1 vs. No. 2, in accordance with our Energy Rankings — and almost each single metric.

Michigan is No. 1 in six of seven NCAA crew sheet metrics, rating No. 2 within the BPI.

Duke is No. 2 in 5 of the seven NCAA crew sheet metrics, rating No. 1 within the BPI.

Michigan has only one loss, a three-point defeat at house to Wisconsin. Duke has simply two losses, with each coming within the ultimate seconds towards Texas Tech and North Carolina.

The winner will possible be No. 1 subsequent week — and extra importantly, may very well be the general No. 1 seed on Choice Sunday.

Earlier rating: 1

Michigan left zero doubt about which crew was the most effective in males’s faculty basketball, going into Mackey Enviornment and cruising previous Purdue in a sport that wasn’t as shut because the 11-point ultimate margin indicated. The largest constructive for the Wolverines was that this win wasn’t attributable to their elite frontcourt and overwhelming measurement; as an alternative, the backcourt shined for coach Dusty Might on Tuesday. Elliot Cadeau outplayed Braden Smith on the level guard spot, ending with 17 factors and 7 assists, whereas guards L.J. Cason and Trey McKenney got here off the bench to attain 13 factors apiece.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Duke in Washington, D.C. (Feb. 21), vs. Minnesota (Feb. 24)

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Earlier rating: 4

Simply when it appeared like Duke was relying too closely on Cameron Boozer to provide offense late in video games, the Blue Devils’ supporting forged has come to life. Isaiah Evans, after averaging 13.1 factors over a seven-game stretch, has now scored 21 factors in two of his previous three video games and is averaging 19.7 factors throughout that span. And Cayden Boozer has emerged as a constant menace off the bench, scoring 12 factors in back-to-back wins over Clemson and Syracuse. He has additionally dished out seven assists and a pair of 3s in these two video games.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Michigan in Washington, D.C. (Feb. 21), at Notre Dame (Feb. 24)

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Earlier rating: 2

Arizona’s excellent season got here to an finish Feb. 9, and the Wildcats’ issues had been compounded after they misplaced at house to Texas Tech on Saturday — and star freshman Koa Peat sat out the second half due to a muscle pressure in his decrease leg. With out Peat towards BYU on Wednesday, the Wildcats ended their dropping streak and acquired large performances from two unlikely sources. Anthony Dell’Orso got here off the bench to attain a season-high 22 factors, whereas freshman Ivan Kharchenkov completed with 18 factors and 7 rebounds.

Subsequent seven days: at Houston (Feb. 21), at Baylor (Feb. 24)

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Earlier rating: 11

Iowa State is coming off one thing of an announcement week. The Cyclones blew out Kansas on Saturday, snapping the Jayhawks’ eight-game successful streak, then knocked off Houston on Monday evening within the ultimate minutes with large photographs from reserves Jamarion Batemon and Nate Heise. Beating the Cougars whereas having an off scoring evening from Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic would possibly present as a lot optimism as something popping out of the win. The stats to notice: Iowa State turned it over simply 3 times, and Houston did not rating a single level off a turnover.

Subsequent seven days: at BYU (Feb. 21), at Utah (Feb. 24)

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Earlier rating: 5

Shedding by 3 at Iowa State after main by 10 deep into the second half clearly hurts, however it should not change the NCAA match notion of this crew. What may very well be probably regarding, nonetheless, is how the offense acquired utterly slowed down late. The Cougars, who lead the Large 12 in turnover charge, pressured simply three Iowa State giveaways, which means they needed to play nearly solely within the half court docket. And after taking pictures the ball so effectively from the perimeter for a lot of the sport, they went simply 2-for-11 from 3 within the ultimate 14 minutes. Final season, when photographs weren’t falling, they might nonetheless go to J’Wan Roberts on the block for factors. They do not have that kind of inside consistency this season. This crew will go so far as its guards go.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Arizona (Feb. 21), at Kansas (Feb. 23)

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Earlier rating: 3

For a lot of the season, UConn had an elite protection, which made up for an offense that might disappear for stretches attributable to perimeter photographs not falling constantly. Nevertheless it was working: The Huskies misplaced simply one among their first 23 video games. Just lately, although, that method has flipped. The Huskies are taking pictures much better from 3 — however their protection has fallen off a cliff. They’d their worst defensive efficiency of the season in Wednesday’s gorgeous loss to Creighton, permitting 1.21 factors per possession. UConn has allowed at the least 1.15 factors per possession in 4 straight video games, a quantity it allowed simply as soon as within the 23 video games earlier than this stretch.

Subsequent seven days: at Villanova (Feb. 21), vs. St. John’s (Feb. 25)

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Earlier rating: 9

Wednesday was the primary time coach Brad Underwood has had his full allotment of gamers since Jan. 17 — and a full-strength Illinois crew appeared as harmful as any within the nation. The Preventing Illini scored 101 factors on the highway at USC, with seven gamers scoring in double figures. Kylan Boswell, who missed seven video games due to a fractured hand, returned for the previous two video games and averaged 10.5 factors, 6.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists within the wins. In the meantime, Andrej Stojakovic missed two video games due to a excessive ankle sprain and did not begin towards the Trojans. However he got here off the bench and posted 22 factors in simply 17 minutes, going 6-for-7 from the sphere.

Subsequent seven days: at UCLA (Feb. 21)

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Earlier rating: 10

Alex Condon could be taking part in his finest basketball of the season on the proper time. The Australia native entered the season with All-American expectations after withdrawing his identify from the NBA draft final spring. Then his exterior shot disappeared, and he hasn’t as efficient on the offensive glass. However Condon is beginning to make extra of an affect. He went for 20 factors, 10 rebounds and 4 assists in Tuesday’s win over South Carolina, his second time hitting the 20-point mark this month. He is averaging 15.0 factors and 58% taking pictures in February, after placing up 11.6 factors on 42.5% taking pictures in January.

Subsequent seven days: at Ole Miss (Feb. 21), at Texas (Feb. 25)

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Earlier rating: 8

Purdue’s protection fell off a cliff towards Michigan on Tuesday, with the Boilermakers’ worst tendencies coming to gentle once more. In losses this season, they’ve allowed opponents to shoot 46% from 3-point vary, which ranks 362nd within the nation (Michigan went 13-for-23 from past the arc). In Purdue’s wins, opponents are taking pictures solely 29.9% from the perimeter. Much more regarding are the splits of Purdue’s function gamers. Fletcher Loyer, who badly missed a few momentum-swinging 3s towards Michigan, is averaging 15.0 factors in wins and 11.0 in losses. Oscar Cluff, who had simply 4 factors towards the Wolverines, is placing up 11.2 factors in wins and 6.2 in losses.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Indiana (Feb. 20)

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Earlier rating: 6

Kansas’ eight-game successful streak got here to an finish at Iowa State on Saturday, with Darryn Peterson having arguably his worst sport of the season: 10 factors, 3-for-10 from the sphere, three turnovers. However the Jayhawks bounced again to win at Oklahoma State on Wednesday, and Peterson bounced again for an additional virtuoso effort — when he was on the ground, at the least. The projected No. 1 draft decide had 23 factors and shot 7-for-12 from the sphere and 6-for-10 from 3 in simply 18 minutes. Peterson performed simply three minutes within the second half after showing to sign for a substitution and by no means returning.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Cincinnati (Feb. 21), vs. Houston (Feb. 23)

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Earlier rating: 13

It seems like the purpose guard pendulum has swung solely again towards Mario Saint-Supery in Gonzaga’s backcourt. Braeden Smith began the primary 4 video games of the season, earlier than Saint-Supery took over for the following 9. Smith then regained the beginning job in late December and held it till Wednesday’s sport towards San Francisco. The writing had been on the wall, as Saint-Supery had performed extra minutes than Smith in 4 of Gonzaga’s previous 5 video games, regardless of coming off the bench — together with a 33-7 cut up in Saint-Supery’s favor in Saturday’s win over Santa Clara. On Wednesday, the choice was clear: Saint-Supery performed 33 minutes, ending with 14 factors, 4 rebounds, six assists and two steals, whereas Smith got here off the bench for simply two minutes.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Pacific (Feb. 21), vs. Portland (Feb. 25)

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Earlier rating: 7

It sounds unfathomable, however Michigan State’s win over UCLA on Tuesday was the Spartans’ first win in regulation since Jan. 24. It additionally prolonged the productive play of Coen Carr and Jordan Scott. Carr had 16 factors towards the Bruins, together with two 3-pointers, and has now scored in double figures in seven of his previous eight video games after going three straight with out scoring greater than eight. In the meantime, Scott went for 11 factors, his fifth straight sport in double figures after doing it simply as soon as all season previous to this stretch. On the opposite finish of the ground, Tom Izzo must hope Tuesday’s defensive effort (holding UCLA to 0.90 factors per possession) is extra indicative of his crew’s future defensive performances than the earlier 5 video games, through which the Spartans allowed at the least 1.10 factors per possession.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Ohio State (Feb. 22)

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Earlier rating: 12

After opening the season with 20 consecutive wins, the Cornhuskers have misplaced 4 of their previous six video games. The newest, Tuesday at Iowa, featured their worst offensive efficiency of the season and their worst taking pictures efficiency since Nov. 11, as they scored simply 0.87 factors per possession and shot 5-for-24 from 3-point vary. In a few of the Cornhuskers’ greatest wins, the trio of Pryce Sandfort, Rienk Mast and Braden Frager has been on the coronary heart of it. However whereas Sandfort has continued to provide, Mast and Frager have hit slumps. Mast had simply eight factors on 10 photographs towards Iowa, after simply 5 factors in an earlier loss to Illinois. And, along with his six-point displaying towards Iowa, Frager has hit double figures simply as soon as since Jan. 17. (He did miss two video games due to an ankle damage.)

Subsequent seven days: vs. Penn State (Feb. 21), vs. Maryland (Feb. 25)

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Earlier rating: 15

It is exhausting to think about a much bigger hole between the highs and lows of every week than what Texas Tech went by not too long ago. On Saturday, the Pink Raiders beat Arizona in Tuscan to notch probably the most spectacular wins any crew has had this season. Seventy-two hours later, Tech dropped one on the highway to Arizona State and misplaced All-American ahead JT Toppin for the remainder of the season to a torn proper ACL. An already skinny Pink Raiders roster must lean much more closely on the backcourt duo of Christian Anderson and Donovan Atwell and hope that LeJuan Watts returns to his early-season kind.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Kansas State (Feb. 21), vs. Cincinnati (Feb. 24)

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Earlier rating: 19

Since Virginia’s final loss to North Carolina on Jan. 24, coach Ryan Odom has principally flipped his heart utilization. Johann Grunloh has continued to start out video games, however Ugonna Onyenso had performed extra minutes than Grunloh in six straight video games getting into Wednesday’s win over Georgia Tech. And Onyenso has responded effectively, averaging 6.3 factors, 6.8 rebounds and three.2 blocks in his previous six video games. However Odom might need gotten by to Grunloh on Wednesday, because the Germany native completed with 11 factors — his first sport in double figures since Jan. 13 — to go along with six rebounds and 4 blocks.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Miami (Feb. 21), vs. NC State (Feb. 24)

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Earlier rating: 17

The Pink Storm’s performances towards Windfall and Marquette weren’t their better of the season, however they nonetheless discovered methods to win each video games away from house — and following UConn’s house loss to Creighton, Rick Pitino’s crew now controls its future within the Large East regular-season race. St. John’s does should go to Hartford on Wednesday in a sport that might, for all intents and functions, clinch the league title. Wednesday’s win ought to give some confidence to Bryce Hopkins, who had his first 20-point sport in a month, and Oziyah Sellers, who got here off the bench for the primary time all season however hit a number of 3s for simply the second time since Jan. 13.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Creighton (Feb. 21), at UConn (Feb. 25)

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Earlier rating: 21

The Crimson Tide have received 5 video games in a row after going 3-4 of their earlier seven video games. The newest win was an on the spot traditional, a 117-115 double-overtime win over Arkansas headlined by Labaron Philon Jr.’s 35-point, seven-assist efficiency. However Aiden Sherrell had the most effective sport of his faculty profession, ending with 26 factors and 13 rebounds whereas taking pictures 10-for-13 from the sphere. Within the three video games since Charles Bediako was dominated ineligible, Sherrell has scored in double figures 3 times and is averaging 17.3 factors and eight.3 rebounds.

Subsequent seven days: at LSU (Feb. 21), vs. Mississippi State (Feb. 25)

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Earlier rating: 16

Darius Acuff Jr. moved as much as No. 3 in ESPN’s freshman rankings Wednesday, and here is what he did in his first sport after incomes that spot: 49 factors, 16-for-27 from the sphere, 6-for-10 from 3, 11-for-12 from the free throw line, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. He performed all 50 minutes in a double-overtime loss to Alabama. The 49 factors had been probably the most ever by a freshman towards a ranked crew, in accordance with ESPN Analysis. The SEC Participant of the 12 months favourite is now averaging a ridiculous 29.4 factors and 6.3 assists over his previous seven video games.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Missouri (Feb. 21), vs. Texas A&M (Feb. 25)

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Earlier rating: 18

Vanderbilt bounced again from its stunning house loss to Oklahoma earlier this month with stable wins at Auburn and over Texas A&M, however it dropped one at Missouri on Wednesday — trailing by as many as 21 factors deep into the second half earlier than an unbelievable comeback fell simply brief in a one-point loss. In contrast to towards A&M, Vanderbilt could not get stops on the defensive finish till it was too late. It allowed Missouri to attain 1.16 factors per possession, and the Tigers shot 10-for-20 from 3, simply the second time all season a crew has made double-digit 3s towards Vandy.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Tennessee (Feb. 21), vs. Georgia (Feb. 25)

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Earlier rating: 24

One other sizzling SEC crew, Tennessee has received seven of its previous eight video games, with the lone loss approaching the highway at Kentucky. The largest key within the Volunteers’ turnaround has been the play of freshman Nate Ament, who has gone from an inconsistent first-year participant to one of many elite newcomers in faculty basketball. He had 29 factors in Wednesday’s win over Oklahoma, when he additionally grabbed six rebounds and dished out three assists. He has scored at the least 20 factors in seven of his previous 10 video games, averaging 23.4 factors over that stretch.

Subsequent seven days: at Vanderbilt (Feb. 21), at Missouri (Feb. 24)

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Earlier rating: 14

North Carolina was capable of get previous Pitt with out Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar, however the absence of the Tar Heels’ two stalwarts was felt way more dramatically towards NC State, leading to a 24-point loss Tuesday. It was Carolina’s worst offensive efficiency of the season and third-worst defensive efficiency. The crew shot simply 5-for-33 from 3-point vary, with Seth Trimble going 0-for-8 from 3 since his successful 3 towards Duke earlier this month. Carolina’s protection is all the way down to eleventh within the ACC in factors per possession allowed, with opponents taking pictures higher than 40% from 3.

Subsequent seven days: at Syracuse (Feb. 21), vs. Louisville (Feb. 23)

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Earlier rating: 22

Louisville’s five-game successful streak got here to an finish Tuesday evening towards SMU, when the Cardinals gave up 95 factors and allowed the Mustangs to shoot 58% from the sphere. What did not finish, nonetheless, was Mikel Brown Jr.’s unbelievable run of kind. The star freshman completed with 29 factors, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, two steals and two blocks, and he shot 4-for-8 from 3-point vary. Over his previous three video games, Brown has averaged 34.3 factors, 5.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.3 steals whereas taking pictures 60% from the sphere and 62.1% from 3. He additionally hasn’t missed a free throw over that span.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Georgia Tech (Feb. 21), at North Carolina (Feb. 23)

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Earlier rating: 20

Saint Louis misplaced for the primary time since late November, struggling an upset by the hands of Rhode Island on Tuesday. It was one of many few instances all season the Billikens have been outshot from behind the arc, because the Rams went 12-for-29 from 3 and SLU shot simply 8-for-21. Josh Schertz’s crew ranks No. 2 nationally in 3-point taking pictures proportion and No. 5 in defensive 3-point proportion, however its two losses have come throughout its worst 3-point defensive performances; Stanford shot 13-for-27 in SLU’s first loss, whereas the Billikens made simply 5 of their 20 3-point makes an attempt.

Subsequent seven days: vs. VCU (Feb. 20), at Dayton (Feb. 24)

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Earlier rating: Not ranked

Since stunning back-to-back defeats at Grand Canyon and at house to UNLV in mid-January, Utah State has received eight video games in a row and regained management of the Mountain West race. Throughout that stretch, the Aggies beat their two greatest opponents for the regular-season crown in San Diego State and New Mexico, with the latter approaching the highway, and in addition throttled Memphis by 24 final weekend. Their offense has been distinctive over the previous couple of weeks, scoring at the least 1.25 factors per possession in 4 straight video games. If they will win their subsequent two video games on the highway, the regular-season title needs to be headed to Logan, Utah, for the second time in three years. That is a tall take a look at, nonetheless.

Subsequent seven days: at Nevada (Feb. 21), at San Diego State (Feb. 25)

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Earlier rating: 25

The RedHawks proceed to go each take a look at, with the most recent approaching the highway at UMass. They’re now simply 5 video games away from an ideal common season, which might basically seal an NCAA match bid, no matter what occurs within the MAC match. Honest or not, a regular-season loss plus a convention match loss may make issues sweaty for them on Choice Sunday. At KenPom, they now have a 74% probability or higher in every remaining sport — with the season finale at Ohio, a crew they simply beat by 16 at house, their hardest remaining contest.

Subsequent seven days: vs. Bowling Inexperienced (Feb. 20), at Jap Michigan (Feb. 24)

Dropped out: Kentucky Wildcats (No. 23)