Familiar faces remain at the top. We are in March and the chaos will only heighten as some conferences start their tournaments this week while other conferences rap up league play. These rankings do not include games being played on tuesday, March 4.
1: Auburn (This week: 2-0 vs Ole Miss, @Kentucky, Overall: 27-2)
Auburn continues its dominant season with convincing back to back blowout wins vs Q1 opponents. This team seems poised to make a deep run in March and into April. Against Ole Miss they never trailed in their wire to wire 30 point win. Against Kentucky it was more of the same with Miles Kelly stepping up with 30 points. In Auburn’s final 2 conference games they face a Texas A&M team going in the wrong direction, followed by a rematch vs Alabama in their finale.
2: Duke (This week: 3-0 @Miami, vs Florida St., vs Wake Forest, Overall: 27-3)
Duke continues to roll through the ACC. Each win brings them closer to locking themselves in as a 1 seed if they havent already done so. They won their last three games by a combined 105 points! I don’t care about the opponent, that is a serious level of dominance. They make the short trip to Chapel hill before preparation for the ACC tourament.
3: Houston (This week: 2-0 vs Cincinnati, vs Kansas, Overall: 26-4)
Houston wins games with their defense. They have the number 1 scoring defense in the nation allowing their opponents just 58 points a game. They also have the number 3 defensive rating in the nation. L.J. Cryer has been their offensive leader of late and really the whole season. They travel to Waco for their in-state finale vs Baylor.
4: Michigan State (This week: 2-0 @Maryland, vs Wisconsin, Overall: 24-5)
After losing 3 of 4 in early feburary the spartans have found their ground. This week they grabbed a couple of Q1 wins against Maryland and Wisconsin who are both near the top of the Big 10 where Michigan State sits 1 game ahead of Michigan. The stat that stands out the most with this team is their 3 point defense, allowing opponents to 28%. Jase Richardson and Jaden Akins have been MSU’s guys.
5: Tennessee (This week: 2-0 @LSU, vs Alabama, Overall: 24-5)
Tennessee took down Alabama on a clutch game winner by Jahmai Mashack. Despite the excitiment from the thriller vs Alabama, it was not the prettiest week for Tennessee, clinging to a 6 point win vs an underwelming LSU team that is 3-13 in conference. Alabama lead for the majority of the second half. On the postive side, due to Tennesse’s impressive full body of work they have a shot at a 1 seed depending how thinks shake out.
6: Gonzaga (This week: 2-0 @Santa Clara, @San Francisco, Overall: 23-8)
7: Georgia (This week: 2-0 vs Florida, @Texas, Overall: 19-11)
8: Illinois (This week: 2-0 vs Iowa, @Michigan, Overall: 19-11)
9: BYU (This week: 3-0 @Arizona State, vs West Virginia, @Iowa State, Overall: 22-8)
10: Alabama (This week: 1-1 W vs Mississippi State, L @Tennessee, Overall: 23-6)
Honorable Mentions: St. John’s, Clemson, Texas Tech, Louisville
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