Power Rankings: Michigan new No. 1 after Duke loss, Tre Jones injury
Tre Jones finds a wide-open Cam Reddish on the inbounds pass, and Reddish nails the game-winning 3. (0:44)
Tre Jones is out, Duke lost and we need a new No. 1.
Duke was at the top of the rankings for most of the season thus far, jumping Kansas on opening night, dropping after the Gonzaga loss and then retaking the mantle after Kansas fell. But after the Blue Devils suffered their second loss of the season, at home to Syracuse, on Monday, the debate begins once again. And with Jones injured, Duke’s fall from the top could last longer this time around.
There are really only three candidates right now: Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia.
We’ll likely have a more detailed debate come Sunday, after Michigan plays at Wisconsin, Virginia plays at Duke and Tennessee finishes up home games against Arkansas and Alabama, but for now, it goes to Michigan.
The Wolverines have been arguably the nation’s most consistent team from the start of the season, with only two of their 15 wins coming by single digits. They have won 31 of their last 32 games dating back to last season, the lone loss coming in the national championship game to Villanova.
Despite all that, they haven’t moved to No. 1 at all during that stretch … until now.
1. Michigan Wolverines (17-0)
Previous ranking: 2
This week: at Wisconsin (Saturday, 12 p.m. ET)
Since Michigan started really rolling in late November, people have circled the next two weeks as potential spots for a first Wolverines loss. On Saturday, they head to the Kohl Center to face what could be a desperate Wisconsin team. And then next week, it’s off to Bloomington to play Indiana. If John Beilein’s team survives those two, it’s going to get awfully interesting.
2. Tennessee Volunteers (14-1)
Previous ranking: 3
This week: vs. Arkansas (Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2), vs. Alabama (Saturday, 2 p.m. ET)
One of Tennessee’s deficiencies this season has been inconsistency from the perimeter, but the return to health — and form — of Lamonte Turner could be a huge boost. Turner missed nine of the first 12 games of the season, but he is starting to get back into the fold. In his last two games, he’s 5-for-10 from 3-point range. He hit nearly 40 percent of his attempts last season.
3. Virginia Cavaliers (15-0)
Previous ranking: 4
This week: vs. Virginia Tech (Tuesday, 8 p.m. ET on ACC Network/Watch ESPN), at Duke (Saturday, 6 p.m. ET on ESPN)
Tony Bennett’s team faces a massive statement week: home vs. Virginia Tech and at Duke. We’ll know by the end of this weekend the true pecking order of the ACC championship race. The Hokies and Blue Devils have two of the elite offenses in the country, while Virginia has held eight straight opponents to fewer than 0.90 points per possession.
4. Duke Blue Devils (14-2)
Previous ranking: 1
This week: Lost to Syracuse 95-91 in overtime on Monday, vs. Virginia (Saturday, 6 p.m. ET on ESPN)
All season, opposing coaches and scouts said the biggest issue for Duke would be when teams took away the lane and forced the Blue Devils to make perimeter shots. On Monday, the Orange utilized their 2-3 zone — and Duke ended up taking more 3s than 2s. It didn’t work. The Blue Devils shot 20.9 percent on their 43 (!) 3-point attempts. The bigger concern moving forward? Tre Jones left the game in the first half with a shoulder injury, and the school announced he would be out indefinitely with a separated AC joint.
5. Gonzaga Bulldogs (16-2)
Previous ranking: 5
This week: vs. Loyola Marymount (Thursday, 9 p.m. ET), at Portland (Saturday, 10 p.m. ET)
We’ve talked all throughout non-conference play about how much the return of Tillie and Geno Crandall would help, and on Saturday, Tillie went for 14 points, six rebounds and three assists before fouling out, while Crandall hit a clutch 3 and also played significant minutes late to take the pressure off of Josh Perkins. A healthy Gonzaga is a legitimate national title contender.
6. Texas Tech Red Raiders (15-1)
Previous ranking: 8
This week: vs. Iowa State (Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET on ESPNU), at Baylor (Saturday, 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2)
From a historical perspective, Texas Tech’s defense is performing at an all-time level. The Red Raiders’ adjusted defensive efficiency would be the best since at least 2002, as that’s as far back as KenPom’s rankings go. Texas’ 62 points on 64 possessions Saturday was the best offensive outing for an Texas Tech opponent yet this season — and it didn’t crack the one-point-per-possession mark.
7. Michigan State Spartans (15-2)
Previous ranking: 7
This week: at Nebraska (Thursday, 8 p.m. ET on FS1)
The Spartans are in the midst of a stretch in which they’re on the road for four of five games, with the lone home tilt coming against a hot Maryland team. Tom Izzo’s team is looking like an ancillary national championship contender lately, rolling despite an injury to Langford. Despite lower preseason expectations, this should be Izzo’s first second-weekend NCAA Tournament team since 2015.
8. Kansas Jayhawks (15-2)
Previous ranking: 8
This week: Beat Texas 80-78 on Monday, at West Virginia (Saturday, 2 p.m. ET)
Kansas and close games are going to be a thing all season, it would appear. After the Jayhawks’ two-point home win over Texas on Monday, 11 of their 17 games have been decided by single-digits — with five of those games decided by one possession or in overtime. Yet they continue to survive most of these outings. Monday’s surprising star was Marcus Garrett, a defensive stopper who stepped up with 20 points.
9. Virginia Tech Hokies (14-1)
Previous ranking: 9
This week: at Virginia (Tuesday, 8 p.m. ET on ACC Network/Watch ESPN), vs. Wake Forest (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET on ACC Network/Watch ESPN)
For some people, the jury is still somewhat out on the Hokies. They’re 14-1 with an elite offense, but their best wins have come against a Purdue team with five other losses and a Washington team that hasn’t defeated a top-75 team. Tech also looked unimpressive against Georgia Tech last week. Winning Tuesday at Virginia would offer a surefire way to convince the detractors.
10. Nevada Wolf Pack (16-1)
Previous ranking: 11
This week: at Boise State (Tuesday, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN), vs. Air Force (Saturday, 10 p.m. ET on ESPNU)
There are few players more consistent than senior forward Jordan Caroline. The former Southern Illinois transfer has tallied 10 double-doubles already this season, scoring in double figures in every single game — while scoring fewer than 15 points just once. Caroline just put up 19 points and 16 rebounds in a solid road win at Fresno State over the weekend.
11. Kentucky Wildcats (12-3)
Previous ranking: 12
This week: at Georgia (Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN), at Auburn (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET on ESPN)
Ashton Hagans was on his way to making a claim as the best point guard in the 2019 class before reclassifying and enrolling at Kentucky. Seven months later, he’s arguably been the catalyst for the Wildcats’ recent improvement. He’s now scored in double figures in four straight games, while dishing out 18 assists and racking up 14 steals during that span.
12. Buffalo Bulls (15-1)
Previous ranking: 13
This week: at Western Michigan (Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+), vs. Eastern Michigan (Friday, 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU)
Jeremy Harris‘ 3-point shooting ability was one of Buffalo’s biggest assets last season, and he had a 23-point effort against Arizona in the NCAA Tournament. But he struggled for most of the first two months of the season, shooting below 30 percent from behind the arc. In his last two games, Harris is 9-for-15 from 3-point range, and he has totaled 51 points.
13. Houston Cougars (16-1)
Previous ranking: 14
This week: at SMU (Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET on ESPNNews), at South Florida (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET on ESPNU)
Houston bounced back from its first loss of the season with a win over Wichita State on Saturday, but the Cougars allowed more than one point per possession for the third straight game — after not letting an opponent hit that threshold since Nov. 24. Houston will be tested again this week, as the Cougars travel to face both SMU, which has won nine of its last 11, and South Florida, which has suffered its four losses by a combined 11 points.
14. North Carolina Tar Heels (12-4)
Previous ranking: 15
This week: vs. Notre Dame (Tuesday, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN), at Miami (Saturday, 12 p.m. ET)
Entering the weekend, it looked like the Tar Heels were set to go on a little bit of a run, given their upcoming schedule. Suddenly, things look a little more daunting after a blowout home loss to Louisville. UNC will face Miami on the road next weekend, followed by a visit from Virginia Tech two days later — followed by back-to-back road games. Will we have a better handle on Carolina by the end of this stretch?
15. Ole Miss Rebels (13-2)
Previous ranking: 16
This week: vs. LSU (Tuesday, 9 p.m. ET on SEC Network), vs. Arkansas (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network)
While John Beilein and Chris Beard are the clear frontrunners for Coach of the Year honors, Kermit Davis is doing a dynamite job in Oxford. The Rebels were picked to finish last in the SEC in the preseason, but they have now won 10 straight games after beating Auburn and Mississippi State — the latter coming on the road — last week. They’re going to be a factor moving forward.
16. Marquette Golden Eagles (13-4)
Previous ranking: Unranked
This week: at Georgetown (Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. ET, FS1), vs. Providence (Sunday, noon ET, CBSSN)
Markus Howard and the Golden Eagles rise into the rankings — but it could be short-lived if they can’t figure out their road form. They have played three away games this season: at Indiana (lost by 23), at St. John’s (lost by 20) and at Creighton (needed 53 points from Howard to win in overtime). Up next is a road trip to Georgetown on Tuesday.
Dropped out: NC State (No. 13), Florida State (No. 11)