1. Gonzaga Bulldogs 23 – 3 (12 – 0)
Undefeated in conference play and with early wins over Texas, UCLA, and Texas Tech, the Zags have found themselves on top of nearly every poll. We will see how Gonzaga can do on the road this week having to travel to San Francisco and Saint Mary’s.
Current odds to win National Title: +400
2. Arizona Wildcats 24 – 2 (14 – 1)
The Wildcats were tested this week at home. Arizona let bottom-feeder Oregon State stick around for too long but won 83-69. They also beat a desperate Oregon Ducks team 84-81.
Current odds to win National Title: +800
3. Auburn Tigers 24 – 3 (12 – 2)
Auburn went into a tough environment Saturday and lost to Florida 63-62. The Tigers had a chance to win the game in the last couple seconds but turned the ball over after an odd play.
This upcoming Saturday Bruce Pearl and Company will have to travel to Tennessee in a big SEC matchup.
Current odds to win National Title: +1000
4. Kansas Jayhawks 22 – 3 (11 – 2)
After going 2 – 0 this week the Jayhawks moved up the rankings. Oklahoma State didn’t pose a threat in Phog Allen Fieldhouse but playing West Virginia on the road was a challenge. Kansas has lost to West Virginia six times since the Mountaineers joined the Big 12 but the Jayhawks came out with a 71 – 58 victory.
Current odds to win National Title: +1800
5. Kentucky Wildcats 22 – 5 (11 – 3)
Kentucky started the week having to travel to Tennessee and were smoked 76-63. Tennessee controlled most of the game, holding the Cats to their lowest point total since January 4.
The story of the week for Kentucky was their game Saturday at home against Alabama. Starting guards TyTy Washington and Sahvir Wheeler were ruled before the game, leaving Kellan Grady in charge of the offense. Grady came through with 25 points and gave Kentucky a big 90-81 victory.
Kentucky will finish off February against LSU and on the road at Arkansas.
Current odds to win National Title: +750
6. Purdue Boilermakers 24 – 4 (13 – 4)
Purdue ended an amazing run by Rutgers on Sunday, evening the season series at one game apiece. The Boilermakers have one of the best offenses in the nation. No. 1 in Offensive Efficiency on KenPom and averaging 82.2 points/game, this team could make the Final Four.
Current odds to win National Title: +1000
7. Texas Tech Red Raiders 21 – 6 (10 – 4)
While Purdue is great because of their offense, Texas Tech is great because of their defense. The Red Raiders have beat Baylor and Texas over the past week and have a good chance of winning out in their final four games of the regular season. As of right now Texas Tech should be considered a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Current odds to win National Title: +3000
8. Duke Blue Devils 23 – 4 (13 – 3)
Duke’s three losses in ACC play have come by a combined total of FOUR points. The Blue Devils are only a couple of buckets away from being cemented in the top three of this list. They will get a chance at revenge against Virginia this week and travel to a (hopefully) packed Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
Oh, this team beat Gonzaga earlier this season.
Current odds to win National Title: +1500
9. Villanova Wildcats 21 – 6 (14 – 3)
‘Nova needed a win in Providence on Tuesday night to give them a shot at winning the Big East regular season title. Collin Gillespie guided the Wildcats to a 89-84 victory and are currently a half-game behind Providence in the standings with three games remaining before the Big East Tournament.
Current odds to win National Title: +2500
10. Providence Friars 22 – 3 (12 – 2)
Providence has three games left to fend off Villanova for the Big East title, but get this… the Friars and Wildcats will play each other again on March 1 in Philadelphia. The winner of that game will likely be crowned the regular season champions of the Big East.
Current odds to win National Title: +10000
11. Wisconsin Badgers 21 – 5 (12 – 4)
The Badgers went 2 – 0 this week with a win at Indiana and a convincing 14-point victory over Michigan. Johnny Davis keeps proving why he could be the National Player of the Year. Davis leads Wisconsin in points, rebounds, and assists.
Current odds to win National Title: +8000
12. Baylor Bears 22 – 5 (10 – 4)
In their first game without leading rebounder Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, Baylor lost to Texas Tech by 10 in Lubbock. The Bears were out-rebounded 41-30 in the loss. TCU came to town searching for a win to keep them ahead of the bubble, but Baylor won by 10 despite being out-rebounded again.
Baylor will host Kansas this upcoming Saturday.
Current odds to win National Title: +2000
13. Illinois Fighting Illini 19 – 7 (12 – 4)
Illinois fell victim to red-hot Rutgers Wednesday night but bounced back in a big way with a road victory over Michigan State.
National Player of the Year candidate Kofi Cockburn scored 27 points in the win over Michigan State. Cockburn hasn’t scored less than 17 points in a game in over a month.
Current odds to win National Title: +4000
14. UCLA Bruins 19 – 5 (11 – 4)
The Bruins had Washington and Washington State come to Pauley Pavilion this past week and UCLA handled both easily. Jaylen Clark had 18 points against Wazzou and 25 against Washington.
Current odds to win National Title: +2500
15. Tennessee Volunteers 19 – 7 (10 – 4)
Tennessee could have found themselves higher on this list if they did not suffer a tough loss at Arkansas on Saturday after scoring only 48 points. The Vols pounded rival Kentucky 73-63 earlier in the week with help from guards Kennedy Chandler and Santiago Vescovi combining for 35 points.
Their two biggest games left before the end of the regular season are at home against Auburn and a rematch against Arkansas.
Current odds to win National Title: +4000
16. USC Trojans 23 – 4 (12 – 4)
USC survived a close game on Sunday night against a Washington State team needing a big Quad 1 win to get back on the bubble. Boogie Ellis had 21 points to lead the Trojans after scoring a combined 9 points in USC’s previous two games.
The Trojans still have games against UCLA and Arizona to give them better seeding in the NCAA Tournament.
Current odds to win National Title: +8000
17. Arkansas Razorbacks 21 – 6 (7 – 7)
One of the hotter teams in the country, Arkansas has won 11 of their past 12 games. The Hogs hosted Tennessee on Saturday and held the Vols to 48 points – 25 less than Tennessee’s average for the season.
Arkansas will travel to Florida this week looking to avoid the same result Auburn had in The Swamp on Saturday.
Current odds to win National Title: +8000
18. Ohio State Buckeyes 16 – 7 (9 – 5)
Ohio State stomped Minnesota 70-45 earlier in the week but suffered a 13-point home loss to Iowa on Saturday. Leading scorer EJ Liddell was held to 15 points and one assist in the loss to Iowa.
The Buckeyes will be tested this week as they will host Indiana and go on the road to Illinois.
Current odds to win National Title: +7000
19. Houston Cougars 22 – 4 (11 – 2)
Houston was seconds away from suffering their third loss in four games but came out on top at Wichita State in double overtime. The Cougars are missing leading scorer Marcus Sasser, who has been out since before Christmas.
Over the past two weeks or so, Houston has dropped down in a lot of polls and metrics.
Current odds to win National Title: +4000
20. Saint Mary’s Gaels 22 – 6 (10 – 3)
Saint Mary’s played host to bubble teams San Francisco and BYU this past week and took care of business winning both games 69-64. Firmly in the field of 68, the Gaels are playing for seeding now.
This coming Saturday Saint Mary’s will host Gonzaga. A win against the Zags will surly bump up Saint Mary’s a seed line or two.
Current odds to win National Title: +13000
21. Murray State Racers 26 – 2 (16 – 0)
UT Martin is 8 – 20 overall but took Murray State to the final buzzer losing 62-60. Murray State has strong enough metrics to find themselves in the tournament if they stumble late in the Ohio Valley conference tournament to either Belmont or Morehead State, but head coach Matt McMahon has the Racers in line to win their third OVC tournament title in five seasons.
Current odds to win National Title: +15000
22. UConn Huskies 19 – 7 (10 – 5)
UConn started February with losses to Creighton, Villanova, and Xavier but have won three straight and will host Villanova Tuesday night. Leading scorer RJ Cole has averaged 15 points/game in the Huskies three-game winning streak.
Current odds to win National Title: +10000
23. Texas Longhorns 19 – 8 (8 – 6)
Chris Beard is 0 – 2 versus his former team Texas Tech after a six-point loss to the Red Raiders on Saturday. Guard Andrew Jones scored 20 points for the Longhorns, but he was the only player for Texas to reach double-digits.
Current odds to win National Title: +5000
24. Rutgers Scarlet Knights 16 – 10 (10 – 6)
Ah, Rutgers. A phenomenal winning streak came to a close on Sunday at Purdue, but the Scarlet Knights had beaten four straight ranked Big Ten teams. Rutgers found themselves on the right side of the bubble after obtaining four Quad 1 victories.
Current odds to win National Title: +20000
25. Alabama Crimson Tide 17 – 10 (7 – 7)
Alabama almost won at Kentucky in back-to-back games for the first time in school history but lost 90-81 in a heartbreaker while Kentucky was short-handed. Keon Ellis had a season-high 28 points and made seven three-pointers.
Current odds to win National Title: +7000
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