Males’s NCAA Rankings: Nebraska, Virginia Climb, Arizona Nonetheless on Prime

What an awesome week of college basketball! We started with five undefeated teams, and now, we are down to three: Arizona, Nebraska, and Miami (Ohio), as Vanderbilt and Iowa State both lost back-to-back games. 

Conference play is always more difficult because the coaches and players know each other so well, and the road environments are tougher than those neutral-floor, non-conference games in NBA arenas. Expect to see more chaos in the next six weeks.

Games to mark on your calendar:

• Arizona at BYU on Jan. 26
• Nebraska at Michigan on Jan. 27

With that, right here’s the newest version of my males’s faculty basketball rankings, as of Jan. 18.

INDIANAPOLIS: Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. drives to the basket in opposition to Indiana’s Conor Enright at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on December 6, 2025. (Picture by Michael Hickey/Getty Photos)

Everybody remains to be ready for when level guard Mikel Brown Jr. will return from a again harm, forcing him to overlook eight straight video games. Even with out him, this Louisville crew could be very stable and ranked sixteenth by KenPom. Guard Ryan Conwell had 24 factors in a blowout win on the highway in opposition to Pitt. The Cardinals play Duke in eight days.

The Tigers have received eight straight video games and personal the 14th most effective protection within the sport. They’re 6-0 in ACC play, with 4 of these wins coming by double digits. Utah Valley switch ahead Carter Welling (team-high 18 factors vs. Miami) has been a stable large man all season.

The Bilikens are 17-1, and that lone loss got here off a miracle 3-pointer by Stanford. Nevertheless, their schedule ranks three hundredth, and their finest win is a neutral-court victory over Santa Clara. I like this group, although, and it has six guys averaging double figures in factors, led by their large man, Robbie Avila.

A brutal week for the Tar Heels, as they traveled greater than 2,600 miles to get swept by Cal and Stanford. They couldn’t guard anybody all weekend, giving up 179 factors mixed. The frontcourt duo of ahead Caleb Wilson and middle Henri Veesaar was good however didn’t have a lot assist.

I’m beginning to fear concerning the Hogs. They’re wildly proficient, however they’re everywhere in the map. They dropped 108 factors on South Carolina however then received pushed round in a 90-76 loss to Georgia. They’re additionally 3-2 in SEC play. That’s most likely the place they will sit for the remainder of the season, proper?

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA: Florida’s Thomas Haugh dunks in opposition to the Tennessee Volunteers at Stephen C. O’Connell Heart on January 10, 2026. (Picture by James Gilbert/Getty Photos)

Welcome again, Gators! Wins over Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt (on the highway!) have them safely again in my high 25. Ahead Thomas Haugh (pronounced “How-ck”) has been an All-American this season, and the Gators can dominate groups on the glass.

Maybe no crew had a extra vital week than the Jayhawks. Dominant house wins over Iowa State (beforehand undefeated) and Baylor had been precisely what I wanted to see to nonetheless consider on this crew. Freshman guard Darryn Peterson’s scoring efficiency in opposition to Baylor was unimaginable: 26 factors on 11-of-13 capturing in simply 23 minutes.

An uneven week noticed the Bulldogs lose at house to Ole Miss in extra time, however they rebounded with a 14-point win over a proficient Arkansas crew. Their 3-point capturing (32.2%) is holding them again a little bit.

I do know 5 losses in January is lots for a crew ranked this excessive, however not one of the losses are dangerous (even the one at Minnesota). The Hawkeyes are among the many high 30 in each offensive and defensive effectivity, in keeping with KenPom. Level guard Bennett Stirtz managed Indiana’s protection all day on Saturday (27 factors, 5 assists) for a giant highway win.

After two losses to Texas and Vanderbilt final week, I had my eye on the Crimson Tide. They didn’t disappoint with a highway sweep of Mississippi State and Oklahoma. Sophomore guard Labaron Philon Jr. scored 53 factors mixed within the wins. He’s a stud.

DALLAS: Virginia Cavaliers head coach Ryan Odom talks to protect Dallin Corridor throughout a sport in opposition to SMU on January 17, 2026, at Moody Coliseum.  (Picture by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos)

Head coach Ryan Odom has the Cavaliers working at a excessive stage. 5 straight wins, together with a highway sweep of Louisville and SMU, despatched a transparent assertion that they’re a real ACC contender. Sadly, Duke and Virginia solely play one time this season, Feb. 28 in Durham.

Texas Tech’s efficiency on Saturday evening in opposition to BYU was an excellent instance of what this crew can do. Guard Christian Anderson’s 22 factors and 7 assists, mixed with ahead JT Toppin’s 27 factors and 12 rebounds, offers the Purple Raiders the game’s high duo. Defensively, their protection made one of many sport’s finest gamers, BYU ahead AJ Dybantsa, work for each sliver of house (13 factors on 6-of-17 capturing).

Since dropping at house to Nebraska means again on Dec. 13, Illinois has not misplaced a sport. Freshman guard Keaton Wagler continues to be the crew’s finest, most constant participant, and he led once more on Saturday in opposition to Minnesota with 17 factors and 5 assists.

Not surprisingly, the Spartans continued to select up wins this week over Indiana and Washington. Surprisingly, level guard Jeremy Fears Jr. led them in scoring each video games with 21 factors per sport. There’s a logjam within the Huge Ten behind Nebraska.

The Zags acquired horrible information this week when second-leading scorer and ahead Braden Huff received damage in observe and shall be out 4 to eight weeks. Then, main scorer and fellow ahead Graham Ike sat out their sport on Saturday at Seattle U with a foot difficulty. I used to be fearful they may lose, however then freshman guard Mario Saint-Supery dropped 20 factors off the bench in a blowout win. Gonzaga’s roster is all the time one of many deepest within the nation.

AUSTIN: Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner drives to the basket in opposition to the Texas Longhorns at Moody Heart on January 14, 2026. (Picture by Scott Wachter/Getty Photos)

It was a horrible week for the Commodores, as they had been blown out by Texas on the highway after which misplaced at house to a re-surging Florida squad, 95-90. Vandy’s offense nonetheless ranks fourth within the nation (that will get you bonus factors with me!), however they received dominated on the glass this week.

The Cougars misplaced their second sport of the season on Saturday evening to a unbelievable Texas Tech crew. The environment in Lubbock was superior, and BYU’s potent offense may solely muster 71 factors. Famous person wing AJ Dybantsa regarded regular (13 factors, three rebounds, one help) and ahead Keba Keita was a non-factor (zero factors and 4 rebounds in 21 minutes).

The undefeated Cornhuskers preserve destroying everybody of their path. A 35-point beatdown of Oregon adopted by a 19-point highway win at Northwestern was spectacular. So why aren’t they ranked greater than seventh? Nebraska ranks thirteenth in KenPom, a metric that I weigh closely. It’s sixth within the NET. The Cornhuskers’ finest wins are at Illinois and residential in opposition to Michigan State. On a impartial flooring, they’d be vital underdogs in opposition to each different crew in my high seven.

How is a 17-1 Houston crew flying beneath the radar? I don’t know. Final Saturday, the Cougars blasted Baylor by 22 on the highway after which smashed West Virginia at house by 29 on Tuesday. Sunday, they beat Arizona State, 103-73. Their offense nonetheless wants work — particularly with 3-point capturing and ball motion — however that protection isn’t any enjoyable to play in opposition to.

The Cyclones went from undefeated to a two-loss crew within the blink of a watch. That may very well be life within the Huge 12 for a lot of groups. Iowa State was blown out in Allen Fieldhouse (comprehensible), however then it couldn’t get well in a 70-79 loss at Cincinnati. The Bearcats are higher than their 10-8 report, and Iowa State’s protection may solely power eight turnovers.

STANFORD, CA: Duke’s Isaiah Evans and Cameron Boozer react to a basket from the bench throughout a sport in opposition to the Stanford Cardinal on January 17, 2026 at Maples Pavilion. (Picture by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos)

Whereas their rival Tar Heels couldn’t breathe within the California air, the Blue Devils cruised by means of Cal and Stanford by a mixed 45 factors. Ahead Cameron Boozer had 30 factors in opposition to the Cardinal, and Duke’s protection restricted their high scorer, level guard Ebuka Okorie, to only 9 factors. Spectacular two-way exhibiting.

The Boilermakers didn’t look very spectacular for the primary 38 minutes of their sport at USC. However when it got here right down to the ultimate minutes, they confirmed their true character. Guard Braden Smith’s steal and layup with fewer than 10 seconds to go capped his 22-point effort. Trey Kaufman-Renn hasn’t regarded like himself, currently, however they’re nonetheless successful.

The Wolverines swept the Pacific Northwest highway journey (Oregon and Washington), however I’d nonetheless give them a B+ for the week. My private expectations are sky-high for this group, although. Level guard Elliot Cadeau had 17 factors at Oregon, and middle Aday Mara had 20 factors at Washington. It’s a distinct Wolverine nearly each evening.

In a Huge East Convention that isn’t what it’s been in recent times, I anticipate the Huskies to annihilate their competitors. The final 4 video games, they’ve been severely examined by Windfall, DePaul, Seton Corridor after which a nasty Georgetown crew Saturday. They escaped the Hoyas by two factors, and middle Tarris Reed Jr. regarded good (15 factors, 12 rebounds), however UConn hasn’t put collectively an excellent efficiency in three weeks.

TUCSON, ARIZONA: Wildcats’ Koa Peat celebrates after scoring in opposition to the Arizona State Solar Devils at McKale Heart on January 14, 2026. (Picture by Christian Petersen/Getty Photos)

I used to be on the decision for Arizona‘s sport final Wednesday in opposition to their in-state rival, Arizona State. The Solar Devils had an opportunity within the ultimate minutes to get the upset, however the Wildcats wouldn’t let it occur. Forwards Koa Peat and Tobe Awaka mixed for 49 factors and 15 rebounds. Awaka has cemented himself as the highest sixth man within the nation. After sharing one vote with Iowa State final week, the Wildcats would be the unanimous No. 1 crew within the nation this week.

Casey Jacobsen is a nationwide faculty basketball reporter and analyst for FOX Sports activities. He was a three-time All-Pac-10 choice at Stanford and a First-Crew All-American as a sophomore. Observe him at @cjacobsen23.

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