With each week, conference play across the country continues to heat up. After an action-packed Saturday slate of games, CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish updated his college basketball Top 25 And 1 Rankings.
On Saturday alone, nine teams ranked in the AP Top 25 suffered losses. Five of those losses came against unranked foes. Despite the wave of shocking results, the SEC continued to reign supreme in Parrish’s rankings, boasting a conference-high 10 teams on the list.
Of course, Parrish showed plenty of love to other deserving teams. With so much to cover, let’s dive into his latest Top 25 And 1 Rankings.
Previous Ranking: 1
Although Johni Broome is still sidelined for the Tigers with an ankle sprain, they keep finding ways to win. Saturday was no exception, as Auburn pulled out a gritty 70-68 win over Georgia.
In the win, Tahaad Pettiford scored a team-high 24 points off the bench while shooting 5-7 from beyond the arc. He wasn’t the only standout for the Tigers. Chad Baker-Mazara and Miles Kelly also combined for 26 points in the win.
Previous Ranking: 3
Duke didn’t have any close calls this weekend. The Blue Devils dominated Boston College 88-63 on Saturday. Duke has now won 12 games in a row, and it isn’t showing any signs of stopping.
As usual, freshman sensation Cooper Flagg was spectacular in the win, amassing 28 points, five rebounds and four assists. It was a homecoming game for Flagg, who is from Massachusetts.
Previous Ranking: 2
On Saturday, Iowa State suffered only its second loss of the season, falling 64-57 to West Virginia. In the loss, the Cyclones looked lethargic, rarely getting to the foul line and only shooting seven total free throws.
Iowa State was also uncharacteristically loose with the ball, committing 14 turnovers. Curtis Jones led the way for the Cyclones, recording a team-high 18 points and eight rebounds while shooting 8-16 from the floor.
Previous Ranking: 8
Alabama saw the largest jump of any team in Parrish’s rankings this week. After falling 74-64 to Ole Miss on Tuesday, the Crimson Tide bounced back with an impressive 102-97 win over Kentucky in Rupp Arena.
The Crimson Tide looked like a well-oiled machine in the win, amassing 20 assists on their 30 made field goals. Kentucky struggled to match Alabama’s physicality in the paint. In turn, the Crimson Tide shot 14 more free throws than the Wildcats.
Previous Ranking: 7
It was a roller coaster of a week for Florida. On Tuesday, the Gators suffered a nail-biting 83-82 loss to Missouri. However, they redeemed themselves on Saturday with a convincing 84-60 triumph over Texas.
Florida’s backcourt duo of Alijah Martin and Walter Clayton Jr. gave the Longhorns fits, notching 41 combined points on 15-29 shooting. Not to be outdone, Alex Condon posted 11 points and 12 rebounds in the victory.
Previous Ranking: 5
After riding high with a blowout win over Georgia on Tuesday, Tennessee sputtered on Saturday in a 76-75 loss to Vanderbilt. It was only the Commodores’ second win in the last 14 meetings between the two in-state rivals.
In the loss, Tennessee star Chaz Lanier had a chance to tie the game with 2.8 seconds left but missed his second free throw, ultimately leading to Vanderbilt securing the win. Four of Tennessee’s five starters scored double figures in the win but the Volunteers’ bench amassed just eight points.
Previous Ranking: 6
Kentucky fell one spot in Parrish’s rankings this week after suffering a 102-97 loss to Alabama at home. The Wildcats couldn’t find stops in the loss. This has been a growing concern for the Wildcats, who are allowing 76.1 points per game, ranking 291st in the country.
Although Kentucky’s defense was subpar in the outing, the ‘Cats showed why their offense is one of the most dangerous in the nation. Seven players scored double digits for Kentucky and the team totaled 20 assists.
Previous Ranking: 4
Marquette suffered the biggest drop in Parrish’s rankings this week, falling four spots. Evidently, Parrish wasn’t happy with the Golden Eagles’ performance in their 59-57 loss to Xavier.
In fairness, there wasn’t much to celebrate for Marquette. National Player of the Year candidate Kam Jones recorded just 11 points while shooting 5-13 from the floor and committing four turnovers. Despite the loss, the Golden Eagles are still second in the Big East Conference standings.
Previous Ranking: 9
Michigan State is quietly shaping up to be one of the best teams in the country. The Spartans entered the season unranked — an oddity for head coach Tom Izzo and the Spartans. Alas, it hasn’t taken long for Michigan State to make its doubters eat their words.
The Spartans are currently on an 11-game win streak, most recently defeating No. 19 Illinois in an 80-78 barnburner. Tre Holloman was the hero for the Spartans in the win, tallying a team-high 17 points.
Previous Ranking: 11
Mississippi State showed off its resiliency this week. After falling in 88-66 blowout fashion to Auburn on Tuesday, the Bulldogs downed Ole Miss 84-81 in overtime on Saturday. Riley Kugel scored a season-high 21 points in the Bulldogs’ winning effort.
However, he was far from Mississippi State’s only contributor. Four other Bulldogs scored double figures against the Rebels. Rebounding was the difference in the battle, with Mississippi State hauling in 19 offensive boards compared to Ole Miss’ mere eight.
11. Purdue (+2)
12. Kansas
13. Oregon (-3)
14. Ole Miss
15. Illinois
16. Texas A&M
17. Memphis
18. Houston (+2)
19. Michigan
20. Wisconsin (+1)
21. Missouri (+1)
22. UConn (-4)
23. Georgia
24. St. John’s (+1)
25. West Virginia (Previously unranked)
26. Louisville (Previously unranked)
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