Every week in the past, we had Tennessee No. 1 and Auburn No. 2. The Volunteers then went out and beat Illinois on the street … and we’re dropping them to No. 2.
So what is the reasoning?
Simply put, Auburn has been much more dominant than Tennessee, regardless of the Vols being undefeated and Auburn struggling a loss to Duke earlier this month. The Tigers have been essentially the most dominant workforce via six weeks within the historical past of KenPom’s database, they usually rank No. 1 in each efficiency-based metric. They additionally personal wins over Iowa State, Houston, Memphis, North Carolina and Ohio State — all away from house — and have essentially the most Quadrant 1 wins within the nation with 5.
Tennessee is terrific and it is not a shock to see the Vols sit at No. 1 within the AP ballot. They will very probably enter SEC play at 13-0. But they have not overwhelmed anybody ranked inside the highest 20 of the Power Rankings but.
While it is shut, Auburn has a superior résumé, superior metrics — and we might take the Tigers on a impartial courtroom. If Tennessee beats Florida on the street on Jan. 7 — or Auburn falls to Purdue this weekend — we are going to revisit this debate.
1:23
Auburn’s Johnson explains offensive outburst coming off the bench
Stepping up after an damage to Johni Broome, Chaney Johnson displays on his mindset as his position modifications and he scores 26 factors on 12-of-14 taking pictures.
Previous rating: 2
All eyes are on the provision of Johni Broome, who performed simply three minutes in opposition to Georgia State on Monday earlier than leaving with a shoulder damage. He sat on the bench within the second half together with his arm in a sling. The college introduced Wednesday that Broome did not want surgical procedure, however he will likely be reevaluated every day. Bruce Pearl changed Broome on Tuesday with Chaney Johnson, who had one of the best sport of his profession: 26 factors on 12-for-14 taking pictures, eight rebounds and 4 assists.
Next seven days: vs. Purdue in Birmingham (Dec. 21)
Previous rating: 1
Tennessee’s defensive efficiency in opposition to Western Carolina was this system’s finest within the historical past of the KenPom database, limiting the Catamounts to 0.49 factors per possession (36 factors on 73 possessions). Given the Volunteers have ranked within the high 5 in adjusted defensive effectivity in every of the previous 5 years, it is a tremendously spectacular document. Oddly sufficient, Tennessee’s earlier document for fewer factors per possession allowed? Nov. 30, 1998, in opposition to … Western Carolina.
Next seven days: vs. Middle Tennessee (Dec. 23)
Previous rating: 3
It’s exhausting to understate the influence that Saint Mary’s switch Joshua Jefferson has had on the Cyclones. He was thought-about an ideal pickup within the portal given his monitor document for protection and toughness with the Gaels, however Jefferson has dramatically improved Iowa State on the offensive finish. He went for 19 factors, 10 rebounds and seven assists in opposition to Iowa, has scored in double-figures in 5 straight video games and provides the Cyclones’ offense completely different appears to be like as a consequence of his versatility.
Next seven days: at Morgan State (Dec. 22)
Previous rating: 4
Lamont Butler missed two video games, together with Kentucky’s win in Seattle over Gonzaga, and wasn’t even a lock to swimsuit up in opposition to Louisville on Saturday. Not solely did he swimsuit up, however he additionally began and put up an eye-popping stat line: 33 factors on 10-for-10 taking pictures, 6-for-6 from 3, and 6 assists. He was solely the second SEC participant prior to now 20 years to complete with 30-plus factors on 100% discipline purpose taking pictures, in keeping with ESPN Research.
Next seven days: vs. Ohio State in New York (Dec. 21)
1:44
No. 5 UK’s Butler ecstatic after career-high 33 factors vs. Louisville
Following his good taking pictures efficiency together with six threes within the rivalry win, Lamont Butler says Mark Pope helped the Wildcats type sturdy connections within the preseason.
Previous rating: 6
Jon Scheyer made a lineup change heading into the Auburn sport Dec. 4, shifting Caleb Foster to the bench and slotting Sion James into the beginning 5. James, the fifth-year Tulane switch, has introduced a special degree of physicality and two-way potential, whereas additionally permitting Foster to be a spark offensively off the bench. In his 4 video games as a starter, James is averaging 8.3 and 4.3 rebounds, together with 11 factors within the win over Louisville.
Next seven days: at Georgia Tech (Dec. 21)
Previous rating: 7
Full credit score to Nate Oats for happening the street to North Dakota to play a homecoming sport for Grant Nelson, nevertheless it was almost a catastrophic journey for the Crimson Tide. They barely acquired out of Grand Forks with a win, surviving a 40-point effort from North Dakota sharpshooter Treysen Eaglestaff. It was becoming that Nelson made three enormous performs down the stretch and completed with 23 factors and 10 boards, whereas Mark Sears has now hit 20-plus factors in 5 of his previous six video games.
Next seven days: vs. Kent State (Dec. 22)
Previous rating: 8
Next seven days: vs. North Florida (Dec. 21)
Florida had its two hardest video games of the season prior to now week, dominating Arizona State in Atlanta over the weekend after which surging late to beat North Carolina in Charlotte after blowing a 17-point first-half lead. In addition to the standard suspects on the perimeter — Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard and Alijah Martin — Todd Golden has gotten good mileage not too long ago out of Denzel Aberdeen. He’s scored 12 factors in two of the previous three video games and is taking pictures 40% from 3 on the season.
Previous rating: 10
Oregon at No. 8 within the nation may really feel excessive — however the résumé speaks for itself. The Ducks have neutral-court wins over Alabama, Texas A&M and San Diego State — three groups within the high 20 of the Power Rankings. Their solely loss is by two factors to UCLA, one other workforce within the high 20 of the Power Rankings. Whether Dana Altman’s workforce is a legit Big Ten title contender in its first season within the league will likely be examined by its subsequent 5 convention video games: vs. Illinois, vs. Maryland, at Ohio State, at Penn State, vs. Purdue.
Next seven days: at Stanford in San Jose (Dec. 21)
Previous rating: 5
Marquette opened Big East play with a 10-point win over Butler on Wednesday, however the Golden Eagles’ defensive points are persevering with to crop up. After permitting only one workforce to attain a couple of level per possession of their first eight video games, they’ve now allowed 4 straight opponents to hit no less than 1.11 factors per possession. According to CBB Analytics, Marquette ranks outdoors the highest 140 nationally in 2-point proportion protection, fast-break factors allowed and paint factors allowed.
Next seven days: at Xavier (Dec. 21)
Previous rating: 11
After one of many least productive five-game stretches of his school profession, Hunter Dickinson has been far dominant in Kansas’ previous two video games. He’s coming off a 21-point, 14-rebound, 7-assist efficiency in opposition to NC State and had 19 factors, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks within the loss to Missouri. In the 5 video games earlier than the defeat, he was averaging 10.4 factors and eight.8 rebounds — capped by simply six factors within the loss at Creighton. He’s as much as No. 4 in KenPom’s Player of the Year standings.
Next seven days: vs. Brown (Dec. 22)
Previous rating: 17
Texas A&M added to its extremely sturdy away-from-home résumé final weekend, beating Purdue in Indianapolis — that means the Aggies have overwhelmed the Boilermakers, Texas Tech, Creighton and Rutgers outdoors of College Station. Minnesota switch Pharrel Payne had his finest sport in an A&M uniform, ending with 16 factors and 9 rebounds. Payne has been noticeably extra productive coming off the bench, averaging 8.8 factors and three.6 boards in 5 video games as a reserve, in comparison with 5.8 factors in six video games as a starter.
Next seven days: vs. Houston Christian (Dec. 20)
Previous rating: 19
UConn’s win over Xavier was tougher than anticipated, particularly because the Musketeers have been with out Zach Freemantle. But the Huskies pulled it out in extra time, by some means it is their first conference-opening win in Hartford since 1995. Tarris Reed Jr. has been stellar throughout the current profitable streak, highlighted by his 20-point, 13-rebound efficiency in opposition to the Musketeers. It was wanted given Samson Johnson‘s absence as a consequence of a concussion suffered in opposition to Gonzaga.
Next seven days: at Butler (Dec. 21)
Previous rating: 13
Sean Pedulla was one of many extra intriguing transfers to watch coming into this season. After incomes All-ACC honors at Virginia Tech, Pedulla opted for a totally completely different system and magnificence when he ended up at Ole Miss. But the Oklahoma native is flourishing in Oxford. He’s having essentially the most environment friendly offensive season of his profession, whereas additionally making his largest defensive influence. After scoring no less than 16 factors in three straight video games, Pedulla was held to 9 factors in opposition to Southern however dished out seven assists and totaled seven blocks and steals.
Next seven days: vs. Queens (Dec. 21)
Previous rating: 22
Another workforce that is gotten again to enjoying the staunch protection usually related to its head coach is UCLA, which is now third nationally in adjusted defensive effectivity. The Bruins have allowed simply two groups to attain a couple of level per possession, they usually gained each of these video games. They lead the nation in defensive turnover proportion, and opponents are taking pictures simply 29.1% from 3-point vary in opposition to them.
Next seven days: vs. North Carolina in New York (Dec. 21)
Previous rating: Unranked
Tuesday’s sport in opposition to UNLV had all of the hallmarks of a basic entice sport. Dayton was coming off an enormous house win over Marquette and the Flyers head to Cincinnati to play the in-state rival Bearcats on Friday. UNLV, in the meantime, had misplaced three of its previous 4 video games. And if not for Malachi Smith‘s bucket-and-foul with eight seconds left, Dayton would have dropped a stunner at house. But the Flyers got here out with the win and have an opportunity so as to add a fourth victory over an influence convention opponent this weekend.
Next seven days: at Cincinnati (Dec. 20)
Previous rating: 9
Mark Few has a balanced eight-man rotation that appears to characteristic a special participant or two each sport in a starring position (outdoors of Ryan Nembhard, who shoulders a heavy position each night time). According to EvanMiya.com, the Zags have 5 completely different lineups they’ve used for no less than 45 possessions. Their only, each offensively and defensively, is one which options all three key reserves — Braden Huff, Ben Gregg, Dusty Stromer — plus Nembhard and Khalif Battle. Something to watch shifting ahead.
Next seven days: vs. Bucknell (Dec. 21)
Previous rating: 18
Jeremiah Fears‘ unbelievable freshman marketing campaign had its largest second Wednesday night time. The 18-year-old, who was nonetheless enjoying AAU in the summertime and did not reclassify till July, completed with 30 factors, together with 20 within the second half and a surprising four-point play with 11 seconds left to beat Michigan. He was averaging 16.7 factors, 3.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists coming into the sport, scoring in double figures in each contest.
Next seven days: vs. Central Arkansas (Dec. 22)
Previous rating: 14
A reputation to look at for San Diego State is freshman ahead Pharaoh Compton, who not too long ago earned back-to-back Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors. Compton hasn’t began a sport but for the Aztecs, however he had 13 factors within the extra time win over Houston in Las Vegas after which had 12 factors and 6 rebounds in a victory over San Diego. And most significantly for Brian Dutcher, he is lively defensively and on the offensive glass.
Next seven days: at California in San Jose (Dec. 21)
Previous rating: 15
The emergence of Joseph Tugler as a legit NBA prospect has been an interesting storyline for the Cougars this season. He’s averaging simply 5.8 factors, however he is skyrocketed up NBA draft boards — simply outdoors the highest 30 in ESPN’s newest 2025 rankings — due to his elite defensive potential and offensive rebounding prowess. Against Toledo on Wednesday, he additionally confirmed some offensive pop, scoring 13 factors (whereas additionally totaling 5 blocks and steals).
Next seven days: vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi (Dec. 21)
Previous rating: 25
Outside of Kam Jones, there is a case to be made that PJ Haggerty has been one of the best guard in school basketball this season — and he confirmed it once more in opposition to Virginia on Tuesday. He completed with 27 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. According to ESPN Research, it was the thirty seventh straight sport Haggerty has scored in double figures, the second-longest lively double-digit scoring streak in Division I. He was averaging 21.9 factors, 6.0 rebounds and three.5 assists coming into the sport.
Next seven days: vs. Mississippi State (Dec. 21)
Previous rating: 12
Against energy convention competitors, maybe Purdue’s largest predictor of success has been its potential to deal with the ball. The Boilermakers turned it over 13 instances in opposition to Marquette, 22 instances in opposition to Penn State and 16 instances in opposition to Texas A&M — all losses. In their largest wins — over Alabama, NC State, Ole Miss and Maryland — they coughed it up fewer than seven instances per sport. Auburn does not flip groups over a ton, however Purdue is in hassle Saturday if it will possibly’t cope with the Tigers’ aggressiveness and physicality.
Next seven days: at Auburn in Birmingham (Dec. 21)
Previous rating: 20
After a pair of less-than-impressive performances in opposition to Prairie View A&M and McNeese, Chris Jans made a lineup change, changing Riley Kugel with Claudell Harris Jr. Harris, a Boston College switch, responded with 19 factors and 5 3-pointers in a win over Central Michigan. He’s averaging 14.8 factors and taking pictures 44.4% from 3 in his previous 4 video games. Kugel, in the meantime, is averaging 5.5 factors on 37.5% taking pictures in his previous 4 video games since dropping 22 within the loss to Butler.
Next seven days: at Memphis (Dec. 21)
Previous rating: 21
Michigan State pulled away within the second half in opposition to Oakland on Tuesday, with the Spartans working their profitable streak to 4 video games behind 18 factors off the bench from Xavier Booker, who has hit double-figures in 4 straight. But the funniest a part of the night time got here from Tom Izzo and Greg Kampe sporting matching sweaters.
Next seven days: Florida Atlantic (Dec. 21)
Previous rating: 24
Baylor is within the midst of a 16-day break between video games — and a 20-day break between video games in opposition to Division I opponents. While a lot of the consideration on the Bears has been for his or her explosive perimeter group or Miami switch Norchad Omier, the shock for Scott Drew’s unit is junior massive man Josh Ojianwuna. The Nigeria native scored in double figures 5 instances complete in his first two seasons in Waco; he is already matched that quantity this season. He’s been an actual asset on the offensive glass, too.
Next seven days: None
Previous rating: Unranked
St. John’s has but to notch a marquee win this season, dropping in double extra time to Baylor and by three to Georgia in a four-day span in late November. But the Red Storm have elite metrics, rating within the high 25 within the NET, whereas sitting within the high 15 at KenPom and Bart Torvik. Rick Pitino is getting breakout seasons from Zuby Ejiofor and Simeon Wilcher; the latter is averaging 13.3 factors and taking pictures 40% from 3 over his previous 4 video games.
Next seven days: at Providence (Dec. 20)
Dropped out: Clemson Tigers (No. 16), Illinois Fighting Illini (No. 23)
