Men’s College Basketball Top 10 Power Rankings Week 18: New No. 1 After Auburn Tumbles

Auburn Tigers — Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

A new king sits atop Sportsnaut’s college basketball top 10 power rankings after Auburn’s upset loss to Texas A&M reshuffles the deck. Here’s how the landscape looks heading into crucial conference tournament play.

10. Maryland Terrapins (Last week: Not ranked)

The Maryland Terrapins (23-7) round out our top 10 after bouncing back from their gut-punch, last-second loss to Michigan State by defeating Penn State and No. 17-ranked Michigan. Maryland faces Northwestern in their regular-season finale before the Big Ten Tournament tips off.

9. Alabama Crimson Tide (Last week: 4)

The Alabama Crimson Tide (23-7) tumble five spots after losing back-to-back games against Tennessee and Florida, dropping four of their last six overall. The road doesn’t get any smoother as they face Auburn in a high-stakes regular-season finale on March 8.

8. Texas Tech Red Raiders (Last week: Not ranked)

The Texas Tech Red Raiders (23-7) vault to No. 8 after impressive victories over Kansas and Colorado. They’re emerging as a legitimate Final Four threat with their balanced attack. Texas Tech closes regular-season play against Arizona State on March 8 before the Big 12 Tournament begins.

7. Tennessee Volunteers (Last week: 6)

The Tennessee Volunteers (24-6) experienced a roller-coaster week, securing a last-second win against No. 7-ranked Alabama before suffering their own final-seconds heartbreak against Ole Miss. They’ll look to regain momentum against South Carolina on March 8 before SEC tournament play begins.

6. Michigan State Spartans (Last week: 9)

The Michigan State Spartans (24-6) are on quite the roll, winning five straight, including three consecutive victories over ranked opponents. Tom Izzo has his squad peaking at the perfect time. They look to continue their surge against Iowa on March 6 before the Big Ten Tournament begins.

5. St. John’s Red Storm (Last week: 8)

Could the St. John’s Red Storm (26-4) secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament? After capturing the Big East regular-season championship with their victory over Seton Hall, St. John’s faces No. 20-ranked Marquette on March 8 before conference tournament action. If they complete the double by winning both regular season and tournament titles, the Red Storm could lock up a coveted top seed.

4. Florida Gators (Last week: 5)

The Florida Gators (26-4) have rebounded impressively following their upset loss to Georgia, knocking off ranked teams in back-to-back contests against Texas A&M and Alabama. They close regular-season play against Ole Miss at home on March 8 before turning their attention to the conference tournament.

3. Auburn Tigers (Last week: 1)

Despite claiming the SEC regular-season crown, the Auburn Tigers (27-3) drop two spots following their surprising 83-72 setback against No. 22-ranked Texas A&M. Bruce Pearl’s squad will look to reestablish momentum before tournament play when they face No. 7-ranked Alabama in a high-stakes rivalry showdown on March 8.

2. Houston Cougars (Last week: 3)

The Houston Cougars (26-4) secured the Big 12 regular-season title with impressive home victories over Cincinnati and Kansas. Kelvin Sampson’s defensive juggernaut appears to have a No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed all but locked up. They’ll wrap regular-season play against Baylor on March 8 before the conference tournament begins.

1. Duke Blue Devils (Last week: 2)

The Duke Blue Devils (27-3) ascend to No. 1 in Sportsnaut’s final Men’s College Basketball Power Rankings heading into conference tournament play and March Madness. Coach Jon Scheyer’s squad is firing on all cylinders, dismantling recent competition with ruthless efficiency — blasting Florida State by 35 and Wake Forest by 33. Duke faces archrival North Carolina in the regular-season finale on March 8 as they look to wrap up the ACC regular season crown.