And there was one remaining. After Arizona fell in back-to-back games, one unbeaten team remains and it’s the Miami (OH) Redhawks of the MAC. There was no guessing that at the start of the year, but here we are. There was quite a bit of movement this week after a couple teams picked up quality wins over the number-one team in the country. Not to mention, the outlook on the Big Ten continues to take shape. Here’s how the Power 16 stacks out through fifteen weeks of the season.
1. Michigan Wolverines (24-1)
The Wolverines move into the top spot after two comfortable wins over Northwestern (87-75) and UCLA (86-56). Michigan’s starting lineup continues to find its rhythm, led by senior forward Yaxel Lendeborg and junior big Aday Mara. Meanwhile, the guard duo of sophomore LJ Cason and freshman Trey McKenney has provided a steady spark off the bench, offering reliable three-level scoring. Michigan will look to lean on its depth this week as it travels to face No. 13 Purdue on Tuesday before returning to Ann Arbor to host No. 4 Duke on Saturday.
2. UConn Huskies (24-2)
After a competitive loss to St. John’s, the Huskies responded with wins over Butler (80-70) and Georgetown (79-75). The guard tandem of junior Solo Ball and senior Silas Demary Jr. has begun to develop consistent chemistry. Freshman Braylon Mullins adds another dimension, bringing a no-fear mentality from three that makes this one of the most dangerous guard groups in the country. UConn will look for more reliable frontcourt production to complement senior forward Alex Karaban, the winningest player in program history, as the Huskies face Creighton on Wednesday and Villanova on Saturday.
3. Houston Cougars (23-2)
The Cougars took control in wins over Utah and Kansas State, imposing their identity on both ends of the floor. While the offense was balanced overall, senior guard Emanuel Sharp caught fire as an efficient long-range threat, helping carry the scoring load during a quieter stretch from freshman guard Kingston Flemings. Flemings will remain the primary catalyst moving forward as Houston enters a demanding stretch, facing No. 5 Iowa State tonight, No. 1 Arizona on Saturday, and No. 9 Kansas to open next week.
4. Duke Blue Devils (23-2)
The Blue Devils responded well after their narrow loss to No. 11 North Carolina, earning convincing wins over Pittsburgh (70-54) and No. 20 Clemson (67-54). There wasn’t a single dominant individual performance, but freshman forward Cameron Boozer and sophomore guard Isaiah Evans each delivered steady, high-level outings to lead a balanced effort. Duke will look for additional contributors to step forward as it faces Syracuse tonight before a marquee Feb. 21 matchup against No. 2 Michigan.
5. Arizona Wildcats (23-2)
The Wildcats dropped back-to-back games to No. 9 Kansas (82-78) and No. 16 Texas Tech (78-75) last week but remain one of the nation’s top teams despite the setbacks. Freshman guard Brayden Burries continues to establish himself as one of the conference’s premier young backcourt talents. Senior forward Tobe Awaka has provided a major impact off the bench, though he may need to transition into the starting lineup with freshman forward Koa Peat potentially sidelined due to a lower leg injury. The timing is challenging as Arizona enters the toughest stretch of its schedule, beginning with a Feb. 18 matchup against No. 22 BYU followed by a Feb. 21 showdown with No. 3 Houston.
6. Iowa State Cyclones (22-3)
After a 62-55 loss to TCU earlier in the week, the Cyclones responded with an impressive 74-56 win over a healthy No. 9 Kansas. Junior forward Milan Momcilovic bounced back from a difficult outing on Tuesday, showing improved efficiency from beyond the arc on Saturday. Meanwhile, freshman guard Jamarion Bateman provided valuable minutes off the bench, knocking down timely threes to help fuel the victory. Iowa State will need continued production from its supporting cast as it faces No. 3 Houston tonight and No. 22 BYU on Saturday.
7. Illinois Fighting Illini (21-5)
The Fighting Illini suffered a narrow 92-90 overtime loss to Wisconsin, marking their second straight overtime defeat, but responded with a convincing 71-51 win over Indiana to steady momentum. Freshman guard Keaton Wagler continues to outperform expectations as an under-the-radar recruit, showcasing highly efficient three-level scoring. Junior forward Tomislav Ivisic has provided steady interior production, while freshman forward David Mirkovic gives Illinois one of the nation’s most skilled frontcourt shooting tandems. Illinois will look to build on its perimeter success as it heads west to face USC and UCLA this week.
8. Kansas Jayhawks (19-6)
The Jayhawks earned a statement 82-78 home win over No. 1 Arizona without star freshman guard Darryn Peterson, but couldn’t sustain momentum, falling in blowout fashion to No. 5 Iowa State. Senior guard Melvin Council Jr. provided steady production, but Kansas struggled to generate consistent offense against the Cyclones’ defense, particularly with Peterson still working his way back to full strength. The week showcased both Kansas’ ceiling and its floor. As Peterson regains full health and rhythm, the Jayhawks should become increasingly dangerous. They’ll look to build consistency with matchups against Oklahoma State and Cincinnati this week.
9. Purdue Boilermakers (21-4)
After falling off the list two weeks ago, the Boilermakers have climbed back into the top 10 with key wins over No. 7 Nebraska (80-77) and Iowa (78-57). The Nebraska game turned into a grind in the second half, but Purdue closed it out in overtime behind strong work on the glass from senior bigs Oscar Kluff and Trey Kaufman-Renn. In critical moments, the veteran backcourt of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer, along with sophomore guard CJ Cox, delivered high-IQ decision-making and timely execution. Purdue will look for its starting unit to carry that momentum into its toughest test yet as it prepares to face No. 2 Michigan tomorrow.
10. Nebraska Cornhuskers (22-3)
The Cornhuskers couldn’t complete a comeback in an overtime loss to No. 13 Purdue but responded with a dominant 68-49 win over Northwestern. In the Purdue game, inconsistent production from junior forward Pryce Sandfort and freshman forward Braden Frager hurt Nebraska’s chances, while senior big Rienk Mast saw his offensive impact limited after fouling out late. Sandfort bounced back against Northwestern with improved shooting from deep. Still, Nebraska will need more consistent complementary production as the schedule softens with upcoming games against Iowa on Tuesday and Penn State on Saturday.
11. Texas Tech Red Raiders (19-6)
The Red Raiders put together a statement week, opening with a dominant 78-44 win over Colorado before going on the road to upset No. 1 Arizona in a dramatic 78-75 overtime victory. Junior big JT Toppin led the way, taking over late as Texas Tech’s offense leaned on his interior scoring, rebounding, and second-chance production against Arizona’s frontline. He was complemented by perimeter sparks from sophomore Christian Anderson and senior Donovan Atwell, both of whom provided timely shooting from distance. Texas Tech will look to carry that momentum into matchups with Arizona State and Kansas State this week.
12. Michigan State Spartans (20-5)
In their lone game of the week, the Spartans suffered a 92-71 loss to Wisconsin, struggling to keep pace throughout. Michigan State had no answer for the Badgers’ backcourt, as John Blackwell and Nick Boyd scored efficiently from all three levels. Offensively, sophomore Jeremy Fears Jr. was unable to generate enough scoring to keep up, while junior wing Coen Carr provided some production but not enough to shift momentum. Michigan State will need to find more consistent offensive firepower moving forward as it looks to bounce back against UCLA on Tuesday.
13. North Carolina Tar Heels (20-5)
Following their marquee win over No. 4 Duke, the Tar Heels stumbled with a 75-66 loss to Miami before rebounding with a 79-65 victory over Pittsburgh. However, the bigger development came with the loss of freshman forward Caleb Wilson, who is expected to miss extended time with a fractured hand. In his absence against Pittsburgh, junior forward Jarin Stevenson and freshman big Zayden High stepped up, with High making the most of his first career start as North Carolina played without both starting bigs. The Tar Heels will need continued production from their depth as they adjust ahead of matchups with NC State and Syracuse.
14. Gonzaga Bulldogs (25-2)
The Bulldogs steadied themselves after last week’s upset loss to Portland, responding with wins over Washington State (83-53) and Santa Clara (94-86). Senior big Graham Ike continues to anchor the offense as the primary scoring option, but this week also featured improved perimeter production from senior guard Adam Miller. Gonzaga received additional contributions from the bench, including senior guard Tyon Grant-Foster and freshman guards Mario Saint-Supery and Davis Fogle. The Bulldogs will continue to lean on their depth as they await the return of junior forward Braden Huff and prepare for matchups with San Francisco and Pacific.
15. Virginia Cavaliers (22-3)
The Cavaliers escaped with two narrow wins this week, edging Florida State (61-58) and Ohio State (70-66). Virginia’s starting group has struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm in recent weeks, highlighted by the recent difficulties of freshman forward Thijs de Ridder and senior guard Malik Thomas. One bright spot has been senior guard Jacari White, who has shown flashes as a perimeter threat and provided much-needed three-point shooting. While Virginia continues to execute in late-game situations, concerns remain about overall offensive consistency as the Cavaliers prepare for Georgia Tech on Wednesday and Miami on Saturday.
16. St. John’s Red Storm (20-5)
The Red Storm opened the week with an 87-82 overtime win over Xavier and followed it up with a hard-fought 79-69 victory against Providence. Despite the results, it was far from a routine stretch for Rick Pitino, who faced his son Richard before avenging an earlier loss. The frontcourt duo of seniors Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins has provided a strong two-way presence, while senior guard Dylan Darling has settled into an effective bench role, bringing energy and timely offense. St. John’s will look for continued production from its transfer-heavy roster as it prepares for matchups with Marquette and Creighton.
Next Five (Actually Six): Florida (19-6), Arkansas (19-6), BYU (19-6), Saint Louis (24-1), Vanderbilt (21-4), Miami (OH) (25-0)
Players of the Week:
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
After working his way back from a recent injury, Mikel Brown Jr. looks fully back in rhythm. He exploded for a career-high 45 points, hitting 10-of-16 from three while adding nine rebounds and three steals in a win over NC State, then followed with 29 points, six assists, and five steals against Baylor. After a brief dip in efficiency, Brown responded with elite shot-making from all three levels, reinforcing his profile as a potential top-10 pick.
Robert Wright III, BYU
Robert Wright III delivered a breakout week, scoring 30 points on 12-of-21 shooting with four steals in a win over Baylor. He followed that with a career-high 39 points in an overtime victory against Colorado, shooting 12-of-16 from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from three. Wright played under control, avoided forced attempts, and provided a major offensive lift alongside freshman star AJ Dybantsa.
Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
Darius Acuff Jr. continues to provide the steady production John Calipari hoped for from his freshman lead guard. He posted 28 points on 13-of-22 shooting in a blowout win over LSU, then delivered 31 points while going 7-of-10 from three and adding seven assists against Auburn. Acuff’s composure running the offense and his scoring efficiency have made him one of the SEC’s most impactful freshman guards.
Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor
Yessoufou continues to trend upward as the season progresses. He set a career high with 37 points in a narrow loss to BYU, shooting 12-of-19 from the field and 5-of-8 from three. After entering the season with lottery buzz, he has backed it up with high-volume scoring and athletic shot creation reminiscent of recent Baylor guard prospects.
Flory Bidunga, Kansas
While Kansas didn’t finish the week strong, Bidunga’s performance in a win over Arizona stood out. He took over late, finishing with a 23-point double-double and three blocks. With Darryn Peterson limited in that matchup, Kansas leaned on its interior presence, and Bidunga responded by showcasing his upside as a lob threat, rim protector, and physical paint anchor. His case for national defensive honors continues to strengthen.
Play of the Week:
Flory Bidunga Alley-oop Poster vs Arizona
https://x.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/2021068634416873704?s=20
