Four weeks through the season, we should be able to have a comfortable viewpoint on most teams, causing significant fluctuation across the country. Both undefeated Purdue and Arizona continue their dominant starts to the season while Houston slips after taking their first loss in a battle with Tennessee. Meanwhile, Duke, Louisville, and Michigan keep their undefeated seasons alive with the Wolverines finding their identity after a dominant Players Era Festival win. Here’s how the Power 16 stacks up after the fourth week of play.
1. Purdue Boilermakers (7-0)
The Boilermakers remain at the top as they’ve continued to dominate each week. They didn’t face much of a challenge this week, but similarly to last week in a ranked win, Purdue put the hammer down in a dominant 109-62 win over Eastern Illinois. This time, it was towering 7-4 sophomore Daniel Jacobsen leading the way, giving notice to the depth of big man talent they possess outside of Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Kluff. The trio of bigs will have to remain consistent threats as they set their eyes on a Dec. 6 matchup against No. 15 Iowa State.
2. Arizona Wildcats (7-0)
Arizona continues their hot start to the 2025 season with two massive margin of victories over Denver (103-73) and Norfolk State (98-61). The Wildcats have found the best balance of freshman talent and veteran experience. Not only has Koa Peat been one of the best freshman in the nation, but other young studs like Brayden Burries, Ivan Kharchenkov, and Dwayne Aristode, have flourished in bunches. These freshmen will have extreme chances to show their value in the Wildcats’ rotation as Arizona awaits No. 21 Auburn next Saturday.
3. Duke Blue Devils (8-0)
With only one game marked on the calendar this past week, the Blue Devils were dead set on their matchup No. 22 Arkansas, ultimately sealing a comfortable 80-71 win. Even with Arkansas’ freshman guard duo stepping up, the game turned into a coming out party for Duke freshman big Cameron Boozer. Duke’s stars continuously display their ability to take over in the most pivotal moments. They’ll have an opportunity to prove it immediately as two top-15 opponents loom between No. 10 Florida and No. 11 Michigan State.
4. Michigan Wolverines (7-0)
Before this week, the Wolverines had been the most polarizing team in the country after beginning the season with narrow wins over teams like Wake Forest and TCU. However, they turned up another gear this week, winning the Players Era Festival behind three dominant victories, including a tournament-clinching 101-61 win over No. 12 Gonzaga. Michigan went into the season with loads of depth, and they finally pieced it together led by the bench versatility of freshman guard Trey McKenney and senior wing Roddy Gayle Jr. The Wolverines look to keep the momentum heading into conference play when they face Rutgers on Dec. 6.
5. Louisville Cardinals (7-0)
The Cardinals took care of business in convincing fashion over both Eastern Michigan and NJIT this week. It’s easy to center their early success around the excellent play from senior guard Ryan Conwell, but Louisville’s staple has been their depth at the guard position. Whether it’s Conwell, freshman Mikel Brown Jr., Virginia transfer Isaac McKneely or senior J’Vonne Hadley carrying the load, the Cardinals will always have answers offensively. The guard play will need to thrive more than ever as they look toward No. 22 Arkansas and No. 25 Indiana in their next two games.
6. Houston Cougars (7-1)
Houston was another team that played in the Players Era Festival. However, they weren’t as lucky as Michigan, taking their first loss of the season in a narrow 76-73 loss against No. 17 Tennessee. Freshman guard Kingston Flemings has continued his rise despite the loss while fellow freshman big Chris Cenac Jr.’s impact has slowly gone unnoticed. Overall, Houston’s offensive struggles have stemmed from the inconsistency of senior guard Emanuel Sharp, who just hasn’t found his rhythm on higher volume. Those problems should expect to improve as their schedule enters conference play after the new year.
7. UConn Huskies (6-1)
The Huskies bounced back quickly from their first loss last week, adding a crucial 74-61 win over No. 13 Illinois. UConn put forth a defensive clinic in the outing, giving Illinois limited space to operate effective offensive possessions. Senior forward Alex Karaban has developed all-around consistency while Dayton transfer Malachi Smith has provided quality guard depth as a facilitator. The Huskies continue to impress with a high effort and cohesion despite junior guard Solo Ball’s inefficiencies. Awakening Ball should remain the Huskies’ top priority as they face a stingy Kansas team on Tuesday.
8. BYU Cougars (6-1)
The Cougars made a second-half surge in an 83-79 win over Dayton to crown themselves Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational champions. The powerful trio of AJ Dybantsa, Richie Saunders and Robert Wright III continues to deliver for BYU, emphasizing the importance of team starpower. Depth could become a concern for the Cougars, but their reliable stars have only elevated the play of their counterparts, including junior wing Kennard Davis Jr. and senior big Keba Keita. They’ll have plenty of time to find valuable bench pieces as BYU enters a light stretch of their schedule.
9. Michigan State Spartans (7-0)
As their undefeated season continues, the Spartans stay on the rise with the team’s most recent 74-58 win over No. 16 North Carolina only giving more proof to their dominance. Michigan State’s defensive versatility combined with elite athleticism has created their lockdown defensive mentality. The senior front court duo of Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper remains difficult to contain. Meanwhile Jeremy Fears Jr. isn’t limited to initiating the duo’s production as he and Coen Carr have become the catalysts to a disruptive defensive unit. The unit will be tested this week as they face Iowa before their Dec. 6 matchup against No. 4 Duke.
10. Gonzaga Bulldogs (6-1)
Even with an ugly 101-61 loss to Michigan in the Players Era Festival championship, Gonzaga proved they can match up with most teams in the country after a convincing 95-85 win over No. 8 Alabama last Monday. Braden Huff has remained a constant in the front court through his elite inside presence while transfer guard Tyon Grant-Foster has broken loose as the Bulldogs’ lead shot creator. After failing to impact the game in their loss, star big Graham Ike will search for a bounce back as Gonzaga gets ready to face No. 19 Kentucky on Dec. 5.
11. Iowa State Cyclones (7-0)
The Cyclones are undefeated through the month of November and it was capped off with three straight wins in the Players Era Festival, including a tight 83-82 victory over No. 14 St. John’s. The combination of Milan Momcilovic and Joshua Jefferson continued to make their mark while a Tamin Lipsey injury allowed the Cyclones to display the talented play of freshman French guard Killyan Toure who filled into the starting five effortlessly. Toure and Iowa State will get the chance to showcase their potential upside as the Cyclones look upon a Dec. 6 matchup against No. 1 Purdue.
12. North Carolina Tar Heels (6-1)
North Carolina fell to No. 11 Michigan State in their Thanksgiving matchup, causing them to slide slightly in these rankings. Freshman forward Caleb Wilson has continued a dominant start to his collegiate career. Junior transfer Henri Veesaar has become an interior force on both ends of the floor for the Tar Heels, but fellow transfer Kyan Evans has struggled to translate his effective jumper now against greater competition. Evans will have to return to his sophomore form as North Carolina searches for answers with a tough week ahead against No. 19 Kentucky and Georgetown.
13. Tennessee Volunteers (7-1)
The Volunteers put together a statement 76-73 win over No. 3 Houston in the Players Era Festival last Tuesday. Led by their starting guard duo, transfer guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie brought the offensive spark and long distance shotmaking while sophomore Bishop Boswell brought the defensive physicality and hustle, continuing his step into becoming a vital connecting piece on both ends. Despite a 81-76 loss to Kansas the day after their big win, the best has yet to come for Nate Ament and others, and the best will be needed with No. 13 Illinois on their radar on Saturday.
14. Alabama Crimson Tide (5-2)
Alabama took a disappointing 95-85 loss to No. 12 Gonzaga to begin last week. They answered the loss, rebounding with two blowout wins over UNLV and Maryland, scoring 100-plus points in both outings. Labaron Philon Jr. leads the charge alongside junior Aden Holloway, making up one of the most dynamic guard duos in the country. Sophomore Aiden Sherrell has developed into a force on the boards. Freshman London Jemison has emerged as a promising piece to the Crimson Tide’s rotation, showing quality frame and versatility. They’ll have time to reset as they won’t be tested until their Dec. 13 matchup against No. 2 Arizona.
15. Florida Gators (5-2)
The Gators were on the opposite end of an upset 84-80 loss against TCU on Thanksgiving. Once again, the struggles of Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee have made the difference even with junior guard Urban Klavzar capitalizing on his role as a three-point sniper off the bench. When the front court trio can’t step up offensively, the Gators seem to have no answers. Lee had a breakout performance for Florida in their 90-78 win over Providence, using his handle to create space and penetration. The Gators will need more from him and Fland to keep elevating their game as No. 4 Duke and No. 5 UConn have arrived on the calendar.
16. Auburn Tigers (6-2)
While the Tigers got embarrassed by No. 7 Michigan, they rebounded, securing an 85-74 win over No. 14 St. John’s. Senior forward Keyshawn Hall’s attacking mindset and sophomore guard Tahaad Pettiford’s three-level scoring serves as a nice blend together. Meanwhile, the Tigers have a good sample of front court talent, including KeShawn Murphy, Elyjah Freeman, and Sebastian Williams-Adams. Auburn will look for their top-tier talent to come alive as they face both No. 23 NC State and No. 2 Arizona in the next week, capping off four straight ranked opponents.
Next Five: Illinois Fighting Illini (6-2), Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-2), Kentucky Wildcats (5-2), Arkansas Razorbacks (5-2), Vanderbilt Commodores (8-0)
Players of the Week:
Cameron Boozer, Duke
Boozer has led Duke to greater heights to begin the season. The latest Blue Devils freshman star put together a statement 35-point performance on 13-of-18 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 from deep in the team’s win over No. 22 Arkansas to advance to an 8-0 record. He’s continued to showcase his dominant paint presence and developing ability to stretch the floor at a consistent level. There’s no question Boozer is in the conversation for the potential top pick in next year’s draft as his upside and ability make him as NBA-ready as a prospect can be.
Duke Miles, Vanderbilt
Miles has been the main reason for Vanderbilt’s early success and undefeated 8-0 start to the season. His hot start only continued this week after scoring 28 points, 20 points, and 25 points in each of the Commodores’ three Marriott Bonvoy Battle 4 Atlantis games. In his sixth collegiate season and first with Vanderbilt, Miles has been more efficient than ever. He’s gotten to the stripe effectively, shot from deep efficiently while also being one of the biggest pests in passing lanes on defense in the nation.
Robert Wright III, BYU
The Cougars have freshman star AJ Dybantsa and senior wing Richie Saunders, but the most forgettable star on the Cougars has been the Baylor transfer, Wright III. He’s become the lead initiator and it was on display in BYU’s win over Dayton where he tallied 23 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals on 9-of-16 shooting from the field. Wright III has been a key transfer acquisition in the Cougar’s quest to compete, and so far, it’s only benefited both parties as he’s developed into a valuable three-level scorer.
Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
Momcilovic had two great outings this past week, including 23 points on 5-of-9 shooting from deep in a win over No. 14 St. John’s. He followed it up two days later, scoring 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field while launching 6-of-10 from distance, establishing his biggest strength as a modern-day mismatch at the stretch four position. The Cyclones are becoming more dangerous as the season progresses, and Momcilovic’s improved overall efficiency has been a significant catalyst.
Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn
In three games during the Players Era Festival, Pettiford registered 24 points in a win over Oregon, 16 points in a loss to No. 7 Michigan, and 27 points in a win over No. 14 St. John’s. He was as consistent as any player in the tournament, displaying his high-level shotmaking ability and three-level scoring excellence. As an undersized guard, Pettiford finds success getting to his hot spots on the floor and has consistently shown how great he could translate as a designated microwave scorer.
Play of the Week:
Xaivian Lee Ankle Breaker vs Providence
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