After a week packed with potential Final Four-caliber matchups, the national picture is beginning to take sharper shape. Duke made a major statement with a gritty win over the nation’s top-ranked team, fueling its rise in the rankings, while key injuries around the country have started to reshape the outlook for several contenders. The chaos didn’t stop there, as a number of highly regarded teams were knocked off in upset fashion, adding another layer of volatility to the race. With separation beginning to form and March approaching, here’s how the Power 16 looks as the madness continues to build.
1. Duke Blue Devils (25-2)
The Blue Devils rolled past Syracuse in a 101-64 blowout before delivering a statement 68-63 win over No. 1 Michigan. Freshman bigman Cameron Boozer led the way with a dominant all-around performance, pacing the team across the box score against the Wolverines. Sophomore big Patrick Ngongba II anchored the interior alongside him, making timely plays on the glass in key moments. Duke also received valuable perimeter production from sophomore guard Isaiah Evans, who provided reliable spacing and shooting throughout the week. Performances like Saturday’s reinforce Duke’s championship credentials as the Blue Devils turn their attention to matchups with Notre Dame and No. 14 Virginia.
2. Michigan Wolverines (25-2)
The Wolverines slide down one spot after a dominant 91-80 win over No. 7 Purdue was followed by their second loss of the season, a hard-fought defeat at No. 3 Duke. Despite the split, Michigan continues to show strong overall form. Senior forward Yaxel Lendeborg has found his rhythm from beyond the arc, adding another dimension to the offense, while the bench unit has provided stability with sophomore guard LJ Cason and freshman guard Trey McKenney helping control tempo. For Michigan to reach its offensive ceiling, junior guard Elliot Cadeau will need to deliver more consistent production. The Wolverines will look to build cohesion against Minnesota before a Feb. 27 showdown with No. 10 Illinois.
3. Arizona Wildcats (25-2)
After back-to-back losses the previous week, the Wildcats responded with two critical wins over No. 23 BYU (75-68) and No. 2 Houston (73-66). With freshman forward Koa Peat sidelined by a lower leg injury, Arizona needed its supporting cast to step up, and it did. Freshman forward Ivan Kharchenkov provided energy and impactful hustle plays, while senior guard Anthony Dell’Orso added valuable floor spacing and perimeter shooting. Even as freshman guard Brayden Burries battled through an inefficient stretch, Arizona showed the depth and balance that make it a national contender. The Wildcats will look to carry that momentum into matchups with Baylor on Wednesday and No. 9 Kansas on Saturday.
4. Iowa State Cyclones (23-4)
The Cyclones experienced a mixed week, grinding out a 70-67 win over No. 2 Houston before falling 79-69 to No. 23 BYU. Iowa State showed strong balance in the Houston victory, with every key contributor scoring at least five points. However, the lack of a consistent offensive leader has led to uneven scoring stretches, which showed up in the loss. Junior forward Milan Momcilovic has struggled to find his rhythm over the past two weeks, and his recent dip has lowered the team’s offensive ceiling. With a deep and productive rotation, Iowa State has the pieces to stabilize, but a resurgence from Momcilovic will be important as the Cyclones prepare for Utah and No. 13 Texas Tech this week.
5. Houston Cougars (23-4)
The Cougars endured a difficult week, dropping close contests to No. 6 Iowa State and No. 4 Arizona. Freshman guard Kingston Flemings provided strong efforts throughout, but Houston lacked consistent support around him. Senior guard Emanuel Sharp struggled with efficiency and dealt with foul trouble, while freshman big Chris Cenac Jr. showed flashes of his impact on the glass. Depth remains the primary concern for the Cougars, who will need more bench production moving forward. Houston faces a key road test at No. 9 Kansas tonight before returning home to take on Colorado.
6. UConn Huskies (25-3)
Dan Hurley will be looking for a stronger response after the Huskies dropped a 91-84 upset to Creighton before bouncing back with a 73-63 win over Butler. Defensive lapses proved costly in the loss, and senior Alex Karaban went through a difficult offensive stretch. Freshman guard Braylon Mullins continues to develop into a reliable perimeter threat, but UConn still needs more consistent backcourt production, as junior Solo Ball has struggled to maintain steady output. The Huskies will look for improved guard play as they prepare for a key Feb. 25 matchup against No. 17 St. John’s.
7. Purdue Boilermakers (22-5)
The Boilermakers opened the week with a tough loss to No. 1 Michigan but responded in dominant fashion, rolling past Indiana 93-64. Senior forward Trey Kaufman-Renn reestablished his presence with strong production and physicality on the glass, while the veteran backcourt of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer controlled the offense with a blend of playmaking and perimeter shooting. Freshman guard Omer Mayer also provided a boost, emerging as a reliable floor spacer from beyond the arc. Purdue will look to build on that momentum as it prepares for No. 15 Michigan State on Thursday before a road trip to Ohio State on Sunday.
8. Illinois Fighting Illini (22-6)
After a dominant 101-65 win over USC, what looked like a strong West Coast trip took a turn with a heartbreaking 95-94 overtime loss to UCLA. Freshman Keaton Wagler wasn’t able to carry the offensive load this week, but Illinois still saw encouraging contributions elsewhere. Junior forward Jake Davis and senior forward Ben Humrichous have become reliable perimeter threats, while Andrej Stojakovic continues to provide a scoring spark when called upon. The Illini’s offense remains one of their strengths, but defensive consistency will be the key moving forward as they prepare for a Feb. 27 showdown with No. 1 Michigan.
9. Nebraska Cornhuskers (23-4)
The Cornhuskers opened the week with a disappointing 57-52 loss to Iowa but bounced back with an impressive 87-64 win over Penn State. Junior forward Pryce Sandfort continues to lead the offense as a versatile three-level scorer, while senior guard Sam Hoiberg keeps the unit organized with steady playmaking and decision-making. Freshman forward Braden Frager adds another perimeter dimension alongside Sandfort, giving Nebraska additional floor spacing. When the Cornhuskers’ offense is in rhythm, they are a difficult team to contain. They’ll look to build momentum against Maryland on Wednesday before beginning a West Coast road trip on Saturday.
10. Michigan State Spartans (22-5)
The Spartans have regained momentum with back-to-back wins over UCLA (82-59) and Ohio State (66-60). Sophomore guard Jeremy Fears Jr. continues to set the tone, effectively organizing and controlling the offense. Michigan State has also benefited from strong complementary play, including steady production from freshman forward Jordan Scott over the past month. Senior big Carson Cooper has provided timely interior impact, giving the Spartans a reliable physical presence inside. Michigan State will look for continued growth from its supporting cast as it heads on the road to face No. 7 Purdue on Thursday and Indiana on Sunday.
11. Kansas Jayhawks (20-7)
The Jayhawks endured another difficult week, following their loss to Iowa State with an 84-68 defeat to Cincinnati that overshadowed an 81-69 win over Oklahoma State. Much of the focus remains on star freshman guard Darryn Peterson. Without Peterson, Kansas has shown strong chemistry and flow, but integrating him back into the lineup has at times disrupted the team’s offensive rhythm. The talent level is undeniable, yet overall cohesion has been inconsistent. Kansas will need to find the right balance quickly as it enters a challenging stretch against No. 2 Houston tonight and No. 4 Arizona on Saturday.
12. Gonzaga Bulldogs (27-2)
Since their surprising loss to Portland, the Bulldogs have responded with five straight victories, including an 80-59 win over San Francisco and a 71-62 result against Pacific. Senior Graham Ike continues to anchor the offense with consistent interior production, while junior forward Emmanuel Innocenti has filled the stat sheet with his activity on both ends. Freshman guard Davis Fogle has also provided valuable bench minutes, particularly with his reliability at the free-throw line. With multiple contributors stepping up, Gonzaga’s depth has become a clear strength as the Bulldogs prepare for a rematch with Portland on Wednesday before closing the regular season against Saint Mary’s on Saturday.
13. Florida Gators (21-6)
The Gators continue their climb in the rankings, extending their winning streak to seven games with victories over South Carolina (76-62) and Ole Miss (94-75). Their frontcourt trio remains the foundation, with juniors Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh providing versatile scoring while Rueben Chinyelu controls the glass and anchors the interior. Senior guard Xaivian Lee has grown increasingly comfortable within the system, emerging as the primary facilitator behind Florida’s offensive efficiency. The Gators will look to maintain their momentum as they travel to Texas before preparing for a Feb. 28 showdown with No. 20 Arkansas.
14. St. John’s Red Storm (22-5)
The Red Storm have stayed red-hot since their early home loss, building a 13-game winning streak, their longest in 41 years. Head coach Rick Pitino has emphasized the team’s defensive intensity following wins over Marquette (76-70) and Creighton (81-52). Senior big Zuby Ejiofor anchors the defense and sets the physical tone, while on the offensive end senior forward Bryce Hopkins and senior guard Dylan Darling have thrived in defined roles since arriving as transfers. St. John’s will look to extend its streak and complete a season sweep of No. 5 UConn on Wednesday before hosting Villanova on Saturday.
15. Virginia Cavaliers (24-3)
The Cavaliers have been one of the steadiest teams in the country, adding wins over Georgia Tech (94-68) and Miami (86-83) to their résumé. After a stretch of uneven offensive play, Virginia showed improved efficiency behind freshman forward Thijs de Ridder and senior guard Malik Thomas. The bench has also become increasingly important, with freshman Chance Mallory and senior Jacari White providing timely production and backcourt depth. Virginia will look to maintain that offensive rhythm as it faces NC State on Tuesday before a major test against No. 3 Duke later in the week.
16. Texas Tech Red Raiders (20-7)
The Red Raiders endured a difficult week, falling to Arizona State 72-67 and losing star junior JT Toppin to a season-ending ACL injury. Texas Tech responded with a convincing 100-72 win over Kansas State, but the long-term impact of Toppin’s absence significantly alters the team’s outlook. The backcourt will need to carry more of the offensive burden, with sophomore Christian Anderson and senior Donovan Atwell capable of providing explosive three-level scoring. In the frontcourt, junior LeJuan Watts and sophomore Luke Bamgboye will be tasked with filling a major void. Texas Tech must adjust its approach and avoid forcing offense as it prepares for Cincinnati on Tuesday and No. 6 Iowa State on Saturday.
Next Five: Arkansas (20-7), Alabama (20-7), BYU (20-7), Miami (OH) (27-0), Louisville (20-7)
Players of the Week:
Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
Acuff Jr.’s draft buzz surged after a massive week, highlighted by a 49-point explosion in Arkansas’ heartbreaking loss to Alabama. He created offense from all areas of the floor, shooting 16-of-27 from the field and 6-of-10 from three. Acuff’s scoring instincts and ability to find rhythm quickly continue to showcase his elite upside. From a production standpoint, he has developed into one of the most statistically dominant freshman guards of the John Calipari era.
Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama
Despite Acuff’s scoring display, Philon Jr. delivered a performance of his own, finishing with 35 points and seven assists on 11-of-21 shooting and 3-of-8 from deep. He continues to show significant improvement as a perimeter shooter while orchestrating one of the nation’s most explosive offenses. Philon’s leap from his freshman season has validated his decision to return and strengthened his standing as one of the SEC’s top guards.
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Few players have been hotter in February than Dybantsa, who has not scored fewer than 20 points all month. He poured in 36 points in a loss to Arizona and followed it up with a near 29-point triple-double in a critical win over Iowa State. With Richie Saunders sidelined for the season, Dybantsa has fully taken control of the offense, carrying a heavy scoring and playmaking load.
Aiden Sherrell, Alabama
Sherrell continues to anchor Alabama’s interior defense and flashed his offensive ceiling this week with 26 points and 13 rebounds on 10-of-13 shooting, along with four blocks in a win over LSU. While the Crimson Tide are known for their offensive firepower, Sherrell’s rim protection and interior presence give the team an important defensive backbone.
Anthony Dell’Orso, Arizona
After struggling from three for much of the season, Dell’Orso found his rhythm, scoring 22 points in both games against BYU and Houston while going a combined 6-of-13 from beyond the arc. With Koa Peat sidelined, Arizona needed additional scoring, and Dell’Orso stepped up as a steady veteran presence. Maintaining this shooting form will be key as the Wildcats navigate a difficult stretch
Play of the Week:
Donovan Dent Game-Winning Layup vs Illinois
https://x.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/2025416664599134422?s=20
