Here's this week's power rankings as we inch closer to March Madness. There's little doubt, however, that these will all go topsy turvey within the next round of games.
1. Gonzaga (29-2) Some may be concerned about the Zags being "green" in the No.1 spot, but they deserve it so far for winning 12 in a row to clinch the regular-season title.
2. Duke (25-4) With Ryan Kelly back in the fold, Duke is unbeaten when he's on the floor, something opponents would do well to remember.
3. Indiana (25-4) Indiana has been an enigma thus far, but I'm still a believer in this squad with Oladipo able to make a Madness run.
4. Kansas (25-4) McLemore found his stroke again, which is bad news for everyone else. Winners of three straight, the Jayhawks are just starting to turn it on.
5. Georgetown (23-4) With Otto Porter Jr. likely getting the Big East Player of the Year award, the dogs are going to need to ride on the rising star's back to make it to the big dance.
6. Miami (FL) (23-5) The Hurricanes take their licks better than anyone in the country, a big credit to Coach Larranaga and his veteran team. Nerves won't be a problem for team that's already exceeded expectations.
7. Louisville (24-5) Tied for second in the Big East, the Cardinals effort on D has stepped up. There's much to like about their chances.
8. Florida (23-5) This team is up and down, but that's only in the top 10 rankings. The Gators are that steady team that's always there and primed to strike at any moment.
9. Michigan (24-5) Trey Burke is amazing, but he can't do it alone. Watch out if they put together better team play.
10. Kansas St. (24-5) Winners of 9 in their last 10, the Wildcats just pounced on Baylor.
11. New Mexico (25-4) New Mexico has been playing great defensively; they just need to match it offensively on a consistent basis. I'm expecting an upset or two out of them in the tournament.
12. Michigan St. (22-7) They had a poor showing against Michigan, but there's always reason for optimism in an Izzo led team.
13. Saint Louis (23-5) They're the Cinderella story everyone will cheer for and teams will dread facing.
14. Pittsburgh(23-7) Despite struggling offensively, Pitt excels in the passing game and keeping the rock moving. When things break down, they'll always have their fundamentals.
15. Oklahoma St. (22-6) Markel Brown really knows how to put on a show. They'll need more of it to keep their streak going.
16. Ohio State (21-7) They've made second place in the Big Ten even more crowded.
17. Marquette (21-7) Victories over Syracuse and Notre Dame has given the confidence the Golden Eagles need.
18. Syracuse (22-7) Dropping three straight to ranked teams has been tough to swallow after an 18-1 start, but Boeheim isn't worried, even if he should be.
19. VCU (23-6) VCU is starting their yearly run, but somehow their still in second place behind the plucky Saint Louis team.
20. Oregon (23-6) The Ducks got healthy and then leading scorer Dotson went down. He'll be back for the tournament, but they'll need to keep winning to survive the muddied PAC 12.
21. UCLA ( 22-7) With a nice win over Arizona, they proved the PAC 12 is just as confusing as we thought. They have a star in Muhammad, let's hope he rises to the occasion.
22. Wisconsin(20-9) I probably shouldn't even have the Badger ranked, but steady hustle and defense gets you further in the tournament than streaky jump shooting, they just need to be more consistent.
23. Notre Dame (22-7) Somebody find Jack Cooley some soup and vitamins, the Irish are going to need more than lucky to keep winning.
24. Cal (23-6) Consider me a believer in the Bears, but Montgomery has these guys trying. A for effort, hopefully it translates to W's though.
25. North Carolina (21-8) Never count out the boys in baby blue, and the pups seem like they're finally starting to bite.
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