Men’s basketball Power Rankings: UConn rises as Michigan, Iowa State fall

Following a period of relative stability at the summit, Michigan’s surprising home defeat to Wisconsin, coupled with Iowa State’s significant loss to Kansas, has sparked a drastic reshuffle in ESPN’s Power Rankings.

How steep is the fall for the Wolverines and Cyclones?

Michigan maintains outstanding efficiency metrics, holding the No. 1 rank in the NET, KenPom, and BartTorvik. Although the Wolverines have secured only four Quad 1 victories, they boast an impressive tally of lopsided wins, including a 40-point triumph over Gonzaga—sufficient to cause only a slight drop in their ranking.

Iowa State boasts one of the most noteworthy victories we will witness this season: a 23-point domination on the road against Purdue. Additionally, the Cyclones have secured wins against a couple of borderline Top 25 teams like St. John’s and Iowa. Despite being in the top five on KenPom, they have slipped from that tier in nearly every other statistic.

Brayden Burries garnered the majority of the spotlight to close out the 2025 calendar year. However, since Big 12 action commenced in early January, Koa Peat has reclaimed the narrative. Peat performed exceptionally well in Wednesday’s rivalry victory over Arizona State, concluding the game with 24 points and 10 rebounds (in the second half, he racked up 16 points, 5 boards, and 2 assists while shooting a perfect 7-for-7 from the field). Across four Big 12 games, Peat is averaging 19.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. He may never surpass his impressive 30-point debut, but he is back to peak form.

Upcoming week: at UCF (Jan. 17), vs. Cincinnati (Jan. 21)

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Prior ranking: 4

UConn has extended its winning streak to 13 games by narrowly defeating Seton Hall on the road on Tuesday, although the Huskies have revealed some vulnerabilities along the way. They struggled against the Pirates’ aggressive defense in the second half, accumulating 17 turnovers—this isn’t a completely new challenge for them either. BYU began its attempted comeback against UConn in November by capitalizing on turnovers, and as Lukas Harkins of Basket Under Review noted this week, the Huskies had been turning the ball over on 19.5% of possessions in their seven games prior to this week.

Upcoming week: at Georgetown (Jan. 17)

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Prior ranking: 2

Michigan’s aura of invincibility faded during its narrow victory over Penn State, and was completely shattered following its shocking home defeat to Wisconsin over the weekend. The Wolverines rebounded with a 10-point road victory against Washington, yet the dominance they exhibited over the preceding seven weeks has diminished. This decline is most evident in their defense, where they have permitted three consecutive opponents—and four of six in Big Ten matchups—to surpass the one point per possession threshold. Additionally, Michigan’s tempo warrants attention: After consistently playing games with high 70s and low 80s possessions, their last three games saw around 71 possessions according to KenPom.

Upcoming week: at Oregon (Jan. 17), vs. Indiana (Jan. 20)

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Prior ranking: 5

Before January kicked off, Isaiah Evans had recorded one 20-point game in his collegiate career. In the first ten days of 2026, he surpassed that fourfold: 28 points at Florida State, 23 against Louisville, and 21 against SMU. His streak ended on Wednesday versus California, yet he still managed 17 points. He has also netted a minimum of four three-pointers in each of those last four games, averaging 22.3 points while connecting on 40% from long range. Providing dependable outside shooting to complement Cameron Boozer’s interior prowess will be crucial moving forward.

Upcoming week: at Stanford (Jan. 17)

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Prior ranking: 3

Despite earning more competitive victories in recent weeks, it was surprising to witness Iowa State suffering a 21-point defeat to Kansas on Tuesday. That was clearly the Cyclones’ poorest offensive showing: a season-low of 63 points scored on a season-low shooting effort of 37% and a season-low of 0.97 points per possession. It was additionally their most inadequate defensive performance, allowing the Jayhawks to score 1.29 points per possession. To note a detail from ESPN Research: Tuesday’s loss marked the largest defeat by a team that was 16-0 or better since Marquette lost by 21 to Detroit in 1972.

Upcoming week: at Cincinnati (Jan. 17), vs. UCF (Jan. 20)

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Prior ranking: 6

Purdue delivered one of the most impressive second-half offensive displays against Iowa on Wednesday. The Boilermakers succeeded on nearly 73% of their attempts after halftime, hitting nearly every shot taken in the final 10:30. Additionally, they converted 14 of 16 attempts from the charity stripe over the last 20 minutes. All of this was led by All-American point guard Braden Smith, who contributed 16 points and 4 assists during that period.

Upcoming week: at USC (Jan. 17), at UCLA (Jan. 20)

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Prior ranking: 7

Nebraska continues to find victories through various methods, overcoming a 16-point deficit in the second half to win against Indiana on Saturday before turning around to triump over Oregon by 35 on Tuesday. However, the primary force behind the Cornhuskers’ offensive success remains the three-point shot. Indiana took a nine-point advantage as Nebraska missed seven consecutive threes spanning both halves, but the Huskers rallied back by converting six of their next eight attempts from long range. Against Oregon, they sunk 17 three-pointers, including five in a row from late in the first half to early in the second half, quickly turning a tied score into a 15-point lead in a span of four minutes.

Upcoming week: at Northwestern (Jan. 17), vs. Washington (Jan. 21)

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Prior ranking: 9

In a career filled with significant achievements, Graham Ike could be on track for his best season yet. While he recorded more points and rebounds during the 2021-22 season at Wyoming, Ike is currently averaging the highest points (17.8), rebounds (8.6), and assists (2.6) of his three-year tenure at Gonzaga. He boasts the best offensive rating and true shooting percentage throughout his career. Furthermore, he has elevated his performance during WCC play, shooting 72.5% inside the arc in five conference games to date, with his latest effort being a 34-point and 11-rebound performance against Santa Clara.

Upcoming week: at Washington State (Jan. 15), at Seattle (Jan. 17), vs. Pepperdine (Jan. 21)

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Prior ranking: 10

Houston’s defensive capabilities are noticeably tightening. After permitting Arkansas and Middle Tennessee to score more than one point per possession towards the end of nonconference play, the Cougars have fortified their defense since the onset of Big 12 competition. They restricted West Virginia to a mere 48 points on Tuesday—including just a single two-pointer in the first half—after limiting Baylor to 55 points this past Saturday. Their four conference challengers have only managed to score 0.9 points per possession against them thus far.

Upcoming week: vs. Arizona State (Jan. 18)

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Prior ranking: 11

BYU will enter a critical matchup on Saturday against Texas Tech, bringing with them a 13-game winning streak, eager for a notable win that could solidify their top 10 status. They have already secured victories against several Top 25 squads—such as Villanova, Clemson, and Miami—yet a success in Lubbock would stand out on their résumé. Will Texas Tech find a way to counter AJ Dybantsa? His 25-point showing against TCU marked his tenth consecutive 20-point game, although his record streak of nine straight games scoring 20 points while shooting 50% from the floor came to an end.

Upcoming week: at Texas Tech (Jan. 17)

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Prior ranking: 12

Jeremy Fears Jr. has elevated his game significantly, now registering at least 14 points in five consecutive outings after hitting double figures six times in the first 12 games of the season, including a personal record of 23 points against Indiana on Tuesday. His assist totals remain robust as well; he recorded 10 assists in the victory over the Hoosiers and facilitated 18 of the Spartans’ 27 field goals via points or assists. During this five-game stretch, Fears is averaging 17.6 points and 8.0 assists while maintaining a modest turnover rate of just 12.

Upcoming week: at Washington (Jan. 17), at Oregon (Jan. 20)

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Prior ranking: 8

Vanderbilt suffered its first loss of the season in a significant way on Wednesday, getting trounced by Texas. What went wrong? The statistical outputs from Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles mirrored their season averages, yet their efficiency in achieving those numbers was lacking. Additionally, they received insufficient support from the bench. The Commodores had been averaging 93.0 points per game leading into that matchup, but Texas limited them to only 64 points. This marks their worst defensive showing since November 8, surrendering 1.21 points per possession. Before this game, only three out of their first 13 opponents had reached the one-point-per-possession benchmark; however, all four of Vandy’s most recent opponents have exceeded it.

Upcoming week: vs. Florida (Jan. 17), at Arkansas (Jan. 20)

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Prior ranking: 15

Keaton Wagler featured prominently at No. 18 in ESPN’s latest NBA mock draft—a remarkable ascent for an unheralded four-star recruit coming out of high school. Given the way the freshman has been performing lately, it’s hard not to envision him comfortably entering the lottery once the process unfolds. After netting 22 points against Northwestern on Wednesday, Wagler is now averaging 19.3 points and 4.7 assists, shooting 44.4% from beyond the arc during Big Ten play.

Upcoming week: vs. Minnesota (Jan. 17), vs. Maryland (Jan. 21)

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Prior ranking: 13

Arkansas experienced a mixed bag this week, suffering a 22-point defeat at Auburn on Saturday before demolishing South Carolina by 34 on Wednesday. On a brighter note, their offensive display (1.48 points per possession) against the Gamecocks marked the Razorbacks’ finest showing since a November victory over Jackson State. Freshman guards Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas combined for 39 points and 15 assists—without any turnovers. Conversely, Arkansas has allowed over one point per possession in eight consecutive games and ranks seventh in the SEC for defensive efficiency.

Upcoming week: at Georgia (Jan. 17), vs. Vanderbilt (Jan. 20)

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Prior ranking: 18

Although Grant McCasland’s squad has shown improved equilibrium in recent weeks, Wednesday’s victory over Utah demonstrated why Christian Anderson and JT Toppin are often regarded as college basketball’s finest inside-outside duo. Anderson recorded 26 points and 10 assists, while Toppin amassed 31 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists. We are soon to gain a clearer understanding of Tech’s position in the Big 12 hierarchy, as they will host BYU on Saturday before heading to Baylor on Tuesday and then returning home for a matchup against Houston the following weekend.

Upcoming week: vs. BYU (Jan. 17), at Baylor (Jan. 20)

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Prior ranking: 17

Just days after Kansas exited the AP Top 25 (yet remains in these rankings) for the first time this season, the Jayhawks bounced back with a substantial 21-point victory over Iowa State—marking their third-largest win against a top-five team in program history, according to ESPN Research. They showcased one of their finest shooting displays of the year, going 12-for-24 from three-point range. While Darryn Peterson contributed 16 points, it was the complementary players who also delivered significant contributions. Tre White tallied 19 points (including five threes), along with 10 rebounds and three assists, while Jamari McDowell logged the most minutes of his Big 12 season with eight points and six assists.

Upcoming week: vs. Baylor (Jan. 16), at Colorado (Jan. 20)

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Prior ranking: 21

Thijs De Ridder has been garnering most of the attention among first-year players at Virginia, but Johann Grunloh made impactful contributions on both ends in Tuesday’s victory over Louisville. The 7-foot German big man tied his career-high with 16 points while also securing 7 rebounds and registering 4 blocks in what many consider his best performance in a Cavaliers uniform. This was especially notable on a night when De Ridder had a challenging outing, going 3-for-10 from the floor with five turnovers. Grunloh is now shooting 42.9% from three during ACC play, hitting three deep shots in Tuesday’s game.

Upcoming week: at SMU (Jan. 17)

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Prior ranking: Unranked

The Gators might be on the rise. After a narrow loss to Missouri on January 3, the reigning national champions have convincingly beaten three SEC opponents in a row. They defeated Georgia, Tennessee, and Oklahoma with an average margin of 18.7 points, scoring approximately 93.0 points per game during this stretch. Boogie Fland’s rising performance has been crucial, as he has averaged 19.0 points and 6.0 assists in these last two contests. Furthermore, Rueben Chinyelu has also been a force inside, averaging 18.0 points and 14.0 rebounds across his previous two games.

Upcoming week: at Vanderbilt (Jan. 17), vs. LSU (Jan. 20)

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Prior ranking: 16

This past Tuesday was shaping up to be challenging for Nate Oats’ team. The Crimson Tide were struggling through a two-game losing streak following a home defeat to Texas, and five rotation players were sidelined for the trip to Mississippi State. The Bulldogs initially seized a 14-point lead with eight minutes remaining in the first half. However, over the next 28 minutes, Alabama exploded for 82 points, outscoring Mississippi State by 29. Labaron Philon Jr. emerged as the key player, posting a career-high 32 points on merely 14 shots.

Upcoming week: at Oklahoma (Jan. 17)

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Prior ranking: 14

Throughout the first couple of months, North Carolina was a solid defensive unit. The Tar Heels allowed merely four of their first 14 opponents to achieve one point per possession, positioning them 17th in the nation for adjusted defensive efficiency. However, their defensive performance has declined over the last three games, resulting in a disappointing 1-2 record, with losses to both SMU and Stanford. They conceded 97 points to the Mustangs and 95 to the Cardinal, allowing 84 points in a tight win against Wake Forest in between. During this three-game span, they surrendered an average of 1.3 points per possession.

Upcoming week: at California (Jan. 17), vs. Notre Dame (Jan. 21)

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Prior ranking: 19

After a disappointing 24-point loss to Florida on Saturday, Rick Barnes demanded a response from his squad—and they delivered with a double-overtime victory against Texas A&M on Tuesday. While the performances of Bishop Boswell and Felix Okpara were encouraging, the most significant source of optimism lies with a more assertive Nate Ament. A highly regarded prospect coming out of high school, Ament had flitted between impressive and inconsistent on the offensive end after an initial strong showing. However, he finished with 23 points against the Aggies—including nine in the second half and 10 in overtime—along with 12 rebounds. Tennessee had been seeking his contributions, and he was ready to step up. This trend needs to continue.

Upcoming week: vs. Kentucky (Jan. 17)

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Prior ranking: 22

MJ Collins leads the team in scoring, consistently reaching 20-point games, yet junior guard Mason Falslev has arguably emerged as the more effective star among the two in Mountain West competition. This is undoubtedly beneficial for Jerrod Calhoun’s squad. Falslev netted 26 points in Wednesday’s win over Nevada and now boasts a KenPom offensive rating over 150.0 (for comparison, only Purdue’s Oscar Cluff has surpassed a 150.0 offensive rating for the entire season). Falslev is shooting 62.8% from inside the arc and 47.1% from beyond the arc while averaging 17.7 points across six MWC contests.

Upcoming week: at Grand Canyon (Jan. 17), vs. UNLV (Jan. 20)

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Prior ranking: Unranked

Clemson has quietly racked up eight consecutive wins and is off to a 5-0 start in ACC play after narrowly dropping two close games against Alabama and BYU in early December. The Tigers have a legitimate opportunity to solidify their standing in ACC rankings over the next week, with home games against Miami and NC State. Should they succeed in both, Brad Brownell’s squad could be favored in their next five contests ahead of a Valentine’s Day clash against Duke. Currently, the Tigers boast the top defensive unit in the ACC, limiting adversaries to 0.94 points per possession in conference competition.

Upcoming week: vs. Miami (Jan. 17), vs. NC State (Jan. 20)

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Prior ranking: Unranked

Villanova recovered from a disappointing home loss to Creighton by securing back-to-back wins on the road against Marquette and Providence, setting the stage for a critical matchup against St. John’s on Saturday. The winner is likely to appear in next week’s rankings, while the loser may fall out of contention for the Big East title. Two seasoned players have been instrumental in the Wildcats’ recent success. Duke Brennan, a transfer from Grand Canyon, has established himself as one of the premier offensive rebounders nationwide, shooting close to 79% from the field in conference matchups. Meanwhile, the well-traveled Devin Askew, now at his fifth institution, has averaged 16.5 points off the bench in the last two wins.

Upcoming week: vs. St. John’s (Jan. 17), vs. Georgetown (Jan. 21)

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Prior ranking: 20

Louisville is holding on to its spot in the rankings, suffering its third loss in four games to Virginia at home on Tuesday. The Cardinals currently sit at 3-4 without Mikel Brown Jr., and with no clear timeline for his return, the outlook isn’t promising for Pat Kelsey’s squad. Following Brown’s last game, a victory over Memphis on December 13, Louisville boasted a record of 9-1 and was rated No. 9 on BartTorvik. In the past seven games, the Cardinals have plummeted to No. 42 in those rankings. Their offensive efficiency has notably declined, ranking fourth with Brown and dropping to 55th without him. With him, Louisville turned the ball over on 14.7% of possessions and shot 37.5% from three. Without him, they are now turning it over on 17.8% of possessions and only hitting 29.3% from beyond the arc.

Upcoming week: at Pitt (Jan. 17)

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Fallen out: Georgia Bulldogs (No. 23), Saint Louis Billikens (No. 24), Iowa Hawkeyes (No. 25)