NCAA Men's Basketball Top 25: Week of Jan. 20

Published: Monday, January 20, 2025

by CJ Weipz and Sean Casey

25. Arizona (Big 12)

If there is one word to describe this Arizona team, it’s talent. From top to bottom, the Wildcats boast a deep roster and are now finding ways to win in the Big 12. Three ranked conference wins in the last 20 days, along with a top-20 offense and defense according to KenPom, secure Arizona the final spot in this week’s Top 25.

24. West Virginia (Big 12)

The job Darian DeVries has done at West Virginia cannot be understated. The Mountaineers have a completely new roster but haven’t missed a beat. They boast wins over Iowa State and Gonzaga. West Virginia has carved out a path for itself in a competitive Big 12.

23. Louisville (ACC)

One of the most underrated teams in the nation, the Cardinals have positioned themselves among the top squads in the ACC. Their success can be attributed to balanced scoring, with four starters averaging more than 10 points per game, including Wisconsin transfer Chuckie Hepburn. Head coach Pat Kelsey has revitalized a Louisville program that was a laughingstock of college basketball just a year ago.

22. Gonzaga (WCC)

Gonzaga continues to slide in the rankings after an 0-2 week, both losses being major upsets. The West Coast Conference is stronger this season, but these are games Gonzaga needs to win for good seeding in March. The wins and talent are there, but games like Santa Clara aren’t ones the Bulldogs should be dropping. They’ll look to bounce back against the Portland Pilots.

21. Wisconsin (Big Ten)

The Badgers took care of business this week, extending their win streak to seven games since dropping three in a row in December. They rank second in the Big Ten in offensive efficiency and 3-point percentage, per KenPom, shooting 36.9% from beyond the arc. Johnny Tronje went scoreless against USC this week but has put together an all-conference season under Greg Gard.

20. Memphis (AAC)

With five Quad 1 wins, the Tigers have played and beaten strong competition. The issue, however, is inconsistency. Just last week, Memphis dropped a game to a struggling Charlotte team. The Tigers have the talent to make a run but must address their inconsistency to avoid a major upset at the wrong time.

19. Ole Miss (SEC)

It was a mixed week for Chris Beard's squad as the Rebels held Alabama to just 64 points in a 10-point victory before dropping a rivalry game on the road to Mississippi State. The defense remains stout, ranking second in the SEC in scoring defense, but the offense continues to need a significant upgrade. Malik Dia has slowly carved out a role for himself, and Sean Pedulla is still excelling. However, the team is still searching for more consistency from beyond the arc.

18. St. John’s (BIG EAST)

The red-hot Johnnies enter the rankings after a blistering 7-1 start to conference play. Their only loss came at Creighton in Omaha. The Red Storm are led by RJ Luis and Kadary Richmond. Upcoming matchups against Marquette and UConn will be vital in determining the Johnnies’ standing among the nation’s elite.

17. Illinois (Big Ten)

If the past two weeks have shown anything, it's that Illinois goes as Kasparas Jakucionis goes. He missed their last two losses due to injury and logged season lows in minutes and points because of foul trouble against Michigan State. Kylan Boswell and Ben Humrichous have been solid role players, but the Illini need more consistency from Will Riley to contend for a Big Ten title.

16. UConn (BIG EAST)

After a disastrous Maui Invitational, the Huskies bounced back with wins over Baylor and Texas. This week, the Huskies fell to Villanova in the absence of Liam McNeeley. McNeeley has proven to be a key piece for UConn, and his return should help them get back on track.

15. Oregon (Big Ten)

One of the most underrated programs in the country, Dana Altman has his team moving. The emergence of Nate Bittle as one of the best centers in the Big Ten has been a welcome surprise for a squad boasting Jackson Shelstad and former Villanova Wildcat T.J. Bamba in the backcourt. A loss to Purdue at home exposed some of the team’s flaws, but the Ducks are looking to make noise in their first season in the new conference.

14. Texas A&M (SEC)

Led by Wade Taylor IV, the Aggies have been playing great basketball, highlighted by wins over Oklahoma and Creighton. This is a team with a lot of experience and should be ready for the upcoming SEC schedule.

13. Mississippi State (SEC)

The Bulldogs are caught between a rock and a hard place in the SEC but have slowly started to carve out a space for themselves among the top teams in the country. In a tough overtime battle with Ole Miss, Florida transfer Riley Kugel scored 21 points to help the Bulldogs hold off the hot Rebels. A road trip to Knoxville and Columbia will show this team's true colors, but after the strong start to SEC play, Chris Jans will have his squad ready to make a deep postseason run.

12. Purdue (Big Ten)

No Edey, no problem for the Boilermakers. Head coach Matt Painter scheduled a challenging nonconference slate and reaped the benefits. Purdue has wins over Ole Miss and Oregon while facing three other top-25 teams. Painter will have this team ready for March.

11. Tennessee (SEC)

Tennessee went from the last undefeated team in the nation to one of the most questionable squads in just two weeks. Rick Barnes still has the third-best defense in the nation, according to KenPom, but the offense hasn't been there to back it up. The Vols haven't scored 80 or more points since Christmas. No alarms are sounding just yet in Knoxville, but the loss to Vanderbilt on the road drops them just outside the top 10 this week.

10. Kansas (Big 12)

Coming off a 1-1 week, the Jayhawks have been inconsistent this season but boast a solid resume. They will be battle-tested come tournament time after a tough Big 12 schedule.

9. Marquette (BIG EAST)

The Golden Eagles have been playing with fire in recent games, culminating in a tough 59-57 loss at home to Xavier. Despite that, Marquette remains one of the most balanced teams in the league, with a revolving door of primary scorers on any given night. Kam Jones is my (CJ) personal player of the year so far, and his supporting cast is as strong as any in the nation. The Big East is in a strange place right now, but Shaka Smart's group still sits atop the standings.

8. Kentucky (SEC)

Kentucky remains in the top 10 despite a loss to Alabama. The Wildcats are a deep team with many offensive weapons. They have thrived since Coach Calipari's departure, even performing better without the Hall of Famer. A win over Texas A&M earlier in the week bolsters an already strong resume that includes a victory over Duke. Upcoming trips to Tennessee and Ole Miss are critical in a tough SEC.

7. Michigan State (Big Ten)

Tom Izzo is officially silencing the "washed" allegations as he leads his Spartans to an undefeated start in Big Ten play. Their latest 80-78 win against Illinois solidified their position as the top team in the conference. With a roster that can go seven or eight deep, Michigan State is poised to be a challenge for the next couple of months. Another coveted deep Izzo run in the tournament is beginning to take shape in East Lansing.

6. Houston (Big 12)

Year in and year out, Houston and coach Kelvin Sampson have the Cougars ready to play when it matters most. Houston has torn through the Big 12 schedule, getting off to a 6-0 start with quality wins over West Virginia and UCF. Led by LJ Cryer, the offense has looked well-rounded, while the defense has been characteristically great. Up next is Utah before a huge test at Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse.

5. Florida (SEC)

The Gators suffered their second loss of the year to Missouri early in the week, but a dominant win over Texas provided a much-needed momentum boost heading into the weekend. Walter Clayton and Alijah Martin lead one of the nation's most prolific offenses, ranking fifth in offensive efficiency per KenPom. Florida will play two of its next three games on the road, so Todd Golden and his team will need to buckle down to avoid the SEC's notorious upsets.

4. Iowa State (Big 12)

Previously ranked second in the AP poll, the Cyclones dropped after a narrow loss to West Virginia, 64-57. Despite this setback, Iowa State remains elite on both sides of the ball. A blowout win over Kansas prevented a significant drop in the rankings. The Cyclones' lockdown defense has won them many games and placed them in elite company, ranking third in the Big 12 in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.

3. Alabama (SEC)

Alabama continued to add to one of the most decorated resumes in college hoops with a 102-97 win over Kentucky at Rupp Arena. Grant Nelson had a breakout performance, recording 25 points and 11 rebounds against the Wildcats, as the offense surpassed 100 points for the fifth time this season. Mark Sears' All-American campaign continues as Nate Oats has this team primed for another deep run in March. While questions remain on the defensive end, a healthy Chris Youngblood and a confident Nelson have provided the Crimson Tide with more than enough firepower heading into the heart of conference play.

2. Duke (ACC) 

One of the hottest teams in the country is coming off yet another 2-0 week in dominating fashion. The Cooper Flagg show continued on the road against Boston College with many of Flaggs Maine friends and family in attendance for the New England matchup. Flagg finished with 28 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists while junior Tyrese Proctor added 20 points. The Blue Devils have the best win in the country after beating Auburn back in december. Loses against Kansas and Kentucky have aged well and don't pose much of a concern. Next up for Duke is a short trip to Wake Forest.

1. Auburn (SEC)

Auburn remains the best team in the nation, even without frontrunner for National Player of the Year Johnni Broome. The Tigers dismantled Mississippi State and stole a road win against newly ranked Georgia. Tahad Pettiford and Chad Baker-Mazara are emerging as one of the best duos in the country, combining for more than 34 points per game this week. Auburn isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

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