Giovanni Fanta
College basketball broadcaster and reporter
It was a weekend of highway exams for a number of the finest groups in faculty basketball, and the heavyweights discovered a technique to outdo all of them and keep away from an upset. But a storyline as huge as any within the nation this weekend surrounded my No. 1 staff, Auburn. Johni Broome went down with what Bruce Pearl reports a significant ankle sprainand the National Player of the Year favourite is anticipated to overlook a while. The excellent news is that an MRI on Sunday confirmed that Broome doesn’t want surgical procedure. The dangerous information is that Broome shall be out indefinitely.
The Tigers nonetheless discovered a technique to overcome South Carolina on the highway, 66-63, when Tahaad Pettiford stepped up with free throws and Pearl’s staff got here away with the ultimate cease. But now now we have to ask: how lengthy till Broome? Will it return to regular when it comes again? What will Auburn be like with out the man who was the most effective participant within the nation for a lot of the season? In the cutthroat SEC, it will not take lengthy to search out out what the Tigers are like with out him. Auburn welcomes a top-20 staff from the state of Mississippi on Tuesday earlier than visiting a red-hot, ranked Georgia staff on Saturday. It appears Broome’s scenario is not too severe, but it surely’s definitely fluid.
This staff has among the finest defensive models within the nation — led by 5 different double-digit scorers along with Broome, together with Chad Baker-Mazara, Denver Jones and Pettiford — and fifth-year senior Dylan Cardwell is a stable choice reserve. to be a alternative for Broome. That mentioned, that is completely no time to panic for the Tigers.
This continues to be a prime 10 staff with out Broome, however having a participant who averages 17.9 factors, 10.7 rebounds and three.3 assists per recreation has made the Tigers the most effective staff within the nation. Without him they may have some difficulties, however I nonetheless consider on this staff and I believe they are going to be in San Antonio on the Final Four this April. However, this damage represents a possible revolving door for our No. 1 spot over the following two months on the highway to March Madness.
Auburn wasn’t the one heavyweight to tackle and overcome a difficult highway take a look at this weekend. Iowa State performed one in every of its finest video games of the day with Saint Mary’s switch Joshua Jefferson forcing extra time on the buzzer after which hitting the game-winning free throws to earn an 85-84 victory at Texas Tech. Alabama battled Texas A&M, 94-88, behind 27 factors from Mark Sears, whereas Tennessee responded to a loss to Florida and beat Texas, 74-70.
(Read extra: Ranking of the 50 finest gamers and coaches within the nation)
Three extra headliners of the week?
St. John’s, which has gained 9 of its final 10 video games, returned to our rankings this week after a pair of double-digit wins in opposition to Xavier and at residence in opposition to Villanova. RJ Luis advanced right into a first-team All-Big East choice, notching 30 factors and 10 rebounds within the win over the Wildcats. Rick Pitino now has a staff that’s 14-3 and monitoring nicely within the NCAA Tournament. They can have a pleasant run in March, particularly if the perimeter pictures hold coming like they did within the win over Villanova.
How about Mike White and Georgia? The Bulldogs, who have not been to the NCAA Tournament in a decade, are 14-2 after a pair of top-25 wins over Kentucky and Oklahoma. Five-star freshman Asa Newell is a top-10 decide within the NBA Draft and performs at a very excessive degree, whereas sophomore Silas Demary has made a pleasant leap and switch Dakota Leffew has been a high quality pickup in his reserve position. This week is an enormous one for Georgia with a visit to Tennessee on Wednesday adopted by a matchup with Auburn on Saturday.
Finally, we flip to one-loss Utah State, which trailed 79-77 with 9 seconds left on Saturday in opposition to Boise State earlier than Ian Martinez hit a 3-pointer and was fouled on a wild sequence that gave the Aggies the win.
The Aggies are on their third coach in as a few years and are on monitor to make their third consecutive NCAA Tournament. Going from present Utah coach Craig Smith to present VCU coach Ryan Odom to present Washington coach Danny Sprinkle to a landslide rent in Jerrod Calhoun talks in regards to the Aggies administration and their capacity to search out the precise coaches for the their applications. That’s why we’re giving Utah State some nationwide love this week. A recreation to recollect: Saturday, February 1 in opposition to New Mexico (9:30 pm ET on FS1 and the FOX Sports app). Both the Lobos and Aggies are undefeated (6-0) within the Mountain West.
With that mentioned, let’s get to our Top 25!
1. Coppery (15-1)
While we have already mentioned at size how the Tigers will regroup with out Broome, how in regards to the continued manufacturing of a four-star guard in Pettiford? Not solely was he a microwave scorer for Pearl, however he did it in opposition to a number of the finest defensive groups within the nation: from 21 factors in opposition to Houston to twenty factors in opposition to Duke to 18 within the win in opposition to Purdue.
2. Iowa State (14-1)
Curtis Jones scored 26 factors in Saturday’s win at Texas Tech, a win I do not assume the Cyclones get final yr. But TJ Otzelberger developed this group offensively with the addition of Jefferson and participant growth. The subsequent step for Iowa State? Kansas. Wednesday. Hilton Colosseum.
3. Duke (14-2)
How about Cooper Flagg, America? I believe he’ll win nationwide participant of the yr when all is alleged and completed, becoming a member of Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson as the one others to win the honour as a freshman in faculty basketball historical past. He delivered the highest-scoring efficiency for a Duke and ACC freshman on Saturday, beginning for 42 factors (11-of-14 from the sphere and 16-of-17 from the free throw line), seven assists and 6 rebounds in an 86-78 win. conquer Notre Dame. Flagg would be the first general decide within the 2025 NBA Draft in June.
(Read extra: 2025 NBA Mock Draft 1.0: Top Debate with Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper)
Not solely did Sears rating 27 in Saturday’s win, however the Tide confirmed off their depth with Chris Youngblood and Aden Holloway combining for 29 off the bench. Alabama hosts Ole Miss Tuesday earlier than visiting Kentucky on Saturday.
Zakai Zeigler is among the finest guards in America, and he proved it once more Saturday when he had 16 factors and eight assists in a four-point win at coach Rick Barnes’ former faculty, Texas. On Saturday, Barnes had some poignant ideas about his main scorer, Chaz Lanier. In the NIL world, every little thing appears to be honest recreation.
6. Florida (15-1)
The Gators turned of their most spectacular efficiency of the week with a 30-point win over beforehand undefeated Tennessee behind Alijah Martin’s 18 factors. Then, they went to Arkansas on Saturday and overcame an early 13-2 deficit to win 71-63 behind 4 in double figures. Todd Golden’s group is stacked.
The Golden Eagles are 5-0 in Big East play, their finest begin in convention play since 2008-09, following a 74-66 win over Georgetown wherein junior Chase Ross scored a career-high 27 factors. Marquette visits DePaul on Tuesday earlier than internet hosting Xavier on Saturday.
8. Kentucky (13-2)
Big Blue Nation could also be mad at me for having the Wildcats at No. 8, however each recreation counts — and Kentucky was knocked to the bottom by Georgia on Tuesday, 82-69. Kentucky responded with a 95-90 win over Mississippi State on Saturday behind 27 factors from Jaxson Robinson and a few huge pictures from Ansley Almonor. Amari Williams additionally had 10 factors, 12 rebounds and 6 assists because the Cats earned their fourth win over a top-16 staff within the NET. This staff is able to reaching San Antonio as a result of its offense is chock-full of expertise and choices.
9. Houston (12-3)
The Cougars calmly go about their enterprise and beat the brakes on groups. On Saturday, Kelvin Sampson’s staff gained its eighth consecutive recreation by defeating Kansas State 87-57. Emanuel Sharp scored 15 factors, whereas Joseph Tugler had a double-double. Next up: Home Wednesday in West Virginia.
10. Michigan State (14-2)
And the Spartans? In his thirtieth season on the helm, Tom Izzo has completed a outstanding job with Michigan State, which gained its ninth straight recreation on Sunday with a 78-68 win over Northwestern. There’s little question that Sparty will march to the twenty seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament, and all of the items are in place for Michigan State to succeed in its sixteenth Sweet 16 of Izzo’s tenure. I like the way in which Jeremy Fears can bounce in transition and generate offense for a Spartans program that appears to have lacked it in recent times. Add Jaden Akins as a beginning participant, freshman Jase Richardson as an X-factor off the bench and Jaxon Kohler’s rebounding, and the Spartans are really well-rounded. This staff can win the Big Ten.
Coen Carr throws down a dunk, extending Michigan State’s lead over Northwestern
11. Kansas (12-3)
12. Texas A&M (13-3)
13. UConn (13-4)
14. Michigan (13-3)
15. Illinois (12-4)
16. Oregon (15-2)
17. State of Mississippi (14-2)
18. Memphis (13-3)
19. Old girl (14-2)
20. Gonzaga (14-4)
21. Purdue (13-4)
22. Saint John (14-3)
23. State of Utah (16-1)
24. Nebraska (12-4)
25. Wisconsin (13-3)
John Fanta is a nationwide faculty basketball broadcaster and author for FOX Sports. He covers sports activities in quite a lot of roles, from calling video games on FS1 to serving as a lead anchor on the BIG EAST digital community to offering commentary on The Field of 68 Media Network. Follow him to @John_Fanta.
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