Auburn, Iowa State and Duke top the latest Power 37 men’s basketball rankings

On By Littum

It is the beginning of the year and many things are already on my mind.

Here are five things I think about:

1. Cooper Flagg could be the first freshman to win the Naismith Award since 2019, when fellow Duke player Zion Williamson won the award. The list of first-year winners is small, with Kentucky’s Anthony Davis (2012) and Texas’ Kevin Durant (2007) also winning the award. Hopefully Auburn’s Johni Broome won’t be out long with an ankle injury. The two could have a great race for the prize in the final month of the season. Flagg has lived up to the hype, which rarely happens. He doesn’t just score and rebound, but he does a great job of leading, defending and making the offense flow. Flagg averages 19.1/8.3, but is no. 1 scout and continues to excel despite the attention.

2. There is strength in numbers in conferences. The Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC prove it, and it will pay off in NCAA Tournament bids. That’s why I wish the new Pac-12 and Mountain West would come together and form one conference. Men’s basketball in the Mountain West has been sensational in recent years and continues this season. Of course, Utah State and Boise State, which played a terrific late-possession game Saturday night, will continue to play each other. But New Mexico and San Diego State won’t. The Lobos and Aztecs have consistently had high quality games at Viejas and the Pit. I’m not naive. These leagues are formed from a football perspective, although the new Pac-12 adds Gonzaga to the hoops. But if they had formed a league – the current Mountain West – with the additions of Gonzaga (Pac-12), Oregon State (Pac-12), Washington State (Pac-12), Hawaii, UTEP and Grand Canyon (all 3 participating in 2026) — would have created a super conference in the West. UC Davis is also in, and men’s basketball has moved forward. Instead, the MWC and Pac-12 can have years where they have a low of 2 bids (and in a bad year, just one) instead of the potential to be a league where they could have 5-6. It is a shame that none of the league commissioners could see this and come together for a super league.

3. Shout out to Bryant coach Phil Martelli Jr. The Bulldogs were blown out 116-66 in Grand Canyon. And everything Martelli Jr. did with Bryant was turn around a week later and beat Maine and league favorite Vermont back-to-back to start the America East 2-0. Great job erasing a poor non-conference performance and not letting it affect the start of conference play.

4. A healthy Saint Louis is at the top of the A-10. Two of the Billikens’ top scorers came with Indiana State’s Josh Schertz: Isaiah Swope and Robbie Avila. Gibson Jimerson leads the team in scoring and was a returnee with Saint Louis. The Billikens took down two of the A-10 favorites at home, Saint Joseph’s and St. Bonaventure.

5. The SEC is brutal. Consider this: Oklahoma was 13-0 and is now 0-3 in the SEC. The Sooners started the league with two of three road games at Alabama and Georgia, with Texas A&M sandwiched in between. Oklahoma, Arkansas, LSU, Texas and South Carolina all started 0-3 in the SEC, but could still be in some sort of postseason event. All 16 SEC schools are at least four games over .500 overall.

RANK: AP Top 25 Poll | NET rankings

The Power 37 until January 13:

  1. Auburn (Prev 1, 15-1): Auburn beat South Carolina in Columbia despite losing Johni Broome to an ankle injury early in the game.
  2. Iowa State (Prev 3, 14-1): The Cyclones prove the Big 12 is going through Ames after a thrilling overtime comeback win at Texas Tech.
  3. Duke (Previous 4, 14-2): The Blue Devils continue to create separation in the ACC.
  4. Alabama (Prev 5, 14-2): The Tide had a massive road win at Texas A&M.
  5. Florida (Prev 7, 15-1): The Gators had a great week (see team of the week) blowing out Tennessee and winning at Arkansas.
  6. Tennessee (Prev 2, 15-1): The Vols were the last team to lose this season, but came back to beat Texas.
  7. Marquette (Prev 9, 14-2): The Golden Eagles are 5-0 in the Big East and look like another potential Final Four team.
  8. Memphis (Previous 14, 13-3): The Tigers are the American’s class.
  9. Michigan State (Prev 15, 14-2): The Spartans have dominated the Big Ten, crushing the competition, including Northwestern, on the road Sunday.
  10. UConn (Prev 8, 13-4): The Huskies bounced back from the Villanova loss with a convincing win at Georgetown.
  11. Kentucky (Prev 6, 13-3): Georgia got Kentucky in Athens, but then the Wildcats got a monster win at Mississippi State.
  12. Michigan (Prev 23, 13-3): The Wolverines won convincingly at UCLA and then over Washington.
  13. Houston (Prev 16, 12-3): The Cougars have turned the narrative of the season and are rolling.
  14. Texas A&M (Prev 11, 13-3): The Aggies won at Oklahoma before losing to Alabama.
  15. Purdue (Prev 18, 13-4): The Boilermakers have hit their stride in the Big Ten, and they’ve blown the competition home or away.
  16. Kansas (Prev 20, 12-3): The Jayhawks are starting to get the rotation down and will still be at the forefront of the Big 12 title chase.
  17. Utah State (Prev 21, 16-1): The Aggies had a crazy last-possession home win over Boise State to stay undefeated in the MWC.
  18. New Mexico (Prev 32, 14-3): The Lobos are 6-0 in the MWC after a comeback win at Wyoming and a win over San Diego State at the Pit.
  19. Arizona (previous NR, 10-5): Guess who is 4-0 in the Big 12 after a slow non-conference start? Yes, Wildcats.
  20. West Virginia (Prev 19, 12-3): The Mountaineers lost to Arizona, but that’s the only Big 12 injury.
  21. Illinois (Prev 10, 12-4): The Illini beat Penn State without Kasparas Jakucionis, but couldn’t beat USC with him still on the sidelines.
  22. Gonzaga (Previous 22, 14-4): The Zags bounced back Washington State in the Cougars’ first WCC game against their rival.
  23. Mississippi State (Prev 12, 14-2): The Bulldogs lost to Kentucky at home, but they are still a major force in the SEC.
  24. Oregon (Prev 26, 15-2): The Ducks picked up their first Eastern road swing in the Big Ten with wins at Ohio State and Penn State.
  25. Wisconsin (Prev 28, 13-3): The Badgers won at Rutgers and then easily beat Minnesota.
  26. Louisville (Previous NO, 12-5): The Cardinals are 5-1 in the ACC and making a case to be the No. 2 in the league.
  27. Clemson (Prev 17, 13-4): The Tigers lost to Louisville but beat Florida State to remain in second place.
  28. Ole Miss (Previous NR, 14-2): The Rebels are off to a 3-0 start in the SEC.
  29. Maryland (Prev 29, 12-4): The Terps bounced back from a tough road trip at Northwestern by beating UCLA.
  30. St. John’s (Previous 31, 14-3): The Red Storm had a great win over Villanova and have emerged as a top-three Big East team.
  31. Baylor (Previous 34, 11-4): The Bears will find a way to challenge for a top-three Big 12 finish.
  32. Missouri (Prev 33, 13-3): The Tigers are going nowhere in the SEC. This is an NCAA Tournament team after going winless in the SEC last season.
  33. Georgia (previous NR, 14-2): The Bulldogs had a great week beating Kentucky and Oklahoma.
  34. Saint Louis (Previous NR, 10-6): SLU is healthy and is the latest team to move to the top of the A-10.
  35. Wake Forest (Previous NR, 12-4): The Demon Deacons have won three in a row and are poised to stay in the hunt for second place in the ACC.
  36. North Carolina (previous NR, 11-6): The Tar Heels continue to flirt with losses, but have found a way to stay in the hunt for second place at 4-1 in the ACC.
  37. Iowa (Previous NR, 12-4): The Hawkeyes continued to pour on the points and controlled Indiana.

Dropped out: Oklahoma (13), Nebraska (24), UCLA (25), San Diego State (27), Pitt (30), Arkansas (35), Vanderbilt (36), St. Bonaventure (37).

Under consideration: UC Irvine, Saint Mary’s.

March Madness National Team of the Week

Florida: The Gators have been one of the biggest surprises and at times one of the most dominant teams in the country. The Gators knocked off previously unbeaten Tennessee 73-43 in Gainesville and then went on the road and beat Arkansas by nine. Florida enters the week 15-1, 2-1 in the SEC, with a strong chance to be 19-1 overall and 6-1 in the SEC before the return game in Knoxville on Feb. 1.

March Madness National Player of the Week

Cooper Flagg, Duke: The top freshman in the country, expected to be no. 1 in the draft in June, is now one of the top two picks for national player of the year. Flagg shifts into second gear in the ACC. He scored 42 points with seven assists, six rebounds and went 16 of 17 at the free throw line in an 86-78 win over Notre Dame. Flagg scored 19 with 10 boards and five assists in a 76-47 blowout win over Pitt. Flagg has scored in double figures in six straight and eight of the last nine games.

March Madness Top 10 Games to Watch

Illinois at Michigan State, Sunday: The Big Ten schedulers got this right by ensuring that two likely conference title contenders played twice this season. The key for the Illini will be whether or not Kasparas Jakucionis plays.

Kansas at Iowa State, Wednesday: The Big 12 runs through Ames this season. If the Jayhawks want to take their usual place at the top of the league, victory at Iowa State will undoubtedly help the cause.

Alabama at Kentucky, Saturday: The Tide picked up a monster road win at Texas A&M. Win at Rupp and the Tide will have an advantage in the hunt to stay with Auburn, Tennessee and Florida.

Purdue at Oregon, Saturday: The Ducks are coming from behind after losing two home games. The Boilermakers are back to looking like a Big Ten title contender. This game could indicate where they will stand in the hunt.

Ole Miss at Alabama, Tuesday: The Rebels have proven they can win on the road in the SEC. This is a tall order, but it will still be a barometer for them.

Texas A&M at Kentucky, Tuesday: The Aggies, when healthy, are one of the best teams in the SEC. This should be another big test for Kentucky.

Auburn at Georgia, Saturday: The Bulldogs look like an NCAA Tournament team after beating Kentucky and Oklahoma at home. Take out Auburn and the Bulldogs can be an SEC title contender as well.

IIllinois at Indiana, Tuesday: The Illini have a pretty challenging week on the road, especially if they don’t have KJ. Indiana is in desperation mode. The Hoosiers need to win this home game after getting blown out at Iowa.

Baylor at Arizona, Tuesday: The Wildcats are back in the NCAA Tournament bid after a shaky non-conference. Arizona enters the week 4-0 in the Big 12, while Baylor is right behind the Wildcats at 3-1.

Clemson at Pitt, Saturday: The battle for the second best team in the ACC is on, and Clemson and Pitt are in the middle of the chase with Louisville, North Carolina and possibly Wake Forest. This result may affect who gets the second seed.