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Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff WriterDec 28, 2023, 08:30 AM ET
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- Basketball recruiting insider.
- Joined ESPN in 2014.
- Graduate of University of Delaware.
UConn triumphed over Gonzaga in a thrilling game while Purdue and Arizona had a nail-biting finish in Indianapolis, highlighting the dominance of the top five teams. But the surprise losses of UConn and Arizona show that things aren’t always as they seem. The question now is, how far will they fall in the rankings?
Despite these losses, the impact on their rankings isn’t significant. For Arizona, the double overtime loss actually benefited FAU more than it hurt the Wildcats. UConn, however, faces a more challenging situation with Donovan Clingan out for up to a month due to injury. Yet, based on their résumé and metrics, UConn still stands strong in the rankings.
This season, the second-tier teams have been inconsistent, but some emerging powerhouses are starting to make noise. Tennessee’s five-game win streak, including a victory over Illinois, is impressive. Kentucky has had few negatives, and Illinois continues to impress while FAU has rebounded from earlier setbacks. These teams are knocking on the door of the top five.
We’ve modified the Power Rankings schedule to accommodate the holidays, but regular updates will resume soon. However, the rankings have been updated to reflect the latest performances and anticipate what each team needs in the second half of the season.
Check out the latest rankings and see what’s in store for these powerhouse teams as we head into the second half of the 2023-24 season.
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No. 3 Purdue drains back-to-back 3s as they knock off No. 1 Arizona
Lance Jones and Braden Smith knock down two long balls to help extend Purdue’s lead vs. Arizona.
1. Purdue Boilermakers (11-1)
Previous ranking: 1
Next 10 days: vs. Eastern Kentucky (Friday), at Maryland (Tuesday), vs. Illinois (Friday)
It feels unfair to point this out given how well Purdue’s guards played against Arizona — and how well Braden Smith has played all season — but the Boilermakers essentially just have to continue playing with poise late in games. Flashes of last season crept back in after the turnover-prone finish in the loss to Northwestern, but Purdue has given it away nine or fewer times in three of the four games since that defeat. The exception was the Arizona win, although Purdue shook off some struggles midway through the second half to finish strong.
