College Basketball: On3’s Week 17 Top 25

As we near the end of February, the top 25 teams in the country are continuing to shift each week. Auburn remains the only two-loss team in the rankings. The Tigers continue to have big matchups as they navigate the SEC. Closing out conference play for Bruce Pearl’s team is Ole Miss, at No. 19 Kentucky, at No. 13 Texas A&M, and No. 7 Alabama to close the season. Auburn currently sits at 15-1 in conference play.

In Week 17, we are seeing clear tiers emerge at the top. Auburn, Florida, Duke, and Houston are separating themselves from the pack. Meanwhile, teams like Tennessee, St. John’s, and possibly Alabama and Michigan State could make things interesting as we enter the home stretch of the season.

Two new teams enter the top 25 this week. BYU climbs to No. 24 after a four-game win streak, highlighted by impressive victories over Kansas (by 34!) and Arizona. VCU checks in at No. 25 after a 16-point win over George Mason, improving to 12-2 in the A-10 with multiple victories over high-major opponents. Mississippi State and UCLA dropped out of the rankings this week.

This list is how I see the twenty-five best teams in college basketball, after watching through the first 16 weeks of games. This season is coming close to an end, and if these last few weeks of conference games are any indication, there still could be some twists and turns that happen along the way.

Week 16 Top 25

But for this moment, as we are inching toward the end of February, here are On3’s updated Top 25 college basketball rankings as we enter week 16 of the college basketball season.

1. Auburn, 25-2 (13-1)

Previously: No. 1
Last Five: 4-1

Leading Scorer: C Johni Broome, 18.6
Leading Rebounder: C Johni Broome, 11.1

Next: Ole Miss (2/26)

2. Florida, 24-3 (11-3)

Previously: No. 2
Last Five: 5-0

Leading Scorer: G Walter Clayton, 17.1
Leading Rebounder: C Alex Condon, 7.8

Next: @ Georgia (2/25)

3. Duke, 24-3 (15-1)

Previously: No. 3
Last Five: 4-1

Leading Scorer: F Cooper Flagg, 19.5
Leading Rebounder: F Cooper Flagg, 7.7

Next: @ Miami (2/25)

4. Houston, 23-4 (15-1)

Previously: No. 4
Last Five: 5-0

Leading Scorer: G LJ Cryer, 15.0
Leading Rebounder: F J’Wan Roberts, 6.3

Next: @ No. 10 Texas Tech (2/24)

5. Tennessee, 22-5 (9-5)

Previously: No. 7
Last Five: 4-1

Leading Scorer: G Chaz Lanier,
Leading Rebounder: F Igor Milicic,

Next: @ LSU (2/25)

6. St. John’s, 24-4 (15-2)

Previously: No. 10
Last Five: 4-1

Leading Scorer: F RJ Luis, 17.6
Leading Rebounder: C Zuby Ejiofor, 8.1

Next: @ Butler (2/26)

7. Alabama, 22-5 (11-3)

Previously: No. 5
Last Five: 3-2

Leading Scorer: G Mark Sears, 18.9
Leading Rebounder: F Grant Nelson, 7.9

Next: Mississippi State (2/25)

8. Michigan State, 22-5 (13-3)

Previously: No. 17
Last Five: 4-1

Leading Scorer: G Jaden Akins, 13.0
Leading Rebounder: C Jaxon Kohler, 7.6

Next: @ No. 15 Maryland (2/26)

9. Texas Tech, 21-6 (12-4)

Previously: No. 8
Last Five: 3-2

Leading Scorer: F JT Toppin, 17.3
Leading Rebounder: F JT Toppin, 9.1

Next: No. 4 Houston (2/24)

10. Iowa State, 21-6 (11-5)

Previously: No. 11
Last Five: 4-1

Leading Scorer: G Curtis Jones, 17.2
Leading Rebounder: F Joshua Jefferson, 7.7

Next: @ Oklahoma State (2/25)

College basketball week 17 rankings: teams 11-25

11. Michigan, 20-6 (12-3)
Previously: No. 9
Last Five: 4-1
Next: @ Nebraska (2/24)

12. Clemson, 22-5 (14-2)
Previously: No. 15
Last Five: 4-1
Next: Notre Dame (2/26)

13. Texas A&M, 20-7 (9-5)
Previously: No. 6
Last Five: 3-2
Next: Vanderbilt (2/26)

14. Wisconsin, 21-5 (11-4)
Previously: No. 13
Last Five: 4-1
Next: Washington (2/25)

15. Maryland, 21-6 (11-5)
Previously: No. 25
Last Five: 4-1
Next: No. 8 Michigan State (2/26)

16. Louisville, 21-6 (14-2)
Previously: No. 19
Last Five: 5-0
Next: @ Virginia Tech (2/25)

17. Memphis, 22-5 (12-2)
Previously: No. 16
Last Five: 4-1
Next: Rice (2/26)

18. Missouri, 20-7 (9-5)
Previously: No. 20
Last Five: 3-2
Next: South Carolina (2/25)

19. Kentucky, 18-9 (7-7)
Previously: No. 22
Last Five: 3-2
Next: @ Oklahoma (2/26)

20. Marquette, 20-7 (11-5)
Previously: No. 14
Last Five: 2-3
Next: Providence (2/25)

21. Purdue, 19-9 (11-6)
Previously: No. 12
Last Five: 1-4
Next: UCLA (2/28)

22. St. Mary’s, 25-4 (15-1)
Previously: No. 24
Last Five: 5-0
Next: Loyola Marymount (2/27)

23. Arizona, 18-9 (12-4)
Previously: No. 18
Last Five: 2-3
Next: Utah (2/26)

24. BYU, 19-8 (10-6)
Previously: NR
Last Five: 4-1
Next: @ Arizona State (2/26)

25. VCU, 22-5 (12-2)
Previously: NR
Last Five: 5-0
Next: @ Richmond (2/25)