Conference play officially kicked off across the country this weekend for teams across the country, and it didn’t disappoint. On Saturday alone, six ranked teams suffered upsets.
As usual, CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish adjusted his college basketball Top 25 and 1 rankings accordingly. While there isn’t a new No. 1 this week, there are plenty of changes and no shortage of shocks, either.
With so much to cover, let’s dive into Parrish’s latest Top 25 and 1 rankings.
Previous Ranking: 1
Tennessee didn’t move from Parrish’s No. 1 spot this week after blowing out Arkansas 76-52 to open SEC play. In the win, the Volunteers’ defense was stifling, squeezing 15 turnovers out of the Razorbacks.
In fact, Tennessee’s intensity was too much to handle for Arkansas, in general. The Volunteers recorded 24 offensive rebounds compared to Arkansas’ nine and capitalized on their hard work. In the victory, Tennessee scored 16 second-chance points.
Previous Ranking: 2
Tennessee wasn’t the only SEC team that sent a message this weekend. On Saturday, Auburn handily defeated Missouri 84-68. It was an offensive clinic for Auburn, which shot 57.1% from the field and 46.1% from beyond the arc in the win.
Nobody was more pivotal to the Tigers’ success than Johni Broome, who tallied a game-high 24 points while shooting 9-13 from the floor. Broome also added seven rebounds and four blocks to Auburn’s winning effort.
Previous Ranking: 3
The blowouts weren’t limited to the SEC this weekend. On Saturday, Iowa State handed Baylor a 74-55 shellacking. The Cyclones have now won nine straight games, with their last loss against Auburn on Nov. 25.
In the win over the Bears, Iowa State guard Keshon Gilbert erupted for 16 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. It was Gilbert’s first double-double this season and the fourth of his career.
Previous Ranking: 4
Duke comfortably defeated SMU 82-69 on Saturday. In no surprise, freshman superstar Cooper Flagg stole the spotlight, racking up 24 points and 11 rebounds against the Mustangs.
Meanwhile, Duke’s backcourt duo of Tyrese Proctor and Kon Kneuppel each had 14 points in the win. Duke head coach Jon Scheyer missed the game due to sickness. It was Scheyer’s first time missing a game since he took over as Duke’s head coach in 2022.
Previous Ranking: 5
The Alabama Crimson Tide not only beat Oklahoma on Saturday, they dominated, emerging with a 107-79 victory. In the triumph, Alabama had six players score double figures. Mark Sears led the group, boasting a game-high 22 points.
Alabama’s gritty attitude was key to its win. The Crimson Tide snagged 22 rebounds compared to Oklahoma’s mere six. In turn, Alabama scored 25 second-chance points to the Sooners’ four.
Previous Ranking: 7
Marquette is hitting its stride at the perfect time. On Friday, the Golden Eagles defeated Creighton 79-71 to improve their conference record to 4-0. As usual, Kam Jones was a standout for Marquette.
The senior guard had a slow start, failing to score until there was less than three minutes left in the first half. However, when he finally found his rhythm, he rode it straight to victory, notching 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
Previous Ranking: 8
Kentucky improved one spot in Parrish’s rankings this week after defeating Florida in a 106-100 shootout on Saturday. In the win, Kentucky’s offense looked like one of the best in the nation. The Wildcats shot 57.8% from the field and 48.3% from 3-point range.
Nobody was hotter than shooting guard Koby Brea, who connected on 7-9 attempts from deep and finished with 23 points. With the performance, Brea’s 3-point percentage improved to 52.3% on the season, which is the best in the country.
Previous Ranking: 6
While Florida fell a couple of spots in Parrish’s rankings this week, he hasn’t lost faith in the Gators. After all, Florida had plenty to be proud of in its performance against the ‘Cats.
Most notably, Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin looked like All-SEC selections, combining for 59 points on 18-33 shooting from the field. Moreover, the Gators gave Kentucky headaches on the boards, recording 31 second-chance points in the loss.
Previous Ranking: 9
After suffering two losses before the end of November, Michigan State has bounced back mightily the past month. It didn’t slow down on Friday, securing a 69-62 win over Ohio State. The Spartans have now won seven games in a row.
In the win, Szymon Zapala scored a season-high 15 points for Michigan State while shooting a nearly perfect 7-8 from the floor. Jaden Adkins had a solid outing as well, collecting 14 points against the Buckeyes.
Previous Ranking: 11
Mississippi State showed no mercy on Saturday, defeating South Carolina 85-50. It was never close between the two teams, with the Bulldogs boasting a 25-point lead by halftime.
With the win, the Bulldogs improved to 13-1, their best start under head coach Chris Jans. With Alabama up next, Mississippi State won’t have long to celebrate its outstanding showing.
11. Illinois (+1)
12. Texas A&M (+1)
13. Kansas (+1)
14. UCLA (-4)
15. Oregon
16. Purdue
17. Memphis
18. UConn
19. Ole Miss
20. Gonzaga
21. Houston
22. West Virginia (+1)
23. Utah State (+1)
24. Oklahoma (-2)
25. Michigan (Previously unranked)
26. Wisconsin (Previously unranked)
