Auburn Tigers Leapfrog Undefeated Tennessee Volunteers in Latest Power Rankings
Hey basketball fans, it’s that time of the week again where we dive into the latest power rankings and dissect the movers and shakers in college basketball. Just a week ago, Tennessee Volunteers were sitting pretty at No. 1, with Auburn Tigers hot on their heels at No. 2. But oh, how the tables have turned! Despite Tennessee’s impressive road win against Illinois, they’ve been nudged down to the second spot. So, what’s the scoop?
Let’s break it down. Auburn has been nothing short of a powerhouse, even with a blemish on their record from a loss to Duke earlier this month. The Tigers have been the most dominant team through six weeks in the history of KenPom’s database, and they rank No. 1 in every efficiency-based metric. Their resume is stacked with wins over Iowa State, Houston, Memphis, North Carolina, and Ohio State—all away from home. They boast the most Quadrant 1 wins in the country with five. Now that’s what I call a statement!
On the other hand, Tennessee is still undefeated and it’s no shocker to see them at No. 1 in the AP poll. They’re likely to enter SEC play with a 13-0 record. However, they haven’t yet faced anyone ranked inside the top 20 of the Power Rankings. While it’s a close call, Auburn’s superior metrics and resume give them the edge. If Tennessee manages to beat Florida on the road on January 7—or if Auburn stumbles against Purdue this weekend—we might have to revisit this debate.
play 1:23
Auburn’s Johnson explains offensive outburst coming off the bench
Stepping up after an injury to Johni Broome, Chaney Johnson reflects on his mindset as his role changes and he scores 26 points on 12-of-14 shooting.
1. Auburn Tigers (10-1)
Previous ranking: 2
All eyes are on the availability of Johni Broome, who played just three minutes against Georgia State on Monday before leaving with a shoulder injury. He sat on the bench in the second half with his arm in a sling. The school announced Wednesday that Broome didn’t need surgery, but he will be reevaluated on a daily basis. Bruce Pearl replaced Broome on Tuesday with Chaney Johnson, who had the best game of his career: 26 points on 12-for-14 shooting, eight rebounds, and four assists.
Next seven days: vs. Purdue in Birmingham (Dec. 21)
2. Tennessee Volunteers (11-0)
Previous ranking: 1
Tennessee’s defensive performance against Western Carolina was the program’s best in the history of the KenPom database, limiting the Catamounts to 0.49 points per possession (36 points on 73 possessions). Given the Volunteers have ranked in the top five in adjusted defensive efficiency in each of the past five years, it’s a tremendously impressive record. Oddly enough, Tennessee’s previous record for fewer points per possession allowed? Nov. 30, 1998, against … Western Carolina.
Next seven days: vs. Middle Tennessee (Dec. 23)
3. Iowa State Cyclones (9-1)
Previous ranking: 3
It’s hard to understate the impact that Saint Mary’s transfer Joshua Jefferson has had on the Cyclones. He was considered a perfect pickup in the portal given his track record for defense and toughness with the Gaels, but Jefferson has dramatically improved Iowa State on the offensive end. He went for 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists against Iowa, has scored in double-figures in five straight games, and gives the Cyclones’ offense different looks due to his versatility.
Next seven days: at Morgan State (Dec. 22)
4. Kentucky Wildcats (10-1)
Previous ranking: 4
Lamont Butler missed two games, including Kentucky’s win in Seattle over Gonzaga, and wasn’t even a lock to suit up against Louisville on Saturday. Not only did he suit up, but he also started and put up an eye-popping stat line: 33 points on 10-for-10 shooting, 6-for-6 from 3, and six assists. He was only the second SEC player in the past 20 years to finish with 30-plus points on 100% field goal shooting, according to ESPN Research.
Next seven days: vs. Ohio State in New York (Dec. 21)
play 1:44
No. 5 UK’s Butler ecstatic after career-high 33 points vs. Louisville
Following his perfect shooting performance including six threes in the rivalry win, Lamont Butler says Mark Pope helped the Wildcats form strong connections in the preseason.
5. Duke Blue Devils (9-2)
Previous ranking: 6
Jon Scheyer made a lineup change heading into the Auburn game on Dec. 4, moving Caleb Foster to the bench and slotting Sion James into the starting five. James, the fifth-year Tulane transfer, has brought a different level of physicality and two-way ability, while also allowing Foster to be a spark offensively off the bench. In his four games as a starter, James is averaging 8.3 and 4.3 rebounds, including 11 points in the win over Louisville.
Next seven days: at Georgia Tech (Dec. 21)
6. Alabama Crimson Tide (9-2)
Previous ranking: 7
Full credit to Nate Oats for going on the road to North Dakota to play a homecoming game for Grant Nelson, but it was nearly a catastrophic trip for the Crimson Tide. They barely got out of Grand Forks with a win, surviving a 40-point effort from North Dakota sharpshooter Treysen Eaglestaff. It was fitting that Nelson made three huge plays down the stretch and finished with 23 points and 10 boards, while Mark Sears has now hit 20-plus points in five of his past six games.
Next seven days: vs. Kent State (Dec. 22)
7. Florida Gators (11-0)
Previous ranking: 8
Florida had its two toughest games of the season in the past week, dominating Arizona State in Atlanta over the weekend and then surging late to beat North Carolina in Charlotte after blowing a 17-point first-half lead. In addition to the usual suspects on the perimeter—Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard and Alijah Martin—Todd Golden has gotten good mileage recently out of Denzel Aberdeen. He’s scored 12 points in two of the past three games and is shooting 40% from 3 on the season.
Next seven days: vs. North Florida (Dec. 21)
8. Oregon Ducks (10-1)
Previous ranking: 10
Oregon at No. 8 in the country might feel high—but the resume speaks for itself. The Ducks have neutral-court wins over Alabama, Texas A&M, and San Diego State—three teams in the top 20 of the Power Rankings. Their only loss is by two points to UCLA, another team in the top 20 of the Power Rankings. Whether Dana Altman’s team is a legitimate Big Ten title contender in its first season in the league will be tested by its next five conference games: vs. Illinois, vs. Maryland, at Ohio State, at Penn State, vs. Purdue.
Next seven days: at Stanford in San Jose (Dec. 21)
9. Marquette Golden Eagles (10-2)
Previous ranking: 5
Marquette opened Big East play with a 10-point win over Butler on Wednesday, but the Golden Eagles’ defensive issues are continuing to crop up. After allowing just one team to score more than one point per possession in their first eight games, they’ve now allowed four straight opponents to hit at least 1.11 points per possession. According to CBB Analytics, Marquette ranks outside the top 140 nationally in 2-point percentage defense, fast-break points allowed, and paint points allowed.
Next seven days: at Xavier (Dec. 21)
10. Kansas Jayhawks (8-2)
Previous ranking: 11
After one of the least productive five-game stretches of his college career, Hunter Dickinson has been far dominant in Kansas’ past two games. He’s coming off a 21-point, 14-rebound, 7-assist performance against NC State and had 19 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks in the loss to Missouri. In the five games before the defeat, he was averaging 10.4 points and 8.8 rebounds—capped by just six points in the loss at Creighton. He’s up to No. 4 in KenPom’s Player of the Year standings.
Next seven days: vs. Brown (Dec. 22)
And there you have it, folks! The latest power rankings have stirred up quite the conversation, with Auburn Tigers taking the top spot over the undefeated Tennessee Volunteers. It’s a thrilling time in college basketball, and as always, we’ll be keeping a close eye on the action as the season progresses. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis!
Originally Written by: Jeff Borzello
