This is still the most accurate representation of the teams and not just because USF is in their proper place, but others as well.
2. UConn (2): The Huskies got the outright Big East title with a win over Seton Hall.
3. Purdue (3): The Boilermakers clinched at least a share of the Big Ten title.
4. Iowa State (4): The Cyclones are peaking at the right time for a potential deep March run.
5. Tennessee (5): The Vols had a tremendous week with wins over Auburn and Alabama.
6. Arizona (8): The Wildcats have hit reset and bounced back to be on schedule still for a No. 1 seed.
7. Baylor (9): The Bears got revenge against Kansas and are primed for a Big 12 tournament run.
8. Kentucky (10): The Wildcats continue to show they can score at will.
9. North Carolina (12): The Tar Heels are in position to be a high 2 or a No. 1 seed in two weeks.
10. Duke (13): The Blue Devils destroyed Virginia and are ready to earn a piece of the ACC regular-season title with two wins this week.
11. Illinois (14): The Illini beat Minnesota by scoring over 100 and then went to Madison and got an impressive road win.
12. Creighton (15): The Bluejays have the offense to reach the Big East title game and beyond in March.
13. Marquette (7): The Golden Eagles lost to Creighton with a depleted roster. Big week ahead with a showdown with UConn.
14. Alabama (11): The Tide hung with the Vols and are still in contention for a top-two SEC finish.
15. South Carolina (32): The Gamecocks are back to being in the chase for a top-two seed in the SEC tournament.
16. South Florida (17): The Bulls are the outright American champs.
17. Gonzaga (19): The Zags won at Saint Mary’s and should be a lock for the NCAA tournament.
18. Washington State (18): The Cougars got a home sweep of the LA schools to remain tied with Arizona atop the Pac-12.
19. Saint Mary’s (16): The Gaels dropped their first game in the WCC, but still won the league outright.
20. BYU (34): The Cougars won two in a row, including at Kansas, to jump into the top four in the Big 12.
21. Auburn (26): The Tigers bounced back with a dominating win over Mississippi State.
22. Utah State (24): The Aggies head into the final week on a three-game win streak and a chance to win the MWC outright.
23. Florida (20): The Gators lost at South Carolina but have a monster showdown with Alabama this week.
24. San Diego State (25): The Aztecs finished with a road game at UNLV and a home game against Boise State in an attempt to still get a piece of the MWC title.
25. Kansas (6): The Jayhawks are hanging on by a thread in the top 25 with losses to BYU and at Baylor. Kevin McCullar Jr. not playing against BYU was a difference maker. He returned for the Baylor game.
26. Nebraska (22): The Huskers lost to suddenly hot Ohio State on the road but then bounced Rutgers in their home finale to finish 18-1 in Lincoln this season.
27. Richmond (NR): The Spiders are alone in first place in the A-10 after a win over VCU.
28. Loyola Chicago (23): The Ramblers beat Dayton at home after losing at St. Bonaventure. The Ramblers are a game back of Richmond with two to play.
29. Boise State (29): The Broncos have won five in a row after knocking off New Mexico.
30. Iowa (NR): The Hawkeyes are making a late push for an NCAA tournament berth with a road win at Northwestern. A huge home game against Illinois is up this week.
31. Indiana State (NR): The Sycamores won the Missouri Valley Conference outright, only the third Valley title ever in program history.
32. Northwestern (28): The Wildcats are the walking wounded. They found a way to win at Maryland without Ryan Langborg but couldn’t beat Iowa after Langborg still was out and then Matt Nicholson got hurt, too.
33. Nevada (NR): The Wolf Pack have won five in a row and are a game out of first in the MWC.
34. Villanova (NR): The Wildcats are trending toward a bid again with a road win at Providence.
35. Syracuse (NR): The Orange have won four in a row and could help their tournament chances with a road win at Clemson.
36. Princeton (NR): The Tigers are atop the Ivy with Yale and are riding an eight-game win streak.
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Power 36 | March 4
1. Houston (1): The Cougars’ Jamal Shead hit the game winner at Oklahoma to keep Houston in pursuit of the Big 12 title.2. UConn (2): The Huskies got the outright Big East title with a win over Seton Hall.
3. Purdue (3): The Boilermakers clinched at least a share of the Big Ten title.
4. Iowa State (4): The Cyclones are peaking at the right time for a potential deep March run.
5. Tennessee (5): The Vols had a tremendous week with wins over Auburn and Alabama.
6. Arizona (8): The Wildcats have hit reset and bounced back to be on schedule still for a No. 1 seed.
7. Baylor (9): The Bears got revenge against Kansas and are primed for a Big 12 tournament run.
8. Kentucky (10): The Wildcats continue to show they can score at will.
9. North Carolina (12): The Tar Heels are in position to be a high 2 or a No. 1 seed in two weeks.
10. Duke (13): The Blue Devils destroyed Virginia and are ready to earn a piece of the ACC regular-season title with two wins this week.
11. Illinois (14): The Illini beat Minnesota by scoring over 100 and then went to Madison and got an impressive road win.
12. Creighton (15): The Bluejays have the offense to reach the Big East title game and beyond in March.
13. Marquette (7): The Golden Eagles lost to Creighton with a depleted roster. Big week ahead with a showdown with UConn.
14. Alabama (11): The Tide hung with the Vols and are still in contention for a top-two SEC finish.
15. South Carolina (32): The Gamecocks are back to being in the chase for a top-two seed in the SEC tournament.
16. South Florida (17): The Bulls are the outright American champs.
17. Gonzaga (19): The Zags won at Saint Mary’s and should be a lock for the NCAA tournament.
18. Washington State (18): The Cougars got a home sweep of the LA schools to remain tied with Arizona atop the Pac-12.
19. Saint Mary’s (16): The Gaels dropped their first game in the WCC, but still won the league outright.
20. BYU (34): The Cougars won two in a row, including at Kansas, to jump into the top four in the Big 12.
21. Auburn (26): The Tigers bounced back with a dominating win over Mississippi State.
22. Utah State (24): The Aggies head into the final week on a three-game win streak and a chance to win the MWC outright.
23. Florida (20): The Gators lost at South Carolina but have a monster showdown with Alabama this week.
24. San Diego State (25): The Aztecs finished with a road game at UNLV and a home game against Boise State in an attempt to still get a piece of the MWC title.
25. Kansas (6): The Jayhawks are hanging on by a thread in the top 25 with losses to BYU and at Baylor. Kevin McCullar Jr. not playing against BYU was a difference maker. He returned for the Baylor game.
26. Nebraska (22): The Huskers lost to suddenly hot Ohio State on the road but then bounced Rutgers in their home finale to finish 18-1 in Lincoln this season.
27. Richmond (NR): The Spiders are alone in first place in the A-10 after a win over VCU.
28. Loyola Chicago (23): The Ramblers beat Dayton at home after losing at St. Bonaventure. The Ramblers are a game back of Richmond with two to play.
29. Boise State (29): The Broncos have won five in a row after knocking off New Mexico.
30. Iowa (NR): The Hawkeyes are making a late push for an NCAA tournament berth with a road win at Northwestern. A huge home game against Illinois is up this week.
31. Indiana State (NR): The Sycamores won the Missouri Valley Conference outright, only the third Valley title ever in program history.
32. Northwestern (28): The Wildcats are the walking wounded. They found a way to win at Maryland without Ryan Langborg but couldn’t beat Iowa after Langborg still was out and then Matt Nicholson got hurt, too.
33. Nevada (NR): The Wolf Pack have won five in a row and are a game out of first in the MWC.
34. Villanova (NR): The Wildcats are trending toward a bid again with a road win at Providence.
35. Syracuse (NR): The Orange have won four in a row and could help their tournament chances with a road win at Clemson.
36. Princeton (NR): The Tigers are atop the Ivy with Yale and are riding an eight-game win streak.
NCAA power 36
