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Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff WriterNov 14, 2024, 08:30 AM ET
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- Basketball recruiting expert.
- Signed up with ESPN in 2014.
- Graduate of University of Delaware.
The very first week of in-season College Basketball Power Rankings is constantly something of a crapshoot. Preseason priors are still greatly weighted, actually whatever is a little sample size and the absence of a constant competitors level throughout the board makes early contrasts hard.
One declaration win can increase a group up the order.
We saw 3 of those through the very first 10 days of the 2024-25 season: Gonzaga's blowout of Baylor on opening night, Auburn beating Houston in Houston and Kentucky returning to leading Duke at Tuesday night's Champions Classic.
How high does each group increase?
Auburn and Gonzaga slot right behind Kansas at the top of the rankings. The short-handed Tigers entering into Houston and looking every bit the part of a championship game competitor was extremely remarkable. They went toe-to-toe with the Cougars' durability, Johni Broome won the interior fight for Auburn and Tahaad Pettiford is an emerging star. Gonzaga, on the other hand, was simply a force offensively versus Baylor. Mark Few's capability to go 8 deep with authentic shotmakers is something to see. Both groups need to be season-long title dangers.
Kentucky, on the other hand, increases into the leading 10 as Mark Pope appears to have the Wildcats ahead of schedule. A come-from-behind win on a neutral flooring versus what must be among the most gifted groups in the nation is something that has remaining power.
Previous editions: Preseason leading 25
1. Kansas Jayhawks (3-0)
Preseason ranking: 1
Kansas almost blew a 20-point lead in your home to North Carolina and had an unsightly win over Michigan State, however the Jayhawks will stay atop the rankings entering their next huge face-off, versus Cooper Flagg and Duke in Las Vegas on Nov. 26. A number of things to keep an eye on in Lawrence: AJ Storr's battles and the development of Flory Bidunga. Storr played well versus the Tar Heels, however he has actually amounted to 11 points in 27 minutes in Kansas' other 2 video games. Bidunga has actually made an effect behind– and in some cases along with– Hunter Dickinson, balancing 9.0 points and 5.7 boards in 13.3 minutes.
Next 7 days: vs. Oakland (Nov. 16), vs. UNC Wilmington (Nov. 19)
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Emphasize: No. 11 Auburn duo shines in 2nd half to down No. 4 Houston
Johni Broome and Tahaad Pettiford integrate for 31 of the Tigers' 46 second-half points, assisting snap a six-game losing streak versus the Cougars with the 74-69 win.
2. Auburn Tigers (3-0)
Preseason ranking: 10
Bruce Pearl has actually constantly been a coach who relies greatly on bench production, and it appears he'll have at least 2 or 3 gamers in reserve efficient in huge nights.
