Louisville Kentucky Basketball

Louisville's J'Vonne Hadley (1) looks for an opening against Kentucky's Koby Brea, center right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

 James Crisp

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- We're approaching the mid-way point of the conference season — and we're seeing separation in several power conferences.

Auburn is the only unbeaten in the Southeastern Conference. Duke is the sole flawless Atlantic Coast Conference team. Only Michigan State is unbeaten in the Big Ten. And Houston rules the top of the Big 12.

Those are the top four teams on my weekly Associated Press men's Top 25 ballot. Here is the entire list:

  1. Auburn (18-1): The Tigers got past Tennessee at home now they have to handle LSU and Ole Miss on the road this week.
  2. Duke (17-2): Ken Pomeroy's metrics keep forecasting a 19-1 conference record for the Blue Devils. I understand. But tell me in advance which team will beat them? I'm waiting.
  3. Michigan State (17-2): The Spartans are the last unbeaten Big Ten team and have won 12 straight overall. Why are people doubting Tom Izzo's team? I'm not.
  4. Houston (16-3): The Cougars stole one at Kansas, but that's what good teams do.
  5. Alabama (17-3): The Crimson Tide play three of their next four on the road. But they won at Kentucky.
  6. Iowa State (17-2): The Cyclones will be on upset watch Monday night at Arizona.
  7. Florida (18-2): The Gators have all week to prepare for a trip to Tennessee.
  8. Marquette (17-3): The Golden Eagles get their first look at UConn Saturday. The Huskies should be worried.
  9. St. John's (17-3): The Red Storm have yet to play Marquette or UConn, but only Creighton has stopped Rick Pitino's team in the Big East.
  10. Purdue (16-5): The Ohio State loss was puzzling but the Boilermakers overwhelmed Michigan. They're fine : and in position to punish Indiana Friday.
  11. Tennessee (17-3): No shame in a two-point loss to Auburn but the Vols have lost three of their last six and trail four teams in the SEC.
  12. Texas Tech (15-4): The Red Raiders face a Show Me game at Houston Saturday.
  13. Kansas (14-5): The Jayhawks have lost three Big 12 games but one was by a point and another in double overtime.
  14. Wisconsin (16-4): The Badgers have won eight of their last nine.
  15. Kentucky (14-5): The Wildcats will try to keep their 1-3 road record from becoming 1-4 Tuesday night at Tennessee.
  16. Texas A&M (15-5): The Aggies have lost three of their last five, including a stinging one-point loss at Texas Saturday.
  17. Mississippi State (16-4): The Bulldogs sandwiched overtime wins around a loss to Tennessee.
  18. Louisville (15-5): On Tuesday the Cards get Wake Forest, which just finished playing North Carolina and Duke.
  19. Illinois (14-6): The Illini can't play any worse than they did against Maryland.
  20. Ole Miss (15-5): Once the Rebels were 4-0 in the SEC. Now they're 4-3 and get Auburn Saturday.
  21. Maryland (16-5): Kevin Willard's team took a big step forward, winning at Illinois and Indiana.
  22. Michigan (14-5): The Wolverines were out-classed by Purdue but should win their next four.
  23. Clemson (17-4): If the Tigers can get past North Carolina State and Georgia Tech, they should be 11-1 in the ACC when Duke visits Feb. 8.
  24. Missouri (16-4): The Tigers lost to Texas but have quality wins over Florida and Ole Miss.
  25. New Mexico (17-4): Richard Pitino has his team sitting in first place in the Mountain West Conference.

College Basketball Coverage:

Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.