NCAA Men's Basketball Top 25: Week of Feb. 17

Published: Monday, February 17, 2025

by CJ Weipz and Sean Casey

Considered: George Mason, Texas, VCU, UCLA, Louisville 

 

NOTE: The only reason George Mason and VCU are unranked this week is their upcoming matchup this weekend. Check out the Bracket Busters podcast, releasing on Tuesday, for our preview of the biggest A-10 matchup of the season.

 

25. St. Mary’s 

The Gaels recovered after a tough week, winning three straight following their loss to San Francisco. Randy Bennett has his squad ranked No. 20 in the NET ratings and No. 21 in KenPom, boasting one of the nation’s top defensive units. Paulius Murauskas appears to be back on track as one of the WCC’s best bigs, scoring 30 points in a 21-point win over Washington State. Saint Mary’s is finding its rhythm again—just in time for a road trip to Spokane.

24. Marquette 

The Marquette slide continues after a 1-1 week; however, the Golden Eagles have dropped three straight games to the upper half of the BIG EAST dating back two weeks. Shaka Smart will count on star guard Kam Jones and defensive anchor Stevie Mitchell to get them back on track. Marquette’s schedule gets slightly easier before ending the regular season with UConn and St. John’s.

23. Ole Miss 

The Rebels split the season series with Mississippi State after a tough 81-71 home loss. Defense has always been the priority for Chris Beard’s teams, but with this year’s offensive talent, their trajectory is concerning. Barely getting by a struggling South Carolina team and losing by double digits at home while failing to shoot over 33% from beyond the arc in their last three games is not a recipe for success heading into the SEC tournament.

22. Clemson 

Clemson is the best of the rest in the ACC, knocking off North Carolina and Florida State. The Tigers have won four of their last five and are right there with Duke for the ACC regular-season title. Saturday's game against SMU is Clemson’s last regular-season matchup against a team projected near the field of 68. The Tigers should be in play for a top-three seed and will likely be a dark horse pick to make another run in March.

21. Mississippi State 

On the other side of the Magnolia State, the Bulldogs badly needed a get-right game heading into their matchup with Ole Miss, and they delivered. Defeating their in-state rivals after dropping three of their last four is a step in the right direction for a team looking to make a deep NCAA tournament run this season. RJ Melendez found his rhythm against the Rebels with 17 points and five rebounds but has struggled with consistent scoring in the past. If Chris Jans and his team want to make noise in March, they’ll need more from their senior forward.

20. Memphis 

Memphis continues to drop games it shouldn’t. Each year, the Tigers have a talented roster, but they suffer too many losses to bad teams or put up ugly wins. This week, the Wichita State Shockers—no pun intended—shocked Memphis with an upset, dropping the Tigers to 11-2 in the AAC. In a conference where they have the talent to go undefeated, questions remain. Two losses won’t ruin their season, but if they keep slipping, can you really trust them in March?

19. New Mexico  

This Lobos squad is arguably the best Richard Pitino has coached in his tenure, and the results speak for themselves. A strong showing against an incredibly talented Utah State team gave the Lobos a two-game lead in the Mountain West. Donovan Dent scored 23 points against the Aggies, while sophomore Tru Washington added 25 of his own. Few teams in the nation look more formidable than New Mexico right now. The West Coast Pitino has his team rolling.

18. Maryland  

Outside of Cooper Flagg, there may not be a better freshman than Maryland’s Derrick Queen. The standout center had 18 points and 13 rebounds in a blowout win over Iowa over the weekend. The Terps’ guards have also impressed, led by JaKobi Gillespie and Rodney Terry. Kevin Willard’s team is putting itself in the conversation as one of the Big Ten favorites. Matchups against both Michigan schools will test how legitimate the Terps really are.

17. Texas Tech 

Cinema. That is the only word to describe the Red Raiders’ win over Arizona State last week, highlighted by JT Toppin’s 41-point performance in two overtime periods. Texas Tech followed with another massive win over Oklahoma State, moving within two games of Houston for first place in the Big 12. Offensively, this is one of the most talented squads in the country, with three true primary scorers who can score efficiently. However, this team will go only as far as its defense allows—and if the Arizona State game was any indication, that might not be particularly far.

16. Wisconsin  

Nobody had a better week than the Badgers after knocking off top-10 Purdue. John Tonje has been incredible, averaging 19 points and scoring 32 against the Boilermakers. The Wisconsin offense has been firing on all cylinders, putting up 75 points or more in five of its last six games. Outside of Michigan State visiting Madison, the schedule is favorable for a top-three seed come conference tournament time.

15. Michigan  

Danny Wolf might be one of the most entertaining players in college basketball. The Wolverines started the week with a win over top-10 Purdue, where Wolf, Vlad Goldin, and Tre Donaldson combined for 39 of the team’s 75 points. Dusty May’s squad then went on the road to Columbus and secured its sixth Quad 1 win, defeating Ohio State 86-83. The Wolf-Goldin duo has caused opponents trouble all season, but with their biggest test against in-state rival Michigan State looming this weekend, the Wolverines are ready to prove themselves again.

14. Arizona 

In one of the premier matchups of a loaded slate Saturday, Arizona fell to Houston at home. The Wildcats also lost to Kansas State earlier in the week, but Arizona fans shouldn’t be too concerned. The Wildcats faced two of the hottest teams in the country and should be fine. Houston held Arizona to 37% from the field and 21% from three, yet the Wildcats only lost by four. This may not be the preseason top-10 team many expected, but they still have the potential for a strong tournament run.

13. Kentucky 

I don’t know what to say anymore. This team has the identity of a Rorschach test—it’s all in the eye of the beholder. Do you focus on the nation’s fifth-ranked offense, according to KenPom, or the 81-plus points per game allowed in SEC play, the worst in the conference? Mark Pope and his team must figure it out soon, with matchups against two of the nation’s top three teams in the next two weeks.

12. Michigan State 

Tom Izzo made history Saturday, passing Bob Knight for the most wins in Big Ten history. Izzo and the Spartans will look to add to that legacy with a conference title within reach. Their next test comes against Purdue in a marquee matchup between two of the Big Ten’s top programs. All eyes will be on East Lansing tomorrow night as Braden Smith and the Boilermakers come to town.

11. Purdue 

The road loss to Michigan was rough in every sense. Braden Smith delivered another season-defining performance with 24 points and five assists, but the rest of the team struggled in Ann Arbor. Trey Kaufman-Renn had trouble late against the Wolverines’ pressure, and Fletcher Loyer couldn’t find his rhythm down the stretch. After another tough home loss to Wisconsin, the Boilermakers find themselves on their heels heading into this week’s matchup with Michigan State.

10. Missouri 

The Tigers bounced back from their loss to Texas A&M with wins over Oklahoma and Georgia. A midweek matchup against Alabama at home could be a major boost for Missouri’s résumé, and the Crimson Tide are on upset watch.

9. Iowa State 

There was significant movement in the rankings this week, while Iowa State remained steady near the bottom of the Big 12. With a top-20 offense and top-10 defense, according to KenPom, the Cyclones are built for success in March. Now, they look to bolster their résumé with a trip to the Lone Star State to face Houston on Saturday.

8. Texas A&M  

The Aggies have been as solid as any team in the country. This week, Wade Taylor and company took care of business against unranked Georgia and Arkansas—there are no easy SEC games, so credit where it's due. Buzz Williams must now prepare his team for a brutal stretch against Mississippi State, Tennessee, Florida and Auburn. If the Aggies go 2-2 or better, A&M fans should feel really good about this team.

7. St. John's 

Did this team lose to Villanova on the road? Yes. Was it because Eric Dixon used voodoo magic to make his last-second shot fall? Also yes. Also yes. St. John’s bounced back Sunday after a tough trip to the Main Line, defeating a Creighton team still reeling from its loss to UConn. Kadary Richmond, RJ Luis, and Devion Smith might form the most electric two-way backcourt in the nation as the Johnnies secured another ranked win and remain firmly atop the Big East standings.

6. Tennessee 

Despite the loss to Kentucky, the Vols maintain their spot due to their strong résumé, including a key win over Florida earlier this month. Rick Barnes now shifts focus to a crucial matchup against Texas A&M on Saturday, with a full week to prepare. It’s never easy in College Station, but Tennessee will be ready.

5. Houston  

The coverage this Cougars team receives compared to what it should is troubling. Kelvin Sampson once again has one of the nation's best teams, anchored by—no surprise—one of the top defenses. Houston slowed Arizona’s high-powered offense, holding the Wildcats under 60 points on their home court. Milos Uzan has emerged as the offensive threat the Cougars need, scoring a season-high 19 points against Arizona and extending his double-digit scoring streak to mid-January. Houston is rolling—don’t be surprised if it reaches the Elite Eight or beyond this March.

4. Florida  

Florida has a case to be ranked higher, but Alabama shouldn't be penalized too much for losing to a dominant Auburn team. The Gators still have a matchup with Alabama to prove this ranking wrong as they sit in prime position for a No. 1 seed and a strong chance at a Final Four run.

3. Alabama  

They lost at home to Auburn. Next. 

2. Duke 

Duke bounced back this week, dominating Stanford and Cal to secure its 21st and 22nd wins. Cooper Flagg remains in the headlines, but the improved play of Tyrese Proctor has been key for the Blue Devils. Experience is paramount in March, and this Duke team has the perfect blend of veteran presence and young talent to make a run despite a weak ACC.

1. Auburn  

All doubts about this team are quelled. Bruce Pearl walked into Tuscaloosa and took down the No. 2 team in the AP poll by nearly 10 points. This is the undisputed best team in the nation. In the biggest game of the season so far, under the brightest lights, the Tigers played their style and controlled all 40 minutes. It's national title or bust for this group, and I don’t see anyone capable of stopping them.

CJ Weipz is an Assistant Sports Director at WSOU 89.5 FM and can be reached at christopher.weipz@student.shu.edu. 

Sean Casey can be reached at sean.casey@student.shu.edu. 

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