Auburn, Iowa State and Duke lead men’s basketball’s latest Power 37 rankings

It’s the start of the year and a lot of things are already on my mind.

Here are five things that concern me:

1. Cooper Flagg could be the first freshman to win the Naismith Award since 2019, when fellow Duke Zion Williamson won the award. The list of first-year winners is small, with Anthony Davis of Kentucky (2012) and Kevin Durant (2007) of Texas also winning the award. Hopefully Auburn’s Johni Broome won’t be out long with an ankle injury. Both men could make a strong title run in the final month of the season. Flagg lived up to the hype, which rarely happens. He not only scores and rebounds, but he does a tremendous job leading, defending and circulating the offense. Flagg averages 19.1/8.3 but is the No. 1 scout and continues to excel despite the attention.

2. There is strength in numbers in conferences. The Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC are proving it, and it will pay off in NCAA Tournament bids. This is why I would like the new Pac-12 and Mountain West to come together and form one conference. Men’s basketball in the Mountain West has been sensational in recent years and continues this season. Of course, Utah State and Boise State, who played a terrific late possession game Saturday night, will continue to face off. But that won’t be the case for New Mexico and San Diego State. The Lobos and Aztecs have consistently put on high quality matches in Viejas and the Pit. I’m not naive. These leagues are formed with a football perspective, although the new Pac-12 adds Gonzaga for hoops. But if they had formed a single league – today’s Mountain West – with the additions of Gonzaga (Pac-12), Oregon State (Pac-12), Washington State (Pac- 12), Hawaii, UTEP and Grand Canyon (all 3 joining in 2026) – would have resulted in a super conference in the West. UC Davis also joins us and men’s basketball has progressed. Instead, the MWC and Pac-12 could have years where they have a minimum of 2 bids (and in a bad year, just one) instead of the potential to be a league where they could be 5-6 . It’s a shame none of the league commissioners were able to see this and come together for a super league.

3. Thanks to Bryant coach Phil Martelli Jr. The Bulldogs were beaten 116-66 at Grand Canyon. And all Martelli Jr. did with Bryant was turn around a week later and beat Maine and league favorite Vermont back-to-back to start the America East 2-0. Great job erasing a poor non-conference performance and not letting it affect the start of the conference.

4. A healthy Saint Louis is at the top of the A-10. Two of Billikens’ top scorers came with Indiana State’s Josh Schertz: Isaiah Swope and Robbie Avila. Gibson Jimerson leads the team in scoring and was returned to Saint Louis. The Billikens beat two of the A-10 favorites at home, Saint Joseph’s and St. Bonaventure.

5. The SEC is brutal. Consider this: Oklahoma was 13-0 and is now 0-3 in the SEC. The Sooners started the league with two of three road games at Alabama and Georgia, with Texas A&M stuck in between. Oklahoma, Arkansas, LSU, Texas and South Carolina all started 0-3 in the SEC, but each could be in some sort of playoff event. All 16 SEC schools have at least four games above .500 overall.

RANKINGS: AP Top 25 Poll | NET Rankings

The Power 37 of January 13:

1. Auburn (previous 1, 15-1): Auburn beat South Carolina in Columbia despite losing Johni Broome to an ankle injury early in the game.
2. Iowa State (previous 3, 14-1): The Cyclones prove the Big 12 comes through Ames after a thrilling overtime win at Texas Tech.
3. Duke (Prev. 4, 14-2): The Blue Devils continue to create separation in the ACC.
4. Alabama (previous 5, 14-2): The Tide picked up a huge road win at Texas A&M.
5. Florida (previous 7, 15-1): The Gators had a tremendous week (see Team of the Week) blowing out Tennessee and winning at Arkansas.
6. Tennessee (previous 2, 15-1): The Vols were the last team to lose this season, but bounced back to beat Texas.
7. Marquette (Prev. 9, 14-2): The Golden Eagles are 5-0 in the Big East and look like another potential Final Four team.
8. Memphis (previous 14, 13-3): The Tigers are the class of Americans.
9. Michigan State (previous 15, 14-2): The Spartans dominated the Big Ten, crushing competition, including Northwestern, on the road Sunday.
10. UConn (previous 8, 13-4): The Huskies bounced back from the Villanova loss with a convincing win at Georgetown.
11. Kentucky (previous 6, 13-3): Georgia got Kentucky in Athens, but the Wildcats then pulled off a monster win at Mississippi State.
12. Michigan (preceding 23, 13-3): The Wolverines won convincingly at UCLA and then against Washington.
13. Houston (previous 16, 12-3): The Cougars have flipped the narrative of the season and are rolling.
14. Texas A&M (previous 11, 13-3): The Aggies won at Oklahoma before losing to Alabama.
15. Purdue (previous 18, 13-4): The Boilermakers have hit their stride in the Big Ten, blowing away the competition at home or on the road.
16. Kansas (preceding 20, 12-3): The Jayhawks are starting to chip away at the rotation and will still be in the thick of the Big 12 title race.
17. Utah State (previous 21, 16-1): The Aggies pulled out a wild last-possession home win over Boise State to remain undefeated in the MWC.
18. New Mexico (previous 32, 14-3): The Lobos are 6-0 at MWC after a comeback win at Wyoming and a win over San Diego State at the Pit.
19. Arizona (previous NR, 10-5): Guess who is 4-0 in the Big 12 after a slow non-conference start? Yes, the Wildcats.
20. West Virginia (previous 19, 12-3): The Mountaineers lost to Arizona, but that’s the Big 12’s only blemish.
21. Illinois (previous 10, 12-4): The Illini beat Penn State without Kasparas Jakucionis, but couldn’t beat USC with him still on the sideline.
22. Gonzaga (previous 22, 14-4): The Zags held off Washington State in the Cougars’ WCC opener against their rival.
23. Mississippi State (previous 12, 14-2): The Bulldogs lost to Kentucky at home, but they remain a major force in the SEC.
24. Oregon (previous 26, 15-2): The Ducks landed their first Eastern road swing in the Big Ten with wins at Ohio State and Penn State.
25. Wisconsin (preceding 28, 13-3): The Badgers won at Rutgers then beat Minnesota.
26. Louisville (previous NR, 12-5): The Cardinals are 5-1 in the ACC and making a case for second place in the league.
27. Clemson (previous 17, 13-4): The Tigers lost to Louisville but beat Florida State to remain tied for second.
28. Ole Miss (Prev. NR, 14-2): The Rebels are off to a 3-0 start in the SEC.
29. Maryland (previous 29, 12-4): The Terps bounced back from a tough Northwest road trip by beating UCLA.
30. St. John’s (previous 31, 14-3): The Red Storm had a big win against Villanova and became one of the top three teams in the Big East.
31. Baylor (previous 34, 11-4): The Bears will find a way to contend for a top-three spot in the Big 12.
32. Missouri (previous 33, 13-3): The Tigers aren’t going anywhere in the SEC. This is an NCAA Tournament team after going winless in the SEC last season.
33. Georgia (Prev. NR, 14-2): The Bulldogs had a great week beating Kentucky and Oklahoma.
34. Saint Louis (Prev. NR, 10-6): SLU is healthy and is the last team to rise to the top of the A-10.
35. Wake Forest (Prev. NR, 12-4): The Demon Deacons have won three straight and are poised to stay in the race for second place in the ACC.
36. North Carolina (Prev. NR, 11-6): The Tar Heels continue to flirt with defeat but have found a way to stay in the race for second place at 4-1 in the ACC.
37. Iowa (previous NR, 12-4): The Hawkeyes continued to pour in points and keep Indiana in check.

Abandoned : Oklahoma (13), Nebraska (24), UCLA (25), San Diego State (27), Pitt (30), Arkansas (35), Vanderbilt (36), St. Bonaventure (37).

Under study: UC Irvine, Saint Mary’s.

March Madness National Team of the Week

Florida: The Gators have been one of the biggest surprises and, at times, one of the most dominant teams in the country. The Gators beat previously undefeated Tennessee 73-43 in Gainesville, then went on the road and beat Arkansas by nine. Florida enters the week 15-1, 2-1 in the SEC, with a strong chance of being 19-1 overall and 6-1 in the SEC heading into the rematch in Knoxville on February 1.

March Madness National Player of the Week

Cooper Flagg, Duke: The nation’s top freshman, projected No. 1 overall in the draft in June, is now one of the top two picks for national player of the year. Flagg shifts into second gear in the ACC. He scored 42 points with seven assists, six rebounds and 16 of 17 from the free throw line in an 86-78 victory over Notre Dame. Flagg scored 19 points with 10 rebounds and five assists in a 76-47 blowout win over Pitt. Flagg has scored double figures in six straight games and eight of the last nine games.

March Madness: Top 10 Games to Watch

Illinois at Michigan State, Sunday: Big Ten schedulers did this well by ensuring that two likely conference title contenders play twice this season. The key for the Illini will be whether or not Kasparas Jakucionis plays.

Kansas at Iowa State, Wednesday: The Big 12 is rolling through Ames this season. If the Jayhawks want to take their usual spot atop the league, a win at Iowa State would undoubtedly help the cause.

Alabama at Kentucky, Saturday: The Tide picked up a monster road victory at Texas A&M. Win at Rupp and the Tide will hold an advantage in the race to stay with Auburn, Tennessee and Florida.

Purdue at Oregon, Saturday: The Ducks are playing from behind after losing two games at home. The Boilermakers once again look like a Big Ten title contender. This play could indicate where they will stand in the chase.

Ole Miss at Alabama, Tuesday: The Rebels have proven they can win on the road in the SEC. It is a difficult task, but it will remain a barometer for them.

Texas A&M at Kentucky, Tuesday: The Aggies, when healthy, are one of the best teams in the SEC. This should be another major test for Kentucky.

Auburn, Georgia, Saturday: The Bulldogs look like an NCAA Tournament team after beating Kentucky and Oklahoma at home. Take out Auburn and the Bulldogs could also be an SEC title contender.

Illinois at Indiana, Tuesday: The Illini have a pretty tough week on the road, especially if they don’t have KJ. Indiana is in desperation mode. The Hoosiers need to win this home game after being criticized in Iowa.

Baylor at Arizona, Tuesday: The Wildcats are back in the NCAA Tournament bid race after a shaky non-conference run. Arizona enters the week 4-0 in the Big 12, while Baylor is just behind the Wildcats at 3-1.

Clemson at Pitt, Saturday: The battle for the second-best team in the ACC is on, and Clemson and Pitt are in the thick of the race with Louisville, North Carolina and perhaps Wake Forest. This result could have a say in who gets that second seed.