College basketball power rankings: Don’t forget about UCLA

LUBBOCK, TEXAS – JANUARY 29: Forward Bryson Williams #11 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders dunks the ball during the second half of the college basketball game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at United Supermarkets Arena on January 29, 2022, in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

Auburn and Gonzaga may get the headlines, but UCLA’s three-win week has them surging up the college basketball rankings.

The twists and turns of a college basketball season can lead to some strange paths for teams. UCLA is no exception after the Bruins began the year as the unquestioned No. 2 behind Gonzaga, lost badly to the Bulldogs in a neutral-site contest before Thanksgiving, and went largely forgotten after a lengthy COVID pause.

Mick Cronin’s team has quietly won six in a row and has lost just once since returning from its pause, a surge that will send them shooting up this week’s college basketball rankings. We’ll find out exactly where the Bruins fall in a bit but let’s get started with a look at the teams that just missed the cut in the honorable mentions.

Week 13 College Basketball Rankings: Honorable Mentions

Note: All games listed below were on the schedule as of post-time but COVID-19 related issues could lead to postponements at any moment. AP Rankings are based off of the Week 12 poll.

Michigan State, Texas Tech, Wisconsin, Villanova, Providence

Michigan State was in last week’s Top 10 but fell out after losing to a short-handed Illinois team in ugly fashion on Tuesday night. Fellow Big Ten member Wisconsin is still here after struggling with Minnesota at home on Sunday, a performance that is a bit concerning for a contender.

Texas Tech was the closest to breaking through after losing a double-overtime heartbreaker to Kansas and will look to get some revenge against former coach Chris Beard when Texas comes to Lubbock on Tuesday night. The Big East’s top dogs round out this group as Villanova and Providence continue to make life in a brutal conference look easy.