College Basketball Power Rankings: St. John’s Ascending, Texas Tech Facing a Test
The college basketball season is heating up, and several teams are making important moves. here’s a look at the latest power rankings, focusing on teams gaining momentum and those needing to find their stride.
st. John’s: Building Confidence
St. John’s is demonstrating clear progress as they head into a crucial matchup against Kentucky in Atlanta this Saturday. The Red Storm have secured three consecutive victories following a challenging trip to the Players Era Festival.
Rick Pitino is actively refining his perimeter play, and the results are promising. Ian Jackson has been impactful since re-entering the starting lineup, consistently scoring in double figures.Dylan Darling, now coming off the bench, contributed a strong 17 points and three 3-pointers in Tuesday’s win over depaul.Notably, the Johnnies have hit 10 three-pointers in back-to-back games - a feat they hadn’t accomplished since November of last season.
Upcoming Schedule:
* vs. Kentucky in Atlanta (Dec. 20)
* vs. Harvard (Dec. 23)
Texas tech: Seeking Consistency
Texas Tech is still searching for the form that marked them as a highly-regarded team at the start of the season. The Red Raiders have unfortunately fallen to their three most formidable opponents, including a recent defeat against Arkansas.
They have a significant opportunity to prove themselves this weekend wiht a game against Duke at Madison Square Garden. To compete effectively, Grant McCasland’s team must drastically improve their defensive performance, having conceded over 1.31 points per possession in their last two contests. Consistent production from Christian Anderson and JT Toppin will be vital.
However, they also need lejuan Watts to maintain the momentum from his outstanding performance against Northern Colorado. Watts delivered a remarkable 36 points on an incredibly efficient 12-of-13 shooting, becoming the first player in Big 12 history to achieve 35+ points with 90% accuracy.
Upcoming Schedule:
* vs. Duke in New York (Dec. 20)
This ranking reflects the dynamic nature of college basketball. Teams are constantly evolving, and these next few games will be critical in shaping the landscape of the season. You can expect further shifts as teams navigate challenging schedules and strive for consistency.
