Houston clings to top spot, Kansas soars to No. 2 in men’s college basketball’s latest Power 36 rankings

Buzz Williams was upset when Texas A&M was eliminated from the 2022 NCAA tournament.

How did the Aggies react in 2023?

They’re putting themselves in a position to potentially get their share of the SEC title and earn a solid NCAA tournament spot.

RELATED: 2023 March Madness Men’s Bracket predictions by Andy Katz, following top 16 reveal

The regular season ends in two weeks and the Aggies are one game behind first-place Alabama, three games ahead of third-place Tennessee and Kentucky. The Aggies have their last four games at home against Tennessee and Alabama. You have a legitimate chance of getting a piece of the SEC title.

And last week’s victories over Arkansas and in Missouri deserved Texas A&M our March Madness National Team of the Week.

The Aggies were 10 seeds in our last group. Expect Texas A&M to move up a few starting lines as they continue to win in the past two weeks and in the SEC tournament.

While Texas A&M looks like a solid NCAA tournament team, Penn State still has work to do. But Jalen Pickett gave the Nittany Lions a chance to earn ours last week with a total of 73 points in back-to-back wins over Illinois and Minnesota March Madness Player of the Week. Pickett scored 41 in a win over Illinois, giving Penn State a win of the season against the Illini, and 32 in a win over Minnesota. Penn State still has a long way to go to compete for a bid, but it’s not out of the question.

Pickett is a ban for all of the Big Ten and if the Nittany Lions find a way to get into the field, he will be one of the toughest matchups in March.

This week’s rankings:

1.Houston (1): The Cougars have picked up the first of two wins against Memphis and go on lock status for a one-seed.

2. Kansas (12): The Jayhawks are back as the team to beat in the Big 12 after defeating Baylor.

3. Alabama (2): The Tide lost in Tennessee, but this is only their first SEC loss.

4.UCLA (4): The Bruins are the team to beat in the Pac-12 now, making a late rise for a possible No. 1 seed.

5.Texas (6): The Longhorns are tied at the top of the Big 12, although the league will go through Lawrence. Oh, give Rodney Terry the full-time job.

6. Puree (3): The Boilermakers returned with a recovery win over Ohio State Sunday. Expect Purdue to reset and roll on after back-to-back court storms at Evanston and College Park.

7.Arizona (26): The Wildcats beat Utah and Colorado at home and face a showdown in two weeks against UCLA.

8. Virginia (7): The Cavaliers have risen to the top of the ACC where they floated outside of last season.

9. Miami (10): The ‘Canes are right there with Virginia and could be pushing for a top 4 seed with a deep run in the ACC tournament.

10. Markette (9): The Golden Eagles are now the team to beat in the Great East.

11. State of Kansas (16): The Wildcats pulled off a solid win over Iowa State and was a top three-line seed in the top 16.

12. Baylor (8): The Bears lost to Kansas, but they showed up at the right time.

13. Northwest (17): The Wildcats are alone in second place in the Big Ten with 11 wins after following a Purdue win with Ws over Indiana and Iowa.

14. Tennessee (11): The Vols beat Alabama but then lost an away game in Kentucky.

15. Indiana (5): The Hoosiers had a great comeback at Northwestern. And then found a way to beat Illinois to stay in the hunt for second place in the Big Ten.

16. Xavier (15): Marquette beat Xavier in last possession. The Musketeers are going nowhere.

17. Creighton (13): The Bluejays fell on the road in a wild race against Providence but are still right in the middle of the Big East race.

18. Saint Mary (20): The Gaels continue to defend as well as any team in the country and look to beat Gonzaga on Saturday.

19. Gonzaga (21): The Zags blasted the LMU and retaliated for the home loss to the Lions.

20. Maryland (18): The Terps had the court-storming win over Purdue, then lost in overtime in Nebraska. But this team will be a factor in March.

21.Texas A&M (22): The Aggies take the sweep from Missouri and sit alone in second place in the SEC.

22. State of San Diego (29): The Aztecs are still the team to beat in the Mountain West.

23. Kentucky (NR): The ‘Cats are back – for now – and taking over Tennessee.

24. Vanderbilt (32): Yes, arrange the ‘dores. They have won five times in a row, including against Tennessee and most recently against Auburn.

25th Providence (33): The brothers have outlasted Creighton and are back in the Big East title race.

26. NC state (36): The Wolfpack got the win they needed against North Carolina on Sunday.

27th Duke (NR): The Blue Devils have crushed Syracuse in the streets and are starting to find their groove.

28. State of Iowa (27): The Cyclones broke up this week and were a top 16 team.

29. Uconn (35): The Huskies avenged an early season loss to Seton Hall. They lurk in the middle of the Great East, ready to pounce.

30. Iowa (23): The Hawkeyes were driven out of Northwestern Sunday night. But they were rolled.

31. Pitt (24): The Panthers fell at Virginia Tech but still look to a top-four finish in the ACC.

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32nd USC (NR): The Trojans got the home win they needed to remain a Pac-12 team in the top three.

33. VCU (NR): The Rams once again asserted themselves as the team to beat in the A-10.

34. TCU (34): The Horned Frogs beat Oklahoma State by 25. So let’s put them back in here.

35. Toledo (NR): The Rockets have won 11 straight and will be in a close race with Kent State for the MAC title.

36. Hofstrasse (NR): Time to give some love to the pride. They have won 10 in a row and sit at the top of the CAA.

fallen out: State of Oklahoma (14), Illinois (19), Missouri (25), Rutgers (28), Nevada (30), Wake Forest (31).