NCAA Men’s Basketball Power Rankings: February 17

The last few weeks of college hoops have only complicated the conversation surrounding the best teams in the sport, but that’s why we at Ballislife are here to sort through all of the chaos. Since we last checked in, Arizona is no longer undefeated (or No. 1). Michigan is still out of its mind good, and so is Duke.

Iowa State is back in the national title picture after a pair of slip ups briefly caused a collective souring on the Cyclones last month, while Nebraska and Illinois remain neck and neck after splitting a hotly contested season series. Oh, and there’s still plenty of faith to go around for Texas Tech and Kansas despite their respective handful of losses.

(Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Top 10

1. Michigan (25-1, 15-1 Big 10)

With Arizona falling from the ranks of the unbeaten (and losing a second game) since our last power rankings, Dusty May’s Michigan Wolverines are taking over the No. 1 spot they most likely never would have relinquished had it not been for a flukish loss to Wisconsin as 18.5-point favorites at the top of Big 10 play.

The Wolverines have gone unbeaten over the course of the last month, including wins over previously unscathed Nebraska at home and red-hot rival Michigan State on the road in East Lansing. Michigan’s impressive statement in Big 10 play so far came on Monday night, beating No. 7 Purdue on the road in an impressive and decisive effort led by 17 points from guard Elliot Cadeau (14 in the second half). The Wolverines will have another chance to prove their mettle on Saturday in a national title-worthy showdown against Duke in Washington D.C.

No. 1 Michigan’s W over No. 7 Purdue gives the Wolverines their best start EVER

They’re the first Big Ten team to start 25-1 since 2010-2011 pic.twitter.com/aIQAxA9HKI

— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) February 18, 2026

2. Arizona (23-2, 10-2 Big 12)

Back-to-back losses to ranked conference foes Kansas and Texas Tech have dimmed Arizona’s light a bit this past week, but the reality is the Wildcats still have a better resume than any of the other two or even three-loss teams that both the metrics and the media seem so desperate to place above them.

Kansas, even without Darryn Peterson, executed a nearly flawless and inspired game plan to hand Arizona its first loss last week, and the toughest conference in basketball this season offered little reprieve by offering up a loaded and experienced Texas Tech team that could very well find itself in Indianapolis for the Final Four this April. Arizona’s upcoming week will surely determine whether or not they remain a fixture near the top of the rankings, with games against AJ Dybantsa’s BYU Cougars and the always-contending Houston Cougars on deck Wednesday and Saturday.

3. Duke (24-2, 13-1 ACC)

When it comes down to it, the decision between Arizona and Duke for the No. 2 spot is really just splitting hairs. North Carolina, who handed Duke its second loss of the season on a thrilling Seth Trimble game-winner last week, is a markedly less impressive team than Kansas when both those teams are playing at their peak. Arizona and Duke both lost thrillers to Texas Tech, so not much of a distinction can be drawn from that common opponent. Still, both of Duke’s losses have come by only a combined four points this season and a few favorable bounces could easily have them in Michigan’s position at the top of the rankings.

That makes Duke’s opportunity against Michigan on Saturday all the more meaningful, as the game will almost certainly determine who sits atop the AP Poll next Monday morning. Cameron Boozer’s odds to win the Wooden Award have only grown in recent weeks, and it’s not far-fetched that he and Duke get a national championship trophy to go with it.

4. Iowa State (23-3, 10-3 Big 12)

A month ago, Iowa State was in a similar spot to Arizona, having lost back-to-back games after a long, undefeated run to start the season. Since then, TJ Otzelberger’s Cyclones have won six of their last seven games, including back-to-back statement performances against Kansas (with Peterson) on Saturday and second-ranked Houston on Monday. Iowa State humbled the Jayhawks and their prospective top draft pick with an 18-point thrashing before erasing a 10-point second-half deficit to Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars just 48 hours and some change later.

Houston might have a better pound-for-pound resume when you consider the overall strength of each team’s respective losses, but head-to-head results speak volumes. Plus, the three-headed monster of Joshua Jefferson, Milan Momcilovic, and Tamin Lipsey appears to have added a potential fourth head with Nate Heise’s lights-out shooting performance that pulled them ahead of the Cougs down the stretch.

What a Monday it was for the Heise siblings…

Taylor scores in game that sends Team USA to the Gold Medal match

Nate hits game-winning 3pt shot for Iowa State to beat #2 Houston pic.twitter.com/0Hm4x7gyjc

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 17, 2026

5. Houston (23-3, 11-2 Big 12)

UConn may have one fewer loss than Houston at this point, but the Huskies have also gone through an objective cakewalk compared to what the Cougars face night after night in Big 12 play. There’s a reason the Big 12 has four teams currently ranked in the top 8 of the AP Poll, and a close (albeit disappointing) loss to a national title contender in Iowa State is certainly not enough to knock them down significantly. Especially not after Danny Hurley’s crew slipped up against a St. John’s team that has been a bit less than advertised this season.

Houston added one of the nation’s best freshmen (and players in general) in Kingston Flemings to a core of three starters that already went to the national championship last season, and none of the losses the Cougars have suffered this season have done anything to convince me they can’t up the ante and win the whole thing this year.

6. UConn (24-2, 14-1 Big East)

As dangerous as UConn is on a perennial basis with Hurley at the helm, the Huskies are going through a clear rough patch as they get into the meat of their Big East schedule. The aforementioned loss to St. John’s, one of the few opportunities for a statement in the Big East this season, was enough of a hit to morale. Turning in the performance they did against a decaying Georgetown program eight days later this past Saturday, a narrow but ugly 77-74 win, was somehow even more concerning.

Now that I’ve sounded the alarm, I’m sure the Huskies will turn it right back on and make me eat my words. Opportunity to avenge their loss to the Johnnies awaits on Saturday after a date with Creighton on Wednesday. Saturday’s shot at revenge will be followed with another challenge against a strong Villanova team.

7. Illinois (21-5, 12-3 Big 10)

Dating back to the Illini’s 8-3 start to the season, the common sentiment was they were a better team than the record they accrued during that early gauntlet. That gauntlet included losses to consistent contenders UConn and Alabama, as well as a home loss to an emerging Nebraska team that would eventually go on to win its first 20 games. And even as strong as the Huskers have proven themselves to be, that result of the initial meeting between the teams felt as if maybe the better team didn’t win.

Likely top-five pick Keaton Wagler and the Illini avenged that slip-up on Feb. 1, traveling to Lincoln and leaving with a decisive win after a dominant second half. Wins over Iowa and Purdue strengthen the Illini’s resume in Big 10 play, but recent stumbles against Michigan State and Wisconsin have pushed them well below where they should be.

8. Nebraska (22-3, 11-3 Big 10)

Don’t get me wrong, this is a really strong Nebraska basketball team. Likely the strongest ever. Its first win over Illinois proved it can beat any team in the Big 10, and a 58-56 win over Tom Izzo and Michigan State only served to strengthen belief. However, times have changed in the last few weeks, and the Huskers have lost their last three games against ranked Big 10 opponents Michigan, Illinois and Purdue.

A slight silver lining is Nebraska lost only to No. 1 Michigan and No. 7 Purdue by three points each, but the results also don’t help disprove the theory that Nebraska’s fortunate non-conference and early Big Ten schedule aided the Huskers’ historic start. Still, Fred Hoiberg’s group has the potential to win out in the regular season and will certainly be a very tough out in the Big 10 tournament.

9. Texas Tech (19-6, 9-3 Big 12)

Six losses is enough that the national media still won’t give the Red Raiders their respect, but one of the nation’s most consistent programs this decade is arguably better than they’ve ever been. And yes, that includes the 2019 season where they made it to the national championship game. Before we get to the strength of their wins, however, keep in mind that three of their six losses have come against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 10 and five of their six losses have come against ranked opponents.

Now, let’s talk about the wins. Because there isn’t a team in the country with a more impressive crop of them. So far this season, the Red Raiders have handed Duke its first loss of the season, blew out Dybantsa and BYU, avenged their loss to Houston and beat an Arizona team that spent most of the season atop just about every poll, ranking and metric available.

10. Kansas (19-6, 9-3 Big 12)

The Jayhawks felt a lot more dangerous before going out and laying an egg at Iowa State on national television Saturday, with Darryn Peterson nonetheless. The reality is, however, on any given day the best player in the country gives this roster a chance to beat any of the nine teams listed above them in these rankings. There’s no longer a debate about who the best player in the country is when everyone is fully on, we know it’s Peterson, but we also know that it’s hit or miss whether he and his team are at the top of their games.

When Kansas is at the top of its game, the Jayhawks may very well be the most dangerous team in the country. Peterson’s late-game scoring display to stun Texas Tech last month proved just how high he can elevate Kansas’ ceiling, and the Jayhawks win over previously unbeaten and top-ranked Arizona without Peterson in the lineup proved they are a legit threat even without the pomp and circumstance of a generational prospect.