The Tust Top 25: Three Mountain West teams are ranked

BOISE, Idaho — The best time of the year is almost here, where games actually decide who the best teams in college basketball are, rather than Associated Press voters doing their best to guess and offer perspective.

One notable thing about my personal AP Top 25 ballot this week: The top five teams are all from different conferences, something you would likely never see in college football at this point in the season.

Here is how my ballot breaks down this week...

Top Team in the Country:

• Houston (NET No. 1 | KenPom No. 1): Three weeks after I initially moved the Cougars to No. 1 on my ballot, they have now sunk their claws into the top spot. They have 13 Quad 1 wins, two more than anyone else in the country. They play in the toughest league in college basketball, control tempo as well as anyone, are the best defensive team in the country, yet still operate with elite offensive efficiency. They also have senior guard Jamal Shead, an unflappable and clutch two-way player who should be the Big 12 Player of the Year.

Biggest Jump:

• Kentucky (NET No. 19 | KenPom No. 17): The Wildcats have been on fire ever since a non-conference loss to Gonzaga a month ago. They've won seven of their last eight - including their last five straight - with wins over Auburn (NET No. 6), Alabama (NET No. 8) and Tennessee (NET No. 5).

• Creighton (NET No. 11 | KenPom No. 9): Following back-to-back loses to start the month of February, the Bluejays have won seven of eight games. Their lone loss was at St. John's, just days after legendary head coach Rick Pitino went on a rant publicly challenging the Red Storm. Creighton is one of three teams to beat UConn this season, and the only to do so since Christmas.

Furthest Fall:

• San Diego State (NET No. 20 | KenPom No. 20): What a disappointing week for the Aztecs. They couldn't dig themselves out of an early 17-point hole at UNLV on Tuesday, then blew a 10-point second-half lead against Boise State on Friday, resulting in their only home loss of the season. San Diego State always seems to turn it on this time of year, but the last seven days were forgettable for one the perennial powers of the Mountain West.

Meet the New Guys:

• Dayton (NET No. 21 | KenPom No. 28): I dropped the Flyers out of my top 25 last week after they lost for the third time in six games. Following a 2-0 week, which included a dramatic 17-point comeback home win over VCU, Anthony Grant and Co. are back.

• Nevada (NET No. 35 | KenPom No. 35): Since getting blasted by 34 points at New Mexico in late January, the Wolf Pack have won 10 of 11 in a loaded Mountain West. Their lone loss in that stretch was by one point against the Lobos in Reno. In the last six weeks they've jumped from 65th to 31st in the NET Rankings, highlighted by road wins at Boise State, Colorado State, UNLV and Utah State. Nobody is playing better ball in the Mountain West right now than Nevada, and that's saying something this year.

The TUST  Top 25:

1. Houston (Record: 28-3 | NET No. 1 | KenPom No. 1)
2. Purdue (Record: 28-3 | NET No. 2 | KenPom No. 3)
3. UConn (Record: 28-3 | NET No. 3 | KenPom No. 2)
4. North Carolina (Record: 25-6 | NET No. 7 | KenPom No. 8)
5. Tennessee (Record: 24-7 | NET No. 5 | KenPom No. 5)
6. Creighton (Record: 23-8 | NET No. 11 | KenPom No. 9)
7. Kentucky (Record: 23-8 | NET No. 19 | KenPom No. 17)
8. Iowa State (Record: 24-7 | NET No. 9 | KenPom No. 12)
9. Marquette (Record: 23-8 | NET No. 13 | KenPom No. 13)
10. Arizona (Record: 24-7 | NET No. 4 | KenPom No. 6)
11. Auburn (Record: 24-7 | NET No. 6 | KenPom No. 4)
12. Duke (Record: 24-7 | NET No. 10 | KenPom No. 7)
13. Illinois (Record: 22-8 | NET No. 15 | KenPom No. 10)
14. South Carolina (Record: 25-6 | NET No. 49 | KenPom No. 47)
15. Baylor (Record: 22-9 | NET No. 14 | KenPom No. 14)
16. Alabama (Record: 21-10 | NET No. 8 | KenPom No. 11)
17. Utah State (Record: 26-5 | NET No. 31 | KenPom No. 44)
18. BYU (Record: 22-9 | NET No. 12 | KenPom No. 16)
19. Kansas (Record: 22-9 | NET No. 18 | KenPom No. 18)
20. Gonzaga (Record: 24-6 | NET No. 16 | KenPom No. 15)
21. Nevada (Record: 26-6 | NET No. 31 | KenPom No. 35)
22. Dayton (Record: 24-6 | NET No. 21 | KenPom No. 28)
23. Washington State (Record: 23-8 | NET No. 45 | KenPom No. 45)
24. Boise State (Record: 22-9 | NET No. 23 | KenPom No. 38)
25. Saint Mary's (Record: 24-7 | NET No. 17 | KenPom No. 22)

Dropped Out:

• No. 24 South Florida (Record: 23-6 | NET No. 78 | KenPom No. 88): The Bulls had their 15-game winning streak snapped by Tulsa this week. As good as South Florida has been, they only have one Quad 1 this season, and sit at No. 78 in the NET Rankings, by far the lowest of anyone currently in top 25 consideration.

• No. 21 San Diego State (Record: 22-9 | NET No. 31 | KenPom No. 25): The Aztecs lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. The good news? The Mountain West Tournament begins this week, and San Diego State hasn't missed the championship game since 2017. This is still a dangerous squad.

TUST  Missed the Cut:

• Texas Tech (Record: 22-9 | NET No. 31 | KenPom No. 25): The Red Raiders only have one non-Quad 1 loss this season. Following three straight victories, including a 10-point win over Baylor on Saturday, Texas Tech is my "Top 25 + 1" this week.

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