2. Butler Bulldogs (6-1)
And we have reached the first surprise of the rankings. Told you it wouldn't take long.
Butler takes the No. 2 spot in the power rankings this week after its championship at the Arizona Tip-Off this weekend.
The Bulldogs needed some luck to fend off a ferocious Northwestern comeback in its semifinal matchup in which a potential 4-point opportunity was waved off in the final seconds and two game-tying layups rimmed out in the final seconds, but it controlled things against No. 25 Mississippi State in the title game.
Thad Matta's team has responded nicely after an opening week loss to Austin Peavy and its trio of Jahmyl Telfort, Patrick McCaffery, and Pierre Brooks can really score the ball.
However, No. 17 Houston will be licking its chops to see Butler come to town on Saturday after its disappointing weekend in the Players Era Festival.
3. St. John's Red Storm (6-2)
Somehow St. John's came out of Feast Week smelling good considering how poorly the rest of the league played, yet there is some drama to clean up in Queens.
Utah transfer Deivon Smith was benched against Harvard after conduct detrimental to the team on the bench during the second half of its loss against Georgia.
Still, the Johnnies proved they could play with an elite team like Baylor and likely would have beaten the Bulldogs if it shot the ball better, which is quickly developing into a major concern for Rick Pitino's team.
After squandering Quad 1 opportunities against the Bears and Bulldogs, the Johnnies must land a victory on Saturday against a Kansas State team that was expensive to put together in NIL money but has not shown any positive flashes on the court.