NCAA Men's Basketball Power Rankings: Auburn, Duke remain up top

There was a massive shake-up in the top five of the Power Rankings this week, with the gauntlet that is the SEC claiming two more victims in Florida and Alabama. Tuesday night began with Alabama seeing its eight-game winning streak end at home against Ole Miss. Two hours later, Florida -- exactly one week after beating Tennessee by 30 points -- lost by one at home to Missouri.

While neither of those schools drops far, the results give more credence to the idea of a three-team tier earning a bit of separation at the top of the rankings.

Johni Broome's injury makes Auburn's spot more tenuous, but the Tigers beat Mississippi State by 22 even without him. Duke is barely breaking a sweat while blowing out inferior ACC competition. And then there's Iowa State, which has only a two-point loss to Auburn blemishing its résumé and just dispatched Kansas by 17.

That's not to say other teams won't push into that group in the coming days and weeks. Houston's metrics put the Cougars in the conversation, but they need a marquee win or two. Even after their losses, Tennessee and Florida aren't far off and will have plenty of opportunities.

But right now, after the surprising home losses in the SEC on Tuesday, Auburn, Duke and Iowa State look a cut above everyone else.