Less than three weeks into the 2021-22 college basketball season, we have our first No. 1 debate.
After the way Gonzaga dispatched Texas and UCLA, it seemed unlikely the Zags were going to relinquish the top spot anytime soon. But Duke showed a level of skill, physicality and talent Gonzaga hadn't seen since last year's national championship game against Baylor -- and the Blue Devils knocked off the Zags in Las Vegas. With Kansas and UCLA also suffering their first losses last week, a clear two-team battle for the top spot emerged: Duke vs. Purdue.
Purdue looked like a legitimate national championship contender two weekends ago, when the Boilermakers went to the Hall of Fame Tip-Off event and beat North Carolina and Villanova on back-to-back days.