AP Top 25 Look Ahead: What Each Team Faces In Week 14

The calendar has flipped to February, and that means March Madness is just around the corner. It also means the games get more important and seedings will be on the line every time the ball is tipped.

The next week will be critical for a lot of teams in the Associated Press top 25, and here’s a look at what the best in the land will face in the next seven days.

Week 14 AP Top 25 Look Ahead

1. Villanova (20-3)

Revenge win over Providence has the Wildcats flying high, and their three-game winning streak should turn into a five-gamer with DePaul and St. John’s on the sked.

2. Maryland (21-3)

Terps have won six of their last seven and have an odd game vs. D-II Bowie State Tuesday before battling Wisconsin at home over the weekend.

3. Oklahoma (19-3)

Loss to Kansas State wasn’t pretty, and the schedule stays tough with Texas and Kansas coming to town.

4. Iowa (19-4)

Hiccup at Maryland is the Hawkeyes’ only blemish since mid-December, but a road trip to Indiana is going to test Iowa’s mettle before returning home vs. Minnesota.

5. Xavier (21-2)

Road trips to Creighton and Butler will give Xavier the kind of test it needs and could start to raise some eyebrows.

6. Kansas (19-4)

The Jayhawks look like they’re back on track and have regained their swagger, but they need to stay focused with West Virginia and a road trip to Oklahoma coming this week.

7. Virginia (19-4)

Virginia lost to Virginia Tech the last time the two teams played, which means the Cavaliers won’t be looking ahead to Saturday’s game at Duke until after the rematch with the Hokies.

8. Michigan State (20-4)

Michigan State gets a huge measuring stick this week with Purdue and Indiana on the slate.

9. North Carolina (19-4)

Ugly, ugly week with road losses to Louisville and Notre Dame was brutal, and the Tar Heels need to get back on track with Boston College and Pitt looming.

10. West Virginia (19-4)

The Mountaineers have passed tests vs. Iowa State and Baylor, but Tuesday’s game at Kansas is going to give West Va. a chance to really make a statement.

11. Oregon (20-4)

Thursday-Saturday road trips to Cal and Stanford will challenge the Ducks to stay atop the Pac-12.

12. Miami (FL) (18-4)

The schedule gets tough in the second half of the month, which means the ‘Canes need to take care of business vs. Pitt and at Florida State this week.

13. Louisville (19-4)

No postseason means the Cardinals need to find the motivation to play with a chip on their shoulder. Roadies to Duke and Notre Dame should keep the ‘Ville focused for another week.

14. Iowa State (17-6)

Cyclones are losing some momentum and need to get their feet back under them at Texas Tech and at home vs. Texas.

15. Texas A&M (20-3)

Look out below! The Aggies have dropped three of four and hope to regroup at Alabama and LSU.

16. SMU (20-2)

The Mustangs are wobbly—2-2 in their last four—and they face a challenge vs. Gonzaga Saturday. Tulsa comes up first, though.

17. Arizona (19-5)

Three straight wins have ‘Zona feeling good, and the Wildcats can make a move in the Pac-12 with wins over UCLA and USC this week.

18. Purdue (19-5)

Loss to Maryland last Saturday was disappointing. Games at Michigan State and at home vs. Michigan will set the tone for the rest of the year.

19. Dayton (19-3)

Flyers are hammering people of late. Duquesne and Rhode Island are the next nails.

20. Providence (18-6)

The Friars are slipping badly and can’t afford another loss this week vs. Marquette or Georgetown.

21. Baylor (17-6)

Bears have lost three of last five and have looked rough doing it. Kansas State and Texas Tech await this week.

22. Kentucky (17-6)

Staggering Wildcats hope to settle down with Georgia and South Carolina up this week, but UK better turn up the defense.

23. USC (18-5)

The Trojans have worked their way into the rankings, but a road trip to Arizona State and a home tilt with Arizona might make it tough to stay there.

24. Texas (16-7)

Shaka Smart’s crew faces a statement week with road trips to Oklahoma and Iowa State with West Virginia and Baylor looming in the near future.

25. Wichita State (17-6)

Loss to Illinois State is a killer, which makes beating Drake and Northern Iowa musts this week.