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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 AP top 25, and here’s a look at what the best in the land will face in the next seven days.

Week 15 AP Top 25 Look Ahead

1. Villanova (22-3)

Wildcats are in hard cruise control mode with a five-game winning streak, but a road trip to Temple and a tough battle at home vs. Butler should keep them sharp.

2. Kansas (21-4)

Kanas is answering a lot of questions about where they stand, and last week’s wins over West Virginia and Oklahoma will set the table for a relatively easier week with Oklahoma State and Kansas State.

3. Oklahoma (20-4)

Did the Sooners peak too early? Win last week over Texas said now. Loss at home to Kansas says maybe. Real test will come at West Virginia next Saturday, but OU can’t overlook Texas Tech Wednesday.

4. Iowa (20-5)

Hawkeyes have looked a little shaky after a loss at Indiana and a squeaker over Minnesota. Road trip to Penn State could be a trap, but at least Iowa gets next weekend off.

5. North Carolina (21-4)

Back on the winning side with wins over B.C. and Pitt, but now it gets real. Duke Wednesday, Miami (Fla.) Saturday. It’s measuring-stick time.

6. Maryland (22-4)

Bouncing back from the ugly loss to Wisconsin will be critical, but it’s certainly something the Terps should be able to do with a road trip to Minnesota followed by a have-to-win game vs. Michigan at home.

7. Virginia (20-5)

Yep, Grayson traveled, and yep, Virginia got screwed. But the Cavaliers have to bounce back in their one game this week at home vs. North Carolina State. Take heart, UVA fans. Duke loss shouldn’t have counted.

8. Xavier (22-3)

Split week on the road—loss to Creighton, win over Butler—showed both sides of the Musketeers, and now Providence and Georgetown will measure XU while Villanova looms.

9. Michigan State (21-5)

One-point loss at Purdue and shredding of Indiana showed MSU’s power. Now it has to prove it is back on track when Wisconsin comes to town this week.

10. West Virginia (20-5)

Hiccup vs. Kansas isn’t the end of the world. Games at Texas and vs. Oklahoma will give WVU fans all the answers they need.

11. Miami (FL) (20-4)

Folks have been sleeping on the Hurricanes all year. Virginia Tech and North Carolina better not do the same.

12. Arizona (21-5)

Sean Miller’s guys have won five straight, including a pull-away win over USC, and they should push that to a half-dozen at home against Arizona State this week.

13. Iowa State (18-7)

Loss at Texas Tech was worrying. Win over Texas at home was a bit better. TCU is the only team on the docket this week as the Cyclones take a breather.

14. Kentucky (19-6)

Demolition of Georgia and South Carolina has brought UK’s swagger back. Tennessee and a sliding Texas A&M could be the next victims. Someone get Coach Cal a book on Zen.

15. Dayton (21-3)

The Flyers can’t afford a loss right now, and they’ve avoided crashing so far. Road trip to St. Joe’s won’t be easy, but home game vs. St. Bonaventure should provide a breather.

16. Oregon (20-6)

Oregon hopes to stop the bleeding at home vs. Oregon State this week in a light part of the schedule that comes at just the right time.

17. Purdue (19-5)

Very nice win at home vs. Michigan State. Not so good loss at Michigan. Northwestern will be a good warm-up to the huge game at Indiana next Saturday.

18. Louisville (19-6)

Bad matchups of the beginning of the end? Two straight losses are tough to swallow, but home tilts vs. Syracuse and Duke give the Cardinals a chance to right the ship.

19. Notre Dame (18-7)

Nice wins over Clemson and Louisville have the Fighting Irish on the rise. Now they have to survive a pair of road trips vs. Georgia Tech and Wake this week.

20. Duke (19-6)

Blue Devils are living a little bit on reputation in the rankings, and although Grayson Allen’s shot to beat UVA shouldn’t have counted, a win is a win. Proving ground at North Carolina and Louisville this week.

21. SMU (21-3)

The Emperor’s clothes are disappearing, and the Mustangs need to get right at UConn and at home vs. Eastern Carolina to stop the bleeding.

22. Indiana (20-6)

The Hoosiers scored a huge win at home vs. Iowa then got spanked in East Lansing, continuing IU’s penchant for inconsistency. Still, the Iowa win returned Indiana to the poll.

23. Providence (19-7)

Double OT loss to Marquette wasn’t pretty, especially on the defensive end, which makes the road trip to Xavier Wednesday really intriguing.

24. Texas (16-9)

Road losses to Oklahoma and Iowa State kept the Longhorns from making a statement. Home games vs. West Virginia and Baylor give Texas another chance to do just that.

25. Baylor (18-7)

Inconsistency is killing the Bears, but they can’t afford to be off their game this week with Iowa State and Texas coming down the pike.

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