Ohio College Basketball Rankings - Week of February 25, 2025

As we are just a week away from March and Conference Tournaments are just around the corner, the heat has been turned up for our 13 college basketball programs from Division I here in the great state of Ohio. Once again, 11 of the 13 Division I men's basketball programs currently have winning records overall and most of the teams on this list went 1-1 or worse this week. The undefeated for the week schools moving up were Xavier, up from #3 and the Ohio Bobcats, who dismantled Akron in Athens. 

Here is a look at the most recent Ohio Sports Time Ohio's NCAA Division I basketball rankings.

#1 Xavier Musketeers - 18-10, 10-7 Big East - Our new #1 this week is Xavier, with wins against Butler and @ Seton Hall. The Musketeers are now 9-3 in their last 12 games with their losses all on the road against tough Big East foes.

#2 Dayton Flyers - 18-9, 8-6 A-10 - Wins over UConn and Marquette and close losses to Iowa State and North Carolina have the Flyers eyeing the Big Dance, but a loss this week at Loyola-Chicago didn't help the Flyers in these rankings. What helps Dayton stay in the #2 slot is Akron's blowout loss at OU and Ohio State's continued mediocrity.

#3 Akron Zips - 21-6, 13-1 MAC - Akron suffered their first loss of the MAC schedule this past week playing in one of the toughest home areas in the nation, yes, I said that, at The Convo in Athens, Ohio. While the Zips were really exploited on defense and toughness most of the game, John Groce will ensure they make the adjustments needed to get through to the MAC Tournament where their eyes need to remain fixated on the prize to ensure they get a shot in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

#4 Cleveland State Vikings - 19-10, 13-5 Horizon - The Vikings have now lost 3 of their past 4 games and it could not have come at a worse time of the year. Once 17-6 on the season with a single loss in the Horizon League, CSU needs to find a way to end the season strong.

#5 Ohio State - 15-13, 7-10 Big Ten - It was a rough week for Ohio State with a loss at home to Northwester 70-49 and a loss @ UCLA. They have @USC next then close the Big Ten season with Nebraska and Indiana. While this does not look like a NCAA Tournament year for the Buckeyes, we all know how their big brand name impacts the people making $$$ decisions in college athletics, so don't be surprised if they limp their way into an at-large berth despite a season of mediocrity.

#6 Miami RedHawks - 20-7, 11-3 MAC - The RedHawks have put together one heck of an impressive year, but as we know in the MAC, if they do not win the MAC Tournament the only postseason opportunity will be in the NIT. Right now Miami is looking to take that #2 seed heading to Cleveland, but losses @ WMU and @ EMU has Toledo and Ohio breathing down the RedHawks' necks. 

#7 Cincinnati Bearcats - 16-11, 6-10 Big 12 - A win over TCU and a loss @ West Virginia keeps UC in the middle of the pack once again. A tough game versus Baylor will setup up a CBS match-up on March 1 @ #5 Houston where the Bearcats could play the role of spoiler.

#8 Toledo Rockets - 16-11, 9-5 MAC - Toledo's loss at Bowling green in a rivalry game really is not a huge surprise as it is MUCH harder to win on the road in the MAC than most think, but it may really hurt the Rockets in terms of seeding for the MAC Tournament. Now tied with the Bobcats at 9-5 in MAC play, their March 7th clash in Athens will likely be key to determining seeds in Cleveland.

#9 Ohio Bobcats - 15-12, 9-5 MAC - The Bobcats are getting healthy and getting better, finally playing up to their potential against Akron at home on Saturday night where they led by 20+ most of the second half. With 3 wins in their last 4 games now, Ohio needs to get a win @ WMU this week before hosting Miami on Saturday in a key match-up for MAC Tournament seeding. Until I see how the Bobcats perform this week I just cannot given them that big step up these rankings. 

#10 Youngstown State Penguins - 19-11, 13-6 Horizon - The Penguins had a chance to move up this week, but a loss to Milwaukee keeps the middle of the Horizon standings muddied. Only one game @ Northern Kentucky remains before the Horizon League Tournament.

#11 Kent State Golden Flashes - 18-9, 8-6 MAC - A loss at Miami and a win at Bowling Green keeps the Golden Flashes in contention for the mid-range seeds in the MAC Tournament, but Kent is going to need to get a couple of big wins down the stretch to really make a push at a higher seed.

#12 Wright State Raiders - 13-16, 7-11 Horizon - A home loss to Northen Kentucky last week sums up Wright State's season in two words - so close. There have been a lot of times this team felt like they were going to take that turn, but just could not do so. At 13-16 they have not had a bad year, but they haven't had the year the program, coaches and fans had hoped either.

#13 Bowling Green Falcons - 11-16, 5-9 MAC - A loss to Kent State and a win @ Toledo keeps Bowling Green where they have been all season - near the bottom of the MAC but consistently dangerous.