Updated: December 31, 2012, 10:41 AM ET

ESPN.com's Power Rankings: Dec. 31

Week:

Duke maintains its hold on No. 1 heading into the new calendar year, but the battle for second is fierce as two unbeatens (Michigan, Arizona) tussle for votes with three one-loss powers (Louisville, Kansas, Indiana).

Minnesota leaped into our top 10 for the first time this season, as Cincinnati slid to 15th. The Bearcats did so after losing at home to New Mexico, the only team to rejoin the rankings this week.

(Editor's note: Team blurbs written by Myron Medcalf)

Overall | Voters 1-6 | Voters 7-12 | Voters 13-18 |

College Basketball Power Rankings - Week 9
RANK	TEAM / RECORD	TRENDING	PTS	COMMENT
1	Duke 12-0	-- Last Week: 1	449	Good things tend to happen when Coach K is blessed with offensive balance. And right now, the Blue Devils feature one of the nation's top inside-outside attacks with Mason Plumlee putting in work on the interior and Seth Curry knocking down shots from outside, plus a variety of contributors. The unbeaten Blue Devils will be tested by Davidson on Wednesday in Charlotte before starting ACC play.
2	Michigan 13-0	-- Last Week: 2	420	John Beilein started three freshmen in an 88-73 win over Central Michigan, and Nik Stauskas, Caris LeVert and Glenn Robinson III combined to score 48 points in the Wolverines' final tuneup before their Big Ten opener at Northwestern on Thursday. Tim Hardaway Jr.'s status (ankle injury) is certainly a concern, but the weekend's win showcased Michigan's depth.
3	Louisville 12-1	-- Last Week: 3	410	The Cardinals seem to be a more effective offensive machine than last season. They relied on Russ Smith's relentlessness and Chane Behanan's interior production to beat archrival Kentucky 80-77 in Gorgui Dieng's first game since suffering a wrist injury in late November. When focused and healthy, UL can contend with any team in the country.
4	Kansas 11-1	-- Last Week: 4	386	Kansas has bullied every team on its slate since suffering a 67-64 loss to Michigan State Nov. 13. The Jayhawks have won 10 in a row and on Saturday went 15 of 24 from the 3-point line in a 89-57 victory over American.
5	Arizona 12-0	-- Last Week: 5	383	The Wildcats were tough to assess before the season, but this group has blossomed with balance, a defense that's grown over the past month and Mark Lyons' leadership. Last week, the Wildcats beat Miami by double digits and squeezed past San Diego State. It's not always pretty, but it's worked for this elite crew.
6	Indiana 12-1	-- Last Week: 6	379	The Hoosiers received a boost when Jeremy Hollowell was reinstated during the weekend. As Austin Etherington and Maurice Creek sit out with injuries, Indiana's bench could use the addition with Big Ten play starting Monday at Iowa. We're still not sure whether the Hoosiers will be effective on the road in the Big Ten. That's been a challenge under Tom Crean.
7	Syracuse 11-1	-- Last Week: 7	333	Yes, Syracuse is a deep team. But what separates it from some of the nation's other deep squads is the effectiveness the Orange get from their reserves. DaJuan Coleman, Trevor Cooney and Baye Keita have helped anchor Jim Boeheim's bench. Michael Carter-Williams (9.9 apg) guides one of the nation's strongest starting rotations. Syracuse is legit.
8	Ohio St 10-2	2 Last Week: 10	305	The Buckeyes have received too much praise from some, not enough from others. Their true status will be known once Big Ten play begins. Thad Matta's program played Duke and Kansas tough in tight losses. Their wins, however, have come against a weak slate of nonconference opponents. The only thing we know: Deshaun Thomas (19.8 ppg) is going to score a lot of points in Big Ten play.
9	Florida 9-2	2 Last Week: 11	281	The Gators can hurt teams from outside with their perimeter depth. They can do damage inside with Patric Young. They can confuse defenses with 6-foot-10 forward Erik Murphy's versatility (45 percent from the 3-point line). Yes, they lost battles against Kansas State and Arizona, but as they prepare for the SEC, Missouri and Kentucky appear to be the only teams that could stop them from winning the league's crown.
10	Minnesota 12-1	3 Last Week: 13	256	Tubby Smith has more athleticism in his backcourt than he's ever had during his time at Minnesota. That's been the difference for this Minnesota program. Joe Coleman, Austin Hollins and Andre Hollins can score and defend opposing guards in ways that past Gophers backcourt units couldn't. Trevor Mbakwe is back in the starting rotation after suffering a torn ACL last season, and the Gophers have the nation's top offensive rebounding percentage.
11	Gonzaga 12-1	1 Last Week: 12	253	The Zags are 4-0 against the Big 12 after beating Baylor 94-87 on Friday night, and they'll play at Oklahoma State on Monday. Their only blemish of the season, an 85-74 loss to Illinois on Dec. 8, doesn't define them.
12	Missouri 10-2	4 Last Week: 8	227	The 97-94 overtime loss at UCLA probably said more about the Bruins' growth than Missouri's challenges. The Tigers are still a fierce group with Laurence Bowers and Alex Oriakhi inside, Phil Pressey on the perimeter and other capable contributors.
13	Illinois 13-1	-- Last Week: 13	208	John Groce's program had a lot of doubters entering the season, but the Illini look like a potential dark horse in the Big Ten after wins over Gonzaga and Butler and a close loss to Missouri. The skeptics, however, will latch onto their least impressive outings, such as Saturday's 81-79 win over a bad Auburn team in Chicago.
14	Georgetown 10-1	2 Last Week: 16	187	The Hoyas have won seven consecutive games since a Nov. 20 overtime loss to Indiana. John Thompson III's program has grown up since that game, but the Hoyas' offense is the big concern as they enter Big East play with Saturday's matchup at Marquette. Can the Hoyas score enough to compete for the conference title?
15	Creighton 12-1	-- Last Week: 15	173	The Bluejays began Missouri Valley play with an 87-70 win over Evansville and are the best team in the MVC -- for now. But they'll be challenged, starting this week with a road trip to Illinois State and a home game against Indiana State.
16	Cincinnati 12-1	7 Last Week: 9	169	The loss to New Mexico was the Bearcats' first of the season, so there's no reason to panic. But Alex Kirk embarrassed Cincy inside. The Big East is a physical league, so Mick Cronin's squad has to figure out why it couldn't keep him off the glass. The Bearcats will face some fierce post players in the Big East.
17	Michigan St 11-2	1 Last Week: 16	167	The Spartans have won six in a row as Keith Appling and Derrick Nix have grown into their new roles as leaders. But they haven't played any noteworthy opponents in December. Monday's matchup at Minnesota will determine how much this program has grown in the past four weeks.
18	Notre Dame 12-1	1 Last Week: 19	161	Jack Cooley and Jerian Grant lead Mike Brey's blue-collar assembly. The Fighting Irish aren't flashy, and they're not the nation's most athletic team. But they're one of its most effective squads. Friday's 89-67 win over Niagara was the program's 10th consecutive victory. Can it compete for the Big East crown? Only with a more consistent defensive effort.
19	San Diego St 11-2	1 Last Week: 18	136	The Aztecs nearly knocked off Arizona in a 68-67 loss on Christmas night. SDSU, with one other loss this season (against Syracuse) proved that it's capable of competing with the nation's best. This season's San Diego State team has more depth inside and a talented guard rotation. The Mountain West has a handful of contenders, including New Mexico and UNLV, but SDSU is as good as any team in that league right now.
20	Butler 10-2	2 Last Week: 22	110	The Bulldogs' 68-49 win at Vanderbilt was their seventh in a row. This is the team to beat in the Atlantic 10. Rotnei Clarke (18.1 ppg) has helped this team hit its stride at the perfect time. The Bulldogs have two cupcakes before their A-10 opener at Saint Joseph's on Jan. 9.
21	New Mexico 13-1	5 Last Week: NR	92	Wow, what a turnaround. Last Saturday, the Lobos suffered a 70-65 loss to South Dakota State at the Pit, but they went out and erased the memory with Thursday's 55-54 road win over a previously undefeated Cincinnati squad. Yep, that'll work. Alex Kirk was a monster in that game. The Lobos are clearly one of the top contenders for the Mountain West title.
22	Pittsburgh 12-1	1 Last Week: 21	78	Pitt is a victim of its weak nonconference schedule. Its only loss of the season came against Michigan, but the Panthers haven't played any other reputable program. Monday's matchup against Cincinnati will be its first against a ranked opponent since a five-point loss to the Wolverines on Nov. 21. If Pitt beats UC, it will earn more national praise.
23	Oklahoma St 10-1	1 Last Week: 24	62	The Cowboys might be the only team that can stop Kansas from winning its ninth Big 12 crown in a row. Travis Ford's group is much better on defense compared to last season's team. He has a pair of dynamic players in Marcus Smart and Le'Bryan Nash, but OSU's limited size and depth could be a problem down the stretch. Monday's matchup against Gonzaga is a huge test.
24	VCU 10-3	1 Last Week: 25	60	The Rams have won seven in a row, losing only to Duke, Missouri and Wichita State this season. Like Butler, Shaka Smart's program is a contender for the Atlantic 10 title in its first season in the league. How? With the same aggressive defense that's fueled the program in recent seasons. The Rams are ranked ninth in Ken Pomeroy's efficiency rankings.
25	Kentucky 8-4	2 Last Week: 23	54	The Wildcats are young and inexperienced. But they deserve credit for standing tall against Louisville in an 80-77 loss Saturday. They had too many mental lapses in that game and couldn't hit free throws, but they fought down the stretch and turned a 17-point deficit into a dramatic finish. This could be one of America's best teams in a couple of months.
Others receiving votes: North Carolina State (50), UNLV (22), Kansas State (17), Wichita State (10), UCLA (4), North Carolina (4), Temple (3), Maryland (1)
Biggest Jump: 5 Biggest Drop: 7