In an otherwise slow week of college hoops, the Illinois Fighting Illini and the FAU Owls made significant moves that shook up the power rankings. With key victories, these teams solidified their positions as contenders and garnered attention as the calendar turns to 2024.

The FAU Owls delivered a thrilling double-overtime victory against Arizona, defeating them with a narrow margin of 96-95. This marquee nonconference win erases any doubts surrounding the Owls' legitimacy, following their remarkable Final Four run last year. Moreover, FAU's decisive victory over Arizona adds to their growing resume, which includes wins against strong opponents throughout the season.

Notably, the Illinois Fighting Illini, who bested FAU earlier this month with a score of 98-89, continued their impressive performance by dominating their rival, Missouri, with a convincing 97-73 win on a neutral court. With only losses against formidable teams like Marquette and Tennessee, the Illini are establishing themselves as a potential elite squad in college basketball. As they head into conference play, Illinois emerges as the top contender to Purdue in the Big Ten.

These victories from both Illinois and FAU propelled their rankings, with the Illini entering the power rankings and FAU solidifying their position. Illinois' performance against Missouri demonstrates their growing impact, while FAU's win against Arizona served as the ultimate validation of their legitimacy as a serious contender.

Looking at the larger college basketball landscape, the CBS Sports power rankings highlight Purdue as the leader, with an impressive record of 10-0 against nonconference opponents. The Boilermakers have triumphed over prominent teams like Xavier, Gonzaga, Tennessee, Marquette, Iowa, Alabama, and Arizona. Kansas follows closely behind, having only suffered a neutral-site loss to Marquette, and boasting wins against Kentucky, Tennessee, UConn, Missouri, and Indiana.

Houston, another notable team, remains undefeated alongside James Madison and Ole Miss. While the Cougars have displayed great form, their schedule has been relatively light. Their upcoming clash against Penn will serve as their final nonconference test before entering the Big 12 competition.

In terms of individual teams, the rankings also spotlight Connecticut's resilience. Despite star center Donovan Clingan's foot injury, the Huskies displayed determination with a hard-fought 69-65 victory over St. John's. Their forthcoming matches against DePaul, Butler, Xavier, and Georgetown present an opportunity to maintain their strong conference standing.

As the new year approaches, college basketball fans anticipate exciting matchups and intense competition across various conferences. The performances of Illinois and FAU have undoubtedly solidified them as key contenders to watch, while teams like Purdue and Kansas continue to dominate the power rankings. The stage is set for an exhilarating and unpredictable college basketball season in 2024.