The longest winning streak this season ended, but Cincinnati's two losses just serve as bookends to a 20-game ride that shouldn't be forgotten. For that reason, the Bearcats slip a spot, but not out of the No. 1 seeds this week.

That doesn't mean Alabama wasn't strongly considered as a new member to the exclusive club. And with two more tough games on the road this week for Cincy -- at Charlotte and Wake Forest -- the Tide could easily swing 'Bama's way over the next next seven days, as long as it takes care of SEC business this week against the Mississippi teams.

As a result of Cincy's loss at Marquette, the longest current winning streak now belongs to a new member of the Power 16 -- the Utah Utes, who have reeled off 13 straight wins heading into a Big Monday clash with Wyoming in Provo, Utah. Xavier, which has its own 12-game run going, and the Big East's biggest surprise, Pittsburgh, also join the Power 16 for the first time this season.

Also back in the mix are Arizona and Kentucky, a pair of teams who've been in and out of the Power 16 more times than we can remember. Our fault, or theirs? Depends on what part of the country you live in.

So, with all this in mind, here is this week's Power 16. As always, the Power 16 welcomes your opinions. (The best of last week's comments are below the latest Power 16. Look for future comments to be under each week's Power 16).

Click here to voice your approval or disdain for the latest Power 16. Keep it clean, state a clear case for your team, include both a first and last name, city and state, and we'll post the best comments later in the week.

(Records as of Sunday, Feb. 3)

No. 1 Seeds

TEAM Duke Record: 20-1   Kansas Record: 19-2   Maryland Record: 18-3   Cincinnati Record: 20-2

COMMENT Gaudy record shouldn't come as surprise. Duke a combined 95-6 over past five seasons heading into Feb. Up Next: Redemption, as FSU comes into Durham (Thu.) Jayhawks seem to score in bunches. Hit century mark in back-to-back games for third time this season. Up Next: At K-State (Mon); Hosting Knight's kids (Sat.) Nothing better than seniors stepping up in crunch time. Terps' experience is shining through in big games. Up Next: Trip to North Carolina on Sunday. Bearcats don't have the offense to let down its defense. But, we don't expect Cincy to drop guard too often. Up Next: Off to Charlotte (Wed.) and Wake Forest (Sat.)

No. 2 Seeds

TEAM Alabama Record: 19-3   Oklahoma Record: 17-3   Ohio State Record: 17-3   Oregon Record: 17-5

COMMENT How has Tide separated itself from rest of SEC mess? Gottfried points to freshman Mo Williams. Up Next: Hosting Rebels (Wed.); at MSU (Sat.) Speaking of point guards, Hollis Price averaging 24.2 ppg over past four games -- including 25 in win at Texas. Up Next: Hosting Baylor (Wed.); at Texas A&M (Sat.) How long Buckeyes remain here depends on how well Big Ten leader does in four straight away from Columbus. Up Next: Trip begins at Wisconsin (Wed.); MSU (Sat.) Not saying Ducks can, or will, win it all. But at least hoops team won't have to deal with the BCS in March. Up Next: Trip to NorCal: at Stanford (Thu.); at Cal (Sat.)

No. 3 Seeds

TEAM Kentucky Record: 15-5   Georgia Record: 17-5   Arizona Record: 15-6   Miami, Fla. Record: 19-3

COMMENT Baffling Bogans remains the key to UK's success as evident by Florida win and three SEC losses. Up Next: Trips to Tennessee (Wed.) & LSU (Sat.) Can't afford to slip up this week on road, with home games against Kentucky and Florida looming next week. Up Next: At Mississippi State (Wed.) & at Auburn (Sat.) Going into Bay Area and sweeping Stanford and California was latest example of how good young 'Cats can be. Up Next: Break from nation's toughest schedule: UW & WSU Big East division leaders keeps teasing us. 'Canes still half-game behind UConn, but appear back on track. Up Next: Tough week at Villanova (Tue.) & at BC (Sun.)

No. 4 Seeds

TEAM Pittsburgh Record: 19-4   Florida Record: 15-3   Xavier Record: 17-3   Utah Record: 16-3

COMMENT Panthers have beaten enough Big East bullies so far to earn a spot once occupied by 'Cuse, UConn and BC. Up Next: Home for Seton Hall (Thu.); at 'Cuse (Sun.) Is 26-point rout of NCAA-hopeful Mississippi State or three-game skid in SEC more indicative of Gators? Up Next: At South Carolina (Tue.); Hosting Vandy (Sat.) Musketeers helping A-10 save a little face. But will West and Co. have any conference company in Dance? Up Next: Single trip to snow-bound St. Bonnies (Sat.) Majerus' attention to detail (if not poll) can be seen on the court, where Utes have returned to 1999-00 form. Up Next: Big Monday's marquee matchup with Wyoming

Power 16 Comments
Here are a few comments from ESPN.com users concerning last week's Power 16 rankings:

"Its glad to see that Oregon is getting some respect by the Power 16. UClA, Stanford, and Arizona get the Pac-10 hype every year but Oregon is No. 1 in the Pac-10 and has beaten UCLA, Stanford, USC and Arizona twice. I don't think that they are ready for a 1 or 2 seed yet, but if they finish out on top of the Pac-10 then they deserve a No. 2"

Michael Wilson
Dufur, Ore.

"I refuse to recognize your 'Power 16' rankings as legitimate until Arizona is included. For once, you 'experts' should put aside your unexplainable obsession with wins and losses and focus on what's really important ... quality wins. Arizona is 5-2 against teams ranked in the top 20 in the RPI and have four wins over teams that are in your 'Power 16'. Meanwhile Southern Cal has played the 108th toughest schedule in the country and was blown out by Arizona, yet you idiots had the audacity to include them over the Wildcats. I also love how you guys reward teams like Connecticut and Oregon for their victories over Arizona, by bumping them up numerous spots, yet according to your rankings Arizona isn't even a top 20 team. That's dumb."

Marc Basehore
San Diego

"To all those who doubt the Buckeyes, this team has the chance to 'Do Something Great.' They not only play well as a team but defend and shoot the lights out. Big wins against Indiana and Illinois, but thanks can go out to Minnesota who left the perfect bitter taste, so that the Bucks can carry their hungry well-coached team to the NCAAs. Look out Cincy, OSU is taking away your reigns to the lead horse of Ohio. If anyone doesn't deserve their ranking, its the patsy-playing Bearcats."

Rich Rittenour
Columbus, Ohio

"Where are the Wildcats? Tubby always has the Big Blue ready to play when March rolls around. How can you NOT have Kentucky in your top sixteen spots?"

Tim Barrett
Mayfield, Ky.

"I don't see why everybody is rating Maryland higher than the OU Sooners. They have the same amount of losses, however, OU beat Maryland by 16. It was a total domination by the Sooners, yet Maryland is still being ranked higher just because they are on the east coast."

David Bassity
Norman, Okla.

"How can you have Maryland seeded above OU, when OU dismantled the Terrapins in Norman? Both have lost three games with OU's one 'bad' loss at now Top 25 Texas Tech. Once again the Eastern media overhyping the overrated East Coast teams!"

David Shannon
Sand Springs, Okla.

"I agree with your top seeds, but watch out for the Terps. They have lost three games, but they are winning without any major contribution from Lonnie Baxter. But, he is beginning to hear the comments about his 'soft' play, and their guard trio (Dixon, Blake, Nicholas) are going to squash that kind of talk (watch the assist/turnover ratio, specifically with passes to Baxter). Duke has owned Maryland for the past few years, but Maryland's young players don't feel the pressure of the series. Look for the Terps to go undefeated at home, winning the ACC regular season and tournament. Dukie Vitale will have to settle for No. 2 this year. Then, we'll see who gets the No. 1 seed in the NCAAs."

Mark Anthony
Upper Marlboro, Md.

"At one time in my life I would like to look at a AP, ESPN, or the Waterboy Top 25 and see that the teams that are there deserve to be there. The University of Utah has an RPI of 14, won 12 straight, and kicked Pepperdine (who beat Gonzaga), New Mexico (by 30 at the Pitt), and Texas. They rank No. 1 in 3-point shooting. They are doing it without their best player Chris Burgess. They are on a roll and should be in the Power 16 and in every other poll in this country. Show the Utes some love. If you don't you only prove once again that there really is an East Coast bias."

Bryan Duncan
Bountiful Utah

"The ACC is not Duke, Maryland, and the seven dwarfs. Virginia, Wake Forest and N.C. State can play with any teams in the country. Two of the four are ranked in the top 20 yet you disdain that and don't include either Virginia or Wake. And you guys haven't had a good week. Already your Cinderellas UConn, Miami, Texas (talk about a soft schedule), Texas Tech, and Georgia went down to a unranked teams. In general you seem to think the Big Least is better than the ACC. Tell that to Seton Hall, Boston College (Duke), Syracuse (N.C. state), Georgetown, Va Tech (UVa. & FSU), and Oh, Georgia Tech (One ACC win, kicked the crap outta Syracuse)."

Jim Nichols
Yorktown, Va.

"Man! You talk about high-octane defense: I watched the UConn vs Rutgers game last night. What athletes! Okafor (freshman center) for UConn is an absolute monster underneath. I was exhausted watching those Big East teams scratch and claw on every single play. I can't recall more than a handful 'open' looks by either team. There were 16 lead changes and 14 ties. Bottom line: Big East is definitely underrated, because they truly beat each other up all year."

John Carter
Hilliard, Ohio

"OK, we'll start with the strong points of this week's Power 16 ... though they are few. I believe that your No. 1 and No. 2 seeds are fairly accurate, I'll give the Bearcats the nod as a No.1 until they prove me otherwise with an inevitable loss to a mediocre C-USA team (St. Louis, S. Florida, Louisville, etc.) Your picks for 3 and 4 seeds were absolutely ludicrous. Texas Tech -- thanks for losing to Nebraska ... great loss there. Indiana -- I'm glad you hammered Illinois, but so have five or six other teams. Oregon -- we'll see where you are come time for the Big Dance ... hope it's not the NIT. If you guys don't think Kentucky will be right in there in the mix of things in March you're sadly mistaken. Give the Cats some respect. They're at least a 3 seed ... just ask Florida."

Brian McGuffey
Atlanta

"Come on! Where is Virginia? Do you not look at the polls? They are 5th in your ESPN coaches poll, doesn't that mean anything? They hung with Duke this week, and will go on to beat Maryland and Missouri later this week. They are definitely one of the top 10 teams in the country. They can match up with anyone! I mean come on ... Texas, Texas Tech, USC ... can any of these teams beat Virginia? I don't think so."

Stephen Scouten
Charlottesville, Va.

"Another week, another week the Zags are left off the Power 16. After rising above 16 in both polls with some impressive wins in its last 3 games, the Zags still can't find their way back to the Power 16. Although Gonzaga is only 1 of 3 teams to make the Sweet 16 the past three years, they still aren't getting the respect they deserve! That's fine by me, Gonzaga always seems to play their best when they have to prove something. "

Brian Kealoha
Pukalani, Hawaii