Maryland got the job done Sunday. Duke got the job done last month. Kansas has gotten the job done just about every time out this season. So, where does that leave the top three teams in the land on the Power 16?

With two fighting for one spot, but with the Terps on top this week.

Why?

Beat the best and that team is the best. At least 24 hours later. Remember, the Power 16 reflects the past week. And for that reason, Maryland's breakthrough victory was the difference between two teams vying to replace the Blue Devils, who had sat atop these rankings from Day 1 of the season.

Yes, Kansas is No. 1 everywhere else in the nation. And we admit, the Jayhawks would be the easy choice at No. 1 this week. But Maryland did what everyone outside of Maryland didn't think it could do. So, we'll do what everyone outside of Cole Field House certainly will tell us we shouldn't have done ... make Maryland No. 1.

And with that 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. 17)

No. 1 Seeds

TEAM Maryland Record: 21-3   Kansas Record: 23-2   Duke Record: 23-2   Cincinnati Record: 24-2

COMMENT The shell is a lot lighter now heading into ACC stretch run. But expectations are higher than ever. Up Next: At Clemson (Wed.); Hosting Wake (Sun.) Still wouldn't be surprised to see Jayhawks beat Terps and Devils in Atlanta. We're getting ahead of ourselves. Up Next: Big Monday vs. ISU; at Nebraska (Sun.) Speaking of Atlanta, Duke now may only have to face one of the above to win it all. Just a thought. Up Next: Off to Wake (Thu.); Hosting Johnnies (Sun.) How many players outscore a team by themselves? We're still looking for another to join Mr. Logan. Up Next: Rematch with Marquette looms Friday

No. 2 Seeds

TEAM Alabama Record: 22-4   Oklahoma Record: 20-4   Pittsburgh Record: 22-4   Marquette Record: 22-3

COMMENT Tide is a team that will now pop SEC bubbles over next three weeks, instead of sweating out Selection Sunday. Up Next: At Arkansas (Wed.); Hosting Florida (Sat.) Well, the Sooners stumbled in Stillwater. Not a terrible loss, but could hurt OU's case for No. 1 seed. Up Next: Trip to Baylor (Tue.); Home to Texas (Sat.) Panthers reached the Big East title game last year as 5th seed. Can enter MSG this season as West's top seed. Up Next: Thankfully, hosting Rutgers on Thursday. Should be interesting week: Can avenge lone C-USA vs. Charlotte, but so can Cincinnati three days later. Up Next: Home to 49ers (Tue.); At Cincy (Fri.)

No. 3 Seeds

TEAM Gonzaga Record: 24-3   Florida Record: 19-5   Georgia Record: 19-7   Stanford Record: 17-6

COMMENT West coast knows what rest of the nation is just finding out: Gonzaga is Final Four material come March. Up Next: Trip to San Francisco (Fri.); at St. Mary's (Sat.) Chance for top seed in West slowed down by Ole Miss. Still did what Kentucky couldn't in Dawghouse. Up Next: Hosting Auburn (Wed.); Big test for Tide (Sat.) Recovered in time to tame Wildcats, which once again proved Dawgs aren't going to heal to traditional powers. Up Next: Trip to Baton Rouge on Saturday. Another week, another new leader in Pac-10. Jacobsen's over-under against USC Thursday: 39 points. Up Next: Hosting USC (Thu.) & UCLA (Sat.)

No. 4 Seeds

TEAM Oregon Record: 18-7   Arizona Record: 17-8   Kentucky Record: 17-7   Wake Forest Record: 18-8

COMMENT Ducks beat in-state neighbors, yet fall a spot to make room for Pac-10's co-leader Stanford. Up Next: Time to take two: Hosting Washington schools. Had a feeling last week Wildcats would struggle in SoCal. But didn't expect a sweep. Up Next: Hosting suddenly surging ASU on Thursday. Three of final four regular-season games are at Rupp, so SEC East's No. 1 seed still goes through Lexington. Up Next: Two of those three at Rupp: Vols & Hogs The Deacons stay may be short-lived enough without taking 'em off the list after 2OT loss to Clemson. Up Next: Only hosting Duke (Thu.) & at Maryland (Sun.)

Dropped Out: Notre Dame.

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

"How can you leave the Hoosiers out once again? The Big Ten leaders are undefeated at home and blowing out opponents. Just ask Iowa, Michigan St, Illinois about being blown out. Weren't those the supposed Big Ten title contenders? It is insane how you cannot put the Hoosiers in the top 16! We will let the tourney seeds prove you wrong."

Benjamin Arbogast
Greenwood, Ind.

"What do the Illini have to do to gain some respect? OK, I only put that line in there because every week you print someone whining brat's letter that starts with that same sentence. Is there a form letter that I don't know about where you just scroll to pick your college and insert it into that question?"

Mike Schall
New York, N.Y.

"I am extremely happy to see that you have awoken from your coma and returned Gonzaga to the Power 16. Had the Bulldogs not found a tough loss at Pepperdine a few weeks ago, they would most certainly be a Top 5 team and worthy of a No. 2 seed. The West Coast Conference is showing itself willing to play and able to compete with the top programs in the country. Gonzaga versus Duke for the national championship? It'll be awesome, baby!"

Jason Everhart
Tacoma, Wash.

"I know I'm gonna hate myself for saying this cause as soon as I do my Illini are gonna tumble at East Lansing. But all the fuss made about that Zags, what's up with that? They came to Champagne for the Illini's opener and got shown how to play real basketball maybe they've improved since then I haven't paid attention to them since. And if the Illini aren't at least a four seed and Indiana isn't either then what are Kentucky, Georgia, and Wake Forest doing up there? They've all got just as many losses, and Kentucky is not even winning their own division in their conference. I also think the Illini will start to pull it together it wasn't much beating Michigan and Purdue but it was better than they had been doing."

Brian Shan
Noble, Ill.

"Well, I must say I've had a slight change of heart about Cincinnati. They came in and thoroughly beat Wake Forest and by doing so gained my respect.They are a legit No. 1 seed. Well, I don't know about anyone else, but I'm pumped up about the upcoming Duke-Maryland game this will be a chance for the Terrapins to measure where their at going into March Madness. Should be a heck of a game. Duke is the 'best' team in college 'right now'. As for all the OU fans: give it a rest. Yes, you beat Maryland and the fact that your so caught up in that fact proves you know Maryland 'is' the better team. But one game does not a season make. Now for my last thought: how about giving N.C. State a 'little respect'. In my opinion, they are vastly underrated. If they were UCLA, Indiana, Arizona or some other Pac-10 or Big Ten team, they would be in the top 15. They swept Virginia and beat Boston College. Yes they loss to Duke and Maryland, but so have a lot of teams. I'm a Maryland fan first, but having seen N.C. State play in person at Cole, I think they deserve more respect than their getting."

Wayne Rogers
Keedysville, Md.

"Maryland fans: Your whining indicates that you want respect from Oklahoma fans to justify your No. 1, but you disrespect the Sooners to build a case for your Terps. You say we haven't beaten a good team, yet we beat you. You dog us for not beating Kansas, yet you can't beat Duke. I have some suggestions to help you better make your case.

Want respect for beating Wake? Give us respect for beating Missouri.

Want respect for beating Virginia? Give us respect for beating Oklahoma State.

Want respect for beating the No. 2 Illinois? Give us respect for beating you.

Bottom line is that we both have strong teams. The following statement could describe either Oklahoma or Maryland. 'We play in a strong conference containing teams we beat with regularity and one demon we can't beat.'

Oddly enough, both demons are blue."

Jerry Owens
Dallas

"Thank you for noticing the Irish! However, I wonder how long it will take the coaches to notice. We only got 7 votes in the latest ESPN/USA Today coaches' top 25 poll. Valpo got 8 votes! Are you kidding me!? ND is playing great basketball, and the Big East is not as weak a league as some would have you think. Ask UCLA about the Big East. (While you're at it, ask the Panthers, a No. 2 seed in your poll, about the Irish.) The Irish shoot well and play good defense. They even rebound well despite the lack of a tall center. Chris Thomas should be considered for a freshman of the year award. Humphrey is playing strong on the inside. Carrol and Graves are as good as any shooters around. Go Irish!"

Jim Robertson
Bethesda, Md.

"I have been outraged on how time after time again Ohio State is criticized on being overrated. They have had a few mistakes, but the 4 out of the 5 games they have lost were very close and could have gone either way. This team could have easily been 21-1 at this point. I have no doubt in my mind that they will win the Big Ten outright by winning out the season including a matchup in Bloomington, and then carry over their success into a top 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. To all those believers that Cincinnati is much better than OSU is a lie. Oh wow, Cincy doing good in Conference Who? Who cares about Conference USA? In my mind Conference USA is summed up with one word: AWFUL. I just have one words for all the critics of Ohio State and the Big Ten entering the tournament: BEWARE!"

Mike Baker
Columbus, Ohio

"I am glad to see the Demon Deacons sliding into the Power 16. 17-7, and four of the losses are to all four No. 1 seeds. Granted, they have not pulled the upset yet. However, they have not lost to any team they were supposed to beat, in a very tough ACC. Come tourney time, I believe WFU will shine."

Rick Whisenhunt
Galax, Va.

"Keep leaving UCLA out of your rankings. Really, go ahead. You'll be eating your words come March. Trust me."

Dwight Phelps
Lewisburg, Pa.

"Wow, I can't believe they pay you guys to do a job that me and my friends could do so much better. First of all, the Bearcats play in Conference USA and I thought they had a great defense? Guess not, Wake scored 90 some points some great defense. So Oklahoma is a number one seed. Come on guys, lets think best team in USA or two team in BIG 12? I will go with the 12. Now as far as Pitt is concerned, you honestly think they are a better team than Florida cause if you do that is the funniest thing I have heard in a long time. Now my last statement before my question: Notre Dame HaHaHa. Okay I am done now. My question is simply I look at ESPN and other website fan polls and I see the Blue Devils (My Team) as 2, 3 or even as low as 4. I don't understand how they can be anything other than No. 1. Help me understand what these people are thinking."

Tanner Manley
Virginia Beach, Va.

"I know the Big Ten stinks this year but surely one team from the conference should be represented. Take your pick between Ohio State and Indiana or go for Illinois but its hard to claim that the conference with the fifth best RPI doesn't have at least a four seed."

Brad Sherlag
Brookfield, Ill.