It was just one game, but it was so much more.
Ohio State's 64-63 win on the road against Purdue Wednesday snapped the Boilermakers' nation-longest 19-game win streak and moved the Buckeyes, who also have a win against Michigan State, into sole possession of first place in the Big Ten. Keita Bates-Diop proved he's a front runner, not a dark horse, for league Player of the Year honors, and the victory cemented OSU as one of 2017-18's premier programs, right alongside the blue bloods of college basketball.
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Let's see where the Buckeyes stack up in our weekly analysis of the power struggle in college hoops.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL POWER RANKINGS
All stats are as of Feb. 7, 2018
25. Florida (17-8, 7-4)
The Gators shook off losses at Georgia and against Alabama (during which leading scorer Jalen Hudson went a combined 6 of 24 from the field) and came away with a nine-point win against LSU Wednesday. The Gators visit South Carolina Saturday and host the Bulldogs Feb. 14.
24. Michigan (18-5, 7-4)
The Wolverines have beaten Michigan State and been within a bucket or two of downing Purdue twice, showing they're not too far off the mark in the Big Ten. They visit Wisconsin Sunday and host Iowa next Wednesday.
23. USC (17-7, 8-3)
The Trojans' three Pac-12 losses (Washington, Stanford, UCLA) have come by an average of 3.66 points. We'll see if they're platinum or white gold when they travel to Arizona (Thursday) and Arizona State Saturday.
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22. Washington (17-6, 7-3)
The Huskies proved they can stomp with the big dogs with back-to-back wins against ranked teams to bolster their NCAA Tournament resume. But those came at home; they'll have to show they can replicate that success on the road against Oregon (Thursday) and Oregon State (Saturday).
21. North Carolina (17-7, 6-5)
There's nothing like a matchup against Pitt to build a team's confidence heading into a meeting with its arch rival. The Tar Heels are coming off a 31-point victory against the Panthers as they prepare to face Duke Thursday night. The 2016-17 national champions and 2015-16 runners-up know what they're up against the rest of the way. They'll have to dig deep, beginning now, to make a third-straight trip to the Final Four.
20. Butler (17-8, 7-5)
After a stellar showing in a five-point, overtime loss against Xavier Tuesday, the Bulldogs have to be confident heading into a road meeting with Villanova (Saturday), which showed it's beatable after losing to St. John's Wednesday. After their tilt with the Wildcats, Butler has a three-game homestand with matchups against Georgetown (Feb. 13), Providence (Feb. 17) and Creighton (Feb. 20).
19. Providence (16-8, 7-4)
The Friars have won six of their last eight, with a victory against Xavier, a potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, during the stretch. They have what should be a gimme at home Saturday against a DePaul team that has lost three in row and nine of its last 11. Providence plays host to Villanova on Valentine's Day.
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18. Oklahoma (16-7, 6-5)
Big 12 teams haven't figured out how to stop Trae Young. The freshman sensation is averaging 32.2 points and 8.5 assists against league competition. But they have, as of late, cracked the code to beating the Sooners. OU is 2-5 in its last seven and could be two weeks removed from its most recent victory after road trips to Iowa State (Saturday) and Texas Tech (Tuesday).
17. West Virginia (18-6, 7-4)
The Mountaineers bounced back from what appeared to be near implosion. They dropped five of six after winning 15 in a row, allowing 75.3 points per game during the stretch. In back-to-back wins against Kansas State and Oklahoma, they've given up an average of 62 points. Bob Huggins' boys battle Oklahoma State Saturday and TCU Monday at home.
16. Clemson (19-4, 8-3)
If degree of difficulty factors into the ACC Coach of the Year equation, Clemson's Brad Brownwell has to be a favorite. Few outside the Tigers' locker room, SN included, believed his team could be successful after second-leading scorer Donte Grantham suffered a season-ending injury two weeks ago. All they've done since then is go 3-1. They host Pitt Thursday and have a six-day break before traveling to Florida State Feb. 14.
15. Gonzaga (21-4, 11-1)
Only a Thursday game against Pacific, a team it beat by 33 earlier in the season, stands between the Bulldogs taking a six-game win streak into its rematch with St. Mary's Saturday. Gonzaga leads the West Coast Conference in scoring offense, scoring margin, offensive rebounding, defensive rebounds, rebounding margin and 3-point field goals made.
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14. St. Mary's (23-2, 12-0)
The Gaels, led by SN Midseason All-American Jock Landale, who leads the West Coast Conference in scoring, rebounding and field-goal percentage, have won 18 in a row. If they can get past Gonzaga again Saturday after and Loyola Marymount Thursday, they'll likely run the table in league play.
13. Tennessee (18-5, 8-3)
Don't mind the Volunteers. They've just won six in a row. With three starters (Grant Williams, Admiral Schofield and Lamonte Turner) averaging double figures in scoring and another (Jordan Bowden) a shade under it, the SEC's No. 2 assist team is doing it by committee. Tennessee hits the road to take on Alabama Saturday and welcomes South Carolina to Knoxville Tuesday.
12. Auburn (21-3, 9-2)
The Tigers are one of the feel-good stories of 2017-18. A game ahead of Tennessee in the SEC standings, Auburn's two league losses have come by four (at Alabama) and one point (vs. Texas A&M). The Tigers have just one game against a ranked opponent the rest of the way in the regular season. They visit Georgia Saturday and host Kentucky February 14.
11. Ohio State (21-5, 12-1)
The Buckeyes' one-point win on the road against Purdue Wednesday will be one of the victories the selection committee points to should Ohio State nab a No. 2 or maybe even a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance. The Buckeyes play Iowa at home Saturday and Penn State on the road Feb. 15.
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10. Cincinnati (22-2, 11-0)
The Bearcats went to Storrs and downed UConn 65-57 last weekend then handed UCF, third in the nation in scoring defense, it's second-worst loss of the season this past Tuesday. Cincinnati will put its 15-game win streak on the line Sunday at SMU before taking on Houston on the road (Feb. 15).
9. Kansas (19-5, 8-3)
Kansas leads the Big 12 in field-goal percentage defense and is third in 3-point field-goal percentage defense. That type of cohesion gives the Jayhawks a chance against anybody. They travel to Baylor Saturday and Iowa State Tuesday.
8. Texas Tech (20-4, 8-3)
Senior guard Keenan Evans has cooled down after a three-game tear during which he averaged more than 30 points per, but the Red Raiders have been just as hot. They take a five-game win streak into a matchup against Kansas State on Saturday and host Oklahoma next Tuesday.
7. Xavier (22-3, 10-2)
Since losing back-to-back games at Providence and Villanova in early January, the Musketeers have reeled off eight straight, downing Georgetown and Butler in overtime in their last two. They face Creighton on the road Saturday and host Seton Hall next Wednesday.
6. Arizona (19-5, 9-2)
A Washington buzzer beater ended the Wildcats' seven-game win streak this past Saturday, but don't sweat it. They're still the class of the Pac 12 and almost a lock to hold down at least a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tourney. Arizona hosts UCLA Thursday and USC Saturday.
5. Villanova (22-2, 9-2)
The Wildcats aren't striking fear into the hearts of Big East opponents the way they used to, especially considering that four-point loss to St. John's Wednesday. They'll have to make amends in a Saturday matchup against Butler, which already beat them once this season, and a Wednesday game vs. Providence.
4. Duke (19-4, 7-3)
Duke's loss to St. John's in Madison Square Garden was absolutely inexcusable. Next up, the Blue Devils get it on with rival North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Thursday before contests against Georgia Tech Sunday and Virginia Tech next Wednesday. Few teams can match Duke's talent, and there's no reason they should be ranked ninth among 15 ACC teams, giving up 72.2 points per game.
3. Michigan State (23-3, 11-2)
The Spartans have won seven in row, including four on the road. A blockbuster meeting with Purdue at home Saturday will go a long way toward determining the pecking order in the Big Ten. A road trip to Minnesota (Feb. 13) should be light work for coach Tom Izzo's squad.
2. Purdue (23-3, 12-1)
The Boilermakers failed the first of two-straight Big Ten tests with that 64-63 loss at home against Ohio State Wednesday. Next up? A trip to Lansing to play a loaded Michigan State, which is on a seven-game winning streak.
1. Virginia (23-1, 12-0)
The Cavaliers are smothering opponents until they surrender. The nation's best defense is a problem no one can seem to solve right now.