AP Top 25 Men’s College Basketball Poll: UConn Holds onto #1 Spot, Chaos Ensues Elsewhere
The latest AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll revealed that the top five teams remained unchanged, with defending national champion UConn leading the pack. The Huskies secured four additional first-place votes after a dominant victory over Xavier. They were followed by Purdue, North Carolina, Houston, and Tennessee, all maintaining their respective positions.
The rest of the poll, however, witnessed significant upheaval. Ten teams experienced significant movement, with at least a five-position shift.
UConn coach Danny Hurley attributed their success to the team’s resilience, mentioning the challenges they faced in January. He emphasized that they are not afraid of losing, as they have overcome adversity in the past and are approaching each game with a fearless attacking mindset.
Notable Changes in the Poll
Zach Edey’s outstanding performance helped Purdue retain the second spot in the rankings. Arizona climbed to No. 11, while Iowa State made the most significant leap, soaring 11 positions to secure the No. 12 spot after defeating Kansas State and seventh-ranked Kansas. Creighton, Illinois, and Texas Tech also showed impressive progress, each moving up five spots.
However, Auburn experienced a significant drop, falling eight spots to No. 16 after consecutive losses to Alabama and Mississippi State. Utah State and Baylor followed closely behind. New Mexico leapfrogged six positions to claim the No. 19 rank after breaking their losing streak with a commanding win over Nevada, while Florida Atlantic made its way to No. 20 after a hard-fought victory against North Texas.
Other Noteworthy Rankings
Dayton, BYU, and Oklahoma all made the top 25, but saw fluctuations in their positions. Duke, Marquette, and Texas Tech advanced by five spots, benefiting from the repositioning of several teams. Conversely, Oklahoma dropped 12 spots to No. 23 after losses to Texas and Texas Tech. Alabama and TCU returned to the poll, having temporarily fallen out earlier in the season.
Biggest Surprises and Conference Standings
Memphis and Colorado State both exited the poll, with Memphis experiencing a third consecutive loss to an unranked team. South Carolina, once overlooked, gained considerable attention by receiving the most votes among unranked schools. The Big East, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12, and SEC each boasted top-five teams, demonstrating their strength in college basketball. The Big 12 emerged as the conference with the most ranked teams, with eight representatives in the Top 25.
Overall, the latest AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll displayed a mix of stability at the top and notable swings in the middle and lower ranks. The season continues to unfold with exciting matchups and unexpected outcomes.
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