The University of Kansas has maintained its top spot in the latest Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll, with 44 first-place votes. The Jayhawks’ 92-89 win over North Carolina was a significant victory, but they struggled to hold onto their lead at various points during the game.
Gonzaga moved up two spots to No. 4 after an impressive opening week that included a 40-point blowout of Baylor and a close win against Arizona State. Mark Few’s team earned five first-place votes in the poll.
Auburn, led by Bruce Pearl, made the biggest leap this week, jumping six spots to No. 5. The Tigers’ victory over then-No. 4 Houston gave them their highest ranking since the preseason poll.
Other teams that moved up the rankings include Kentucky, which rose four spots to No. 19, and Cincinnati, which climbed three spots to No. 17.
On the other hand, several teams experienced significant drops in the rankings. Texas A&M fell 10 spots to No. 23 after losing at UCF, while Houston dropped four spots after losses against ranked opponents.
St. John’s, led by Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, made a notable return to the poll, jumping from outside the top 25 to No. 22. This marks the first time a Pitino-coached team has appeared in the Top 25 since 2016-17.
The Southeastern Conference led the way with eight ranked teams this week, followed by the Big 12 and other conferences.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll-7048e05617eeaaa311e289d17d81c6b8