Tennessee and Auburn Remain 1-2 in AP Top 25 Men’s College Basketball Poll
Tennessee and Auburn remained Nos. 1-2 atop The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll. It’s a fitting spot for a pair of Southeastern Conference teams considering the league put 10 teams into Monday’s AP Top 25.
The Top Two
The Volunteers (11-0) and Tigers (11-1) spent a third straight week in the same position, and it marked a fourth consecutive week for Auburn sitting at No. 2. They were part of a top 10 that featured the same top-10 programs, though slightly reshuffled with Kentucky tumbling six spots to No. 10 after a loss to Ohio State.
Rising
San Diego State had the biggest jump among last week’s ranked teams, rising three spots to No. 20, while No. 12 Oklahoma, No. 17 Cincinnati and No. 18 Michigan State all climbed two spots. In all, 11 teams rose at least one spot this week.
Sliding
While Kentucky took the week’s biggest tumble, No. 21 Purdue and No. 22 UCLA also slid multiple spots. The Boilermakers fell five places after a lopsided loss to Auburn, while the Bruins fell four spots after blowing a 16-point lead and falling by two against an unranked North Carolina team that opened the year at No. 9.
Status Quo
Five teams held their positions from last week, starting with the Volunteers, Tigers, and Cyclones at the top. Two-time reigning national champion UConn (No. 11) and Houston (No. 15) also stayed in place.
Welcome
No. 24 Illinois and No. 25 Baylor joined Mississippi State and Arkansas as the week’s new arrivals and poll returnees.
Farewell (for Now)
Memphis (No. 21), Dayton (No. 22), Michigan (No. 24) and Clemson (No. 25) fell out of the poll to make room for the new teams.
Conference Watch
While the SEC gobbled up spots, the AP Top 25 featured teams from a total of only seven leagues. The Big Ten — headlined by ninth-ranked new league member Oregon — had five teams to join the Big 12 for second behind the SEC, while the Big East was the only other league with at least two ranked teams.
The Top 25
1. Tennessee (41 first-place votes) 11-0
2. Auburn (21) 11-1
3. Iowa St. 10-1
4. Duke 10-2
5. Alabama 10-2
6. Florida 12-0
7. Kansas 9-2
8. Marquette 11-2
9. Oregon 11-1
10. Kentucky 10-2
11. UConn 10-3
12. Oklahoma 12-0
13. Texas A&M 10-2
14. Gonzaga 9-3
15. Houston 8-3
16. Mississippi 11-1
17. Cincinnati 10-1
18. Michigan St. 10-2
19. Mississippi St. 11-1
20. San Diego St. 8-2
21. Purdue 8-4
22. UCLA 10-2
23. Arkansas 10-2
24. Illinois 8-3
25. Baylor 7-3
Conclusion
The Southeastern Conference dominated the latest AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll, with 10 teams making an appearance. Tennessee and Auburn remained at the top, with the Volunteers and Tigers holding the No. 1 and 2 spots, respectively. Other notable teams that rose in the rankings include San Diego State, Oklahoma, and Cincinnati, while Kentucky and Purdue took the biggest falls.
FAQs
- What are the top two teams in the latest AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll?
Tennessee and Auburn, with Tennessee holding the No. 1 spot and Auburn holding the No. 2 spot. - How many teams from the Southeastern Conference made the latest AP Top 25 poll?
10 teams from the Southeastern Conference made the latest AP Top 25 poll, the most of any conference. - Which team fell the most spots in the latest AP Top 25 poll?
Kentucky fell six spots to No. 10 after a loss to Ohio State.
