Just a couple weeks into the season now, the top of the AP Poll Top 25 already begins to shift after a series of top-ranked matchups and upset losses shift the way multiple teams are viewed early.
The Champions Classic, always an early bar for blue-blood programs, headlined the week of basketball and helped shape the new-look rankings with more big games on the slate to finish the month of November.
After a big week of results become official, here is a predictive look at what the second regular season 2024-25 AP Poll Top 25 could look on Monday.
Predicted AP Poll Top 25
1. Kansas (Last Week: 1)
A win over Michigan State in the Champions Classic helped cement Kansas as the No. 1 team in the country, showcasing even in a poor shooting performance that the Jayhawks have one of the nation’s deepest lineups.
2. UConn (Last Week: 3)
UConn rises up in the projected AP Poll Top 25 after remaining unbeaten this week. Although they did not pick up any resume-boosting wins, a loss above them is enough to move toward the top.
3. Gonzaga (Last Week: 6)
Gonzaga, in a similar move to UConn, gets the boost thanks to a loss above them this week. The Bulldogs remain undefeated and in good position to build the resume near the top of the Top 25 in the coming weeks.
4. Auburn (Last Week: 11)
In the week after their resume-boost on the road vs. Houston, Auburn keeps the win streak going and passes in-state rival Alabama as the top-ranked SEC team in this projected AP Poll shakeup.
5. Purdue (Last Week: 14)
Purdue picked up a big win vs. Alabama this week at home, showcasing the fact Matt Painter’s program is here to stay among college basketball’s elite even after losing a two-time National Player of the Year center.
6. Alabama (Last Week: 2)
Alabama suffered its first loss of the season on the road vs. Purdue this week. While that blemish will hardly hurt their resume in March, it does drop them below several top teams until they show whether they can bounce back with a big win.
7. Iowa State (Last Week: 5)
Iowa State dropped in the AP Poll last week despite remaining undefeated, showing that voters view the Cyclones near the cut-off line for where a loss should drop college basketball’s elite teams at this point in the season.
8. Houston (Last Week: 4)
After responding to the home loss against Auburn, Houston should hold steady in the Top 25 as one of the best one-loss teams in the country and a contender to move back up the pecking order with big wins later in the schedule.
9. Kentucky (Last Week: 23)
Kentucky gets the biggest resume boost of the season, knocking off Duke in the Champions Classic to go from a good team with potential to a Top 10 contender. Mark Pope’s team passed the early test and will be rewarded.
10. Duke (Last Week: 7)
Duke suffered its first loss to Kentucky in the Champions Classic, leaving room for the Wildcats to pass them in the AP Poll this week. However, losses across the rest of the Top 25 leave the Blue Devils with a window to stay inside the Top 10.
Predicting 11-25
11. North Carolina (Last Week: 10)
12. Tennessee (Last Week: 11)
13. Baylor (Last Week: 8)
14. Arizona (Last Week: 9)
15. Creighton (Last Week: 14)
16. Marquette (Last Week: 15)
17. Indiana (Last Week: 16)
18. Cincinnati (Last Week: 17
19. Arkansas (Last Week: 18)
20. Florida (Last Week: 20)
21. Texas A&M (Last Week: 23)
22. St. John’s (Last Week: 22)
23. Rutgers (Last Week: 24)
24. Ole Miss (Last Week: 25)
25. Wisconsin (Last Week: NR)
Projected to drop out: Ohio State (Last Week: 21)
