Three top-10 teams taking losses in the last week led to substantial shuffling in the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll Monday, with UConn rising to No. 2 and last week’s No. 2, Alabama, falling six spots to No. 8 among the biggest changes in the updated rankings.
The Huskies moved up one spot to take the place of Alabama after its 87-78 road loss Friday at Purdue with the Boilermakers getting a bump from the win as expected in a move from No. 13 to No. 6.
UConn began the season ranked No. 3 in the AP poll after spending all of last season ranked No. 6 or better en route to its second consecutive national championship. It took over as the top team in Week 11 of last season and never ranked lower than No. 3 thereafter before finishing No. 1 in the poll. In rising to No. 2 this week, it marks the 23rd straight week of being ranked fifth or better.
Gonzaga and Auburn also moved up one spot on the heels of Alabama’s stumble to No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, while Iowa State moved into the top five at No. 5. Each of those teams have been ranked inside the top five at one point this season, though the Tigers’ rise to No. 4 is a high-water mark for the program, giving it their highest ranking since the 2021-22 season.
AP Top 25
1. Kansas (49)
2. UConn (7)
3. Gonzaga (2)
4. Auburn (3)
5. Iowa State
6. Purdue
7. Houston
8. Alabama
9. Kentucky
10. North Carolina
11. Tennessee
12. Duke
13. Baylor
14. Creighton
15. Marquette
16. Indiana
17. Arizona
18. Cincinnati
19. Wisconsin
20. Arkansas
21. Florida
22. St. John’s
23. Texas A&M
24. Rutgers
25. Illinois
Others receiving votes: Texas Tech 109, Mississippi 103, Xavier 89, BYU 27, UCF 21, Texas 17, VCU 17, Michigan St. 16, Mississippi St. 15, Ohio St. 13, Miami 10, Pittsburgh 9, Oregon 7, Memphis 6, Penn St. 4, Providence 4, Utah St. 3, Kansas St 3, Clemson 2, Furman 2, Arizona St 2, Michigan 1, Hofstra 1, Maryland 1.
