Kansas has firmly secured its position at the top of the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball rankings, holding the No. 1 spot ahead of an anticipated matchup with No. 11 Duke in Las Vegas. The rankings saw a couple of teams from Mississippi make their return, with Ole Miss rejoining at No. 23 and Mississippi State entering the poll for the first time this season at No. 25.
The Jayhawks earned 51 out of 62 first-place votes cast by sports media, maintaining a significant lead over UConn, the reigning two-time national champions, who received six first-place nods and sit in second place. Gonzaga is ranked third, followed by Auburn in fourth with three first-place votes, and Iowa State completing the top five, a configuration that remains unchanged from last week.
Expectations for movement in the rankings could surge next week due to various high-stakes matchups set for holiday tournaments, especially the clash between Kansas and Duke on Tuesday night at the Vegas Showdown. Coach Bill Self of Kansas noted his awareness of Duke’s talent, recognizing their three freshmen starters, particularly singling out Cooper Flagg, while also praising the other two who could potentially be drafted high in the lottery.
Kansas has already notched victories against No. 12 North Carolina and Michigan State this season, showcasing their strength. Meanwhile, Tennessee rose four positions to No. 7, with Kentucky and Alabama from the SEC following closely. Marquette, after securing wins against then-No. 6 Purdue and Georgia, now finds itself in the 10th spot, marking an undefeated start of 6-0, their best since the 2011-12 season.
Following the Blue Devils and Tar Heels in the rankings is Purdue, which saw a drop of seven places. Indiana and Wisconsin also made appearances in the rankings, bringing the tally to three consecutive Big Ten schools. The top 20 is rounded out by Cincinnati, Baylor, Florida, Arkansas, and Texas A&M. The final five include Creighton, Ole Miss, Arizona, Mississippi State, and BYU, with Arizona managing to extend its run in the AP Top 25 for 61 weeks, maintaining the fourth-longest active streak in the country despite recent losses to Wisconsin and Duke.
Arizona’s head coach Tommy Lloyd expressed concerns after their defeat, indicating the need to reevaluate their gameplay and personnel alignment as they strive for improvement.
In terms of team movements, Xavier rejoins the rankings for the first time since last season’s final tally, embarking on a trip to the Fort Myers Tip-Off. Ole Miss makes a comeback after a brief absence, while Mississippi State reenters the rankings after spending only six weeks in a poll over the last six years, mainly this November.
The three teams replacing them – Illinois, St. John’s, and Rutgers – fell from the rankings. Illinois suffered a loss to Alabama, St. John’s faced defeats from Baylor and Georgia, while Rutgers was edged out by Kennesaw State in a historic game for the latter, marking their first win over a ranked opponent.
Marquette made the most significant advancement this week, climbing five spots to No. 10 as they prepare for matchups against Stonehill and Western Carolina, followed by crucial games against No. 5 Iowa State and No. 15 Wisconsin. Purdue, Creighton, and Arizona all saw their rankings drop by seven counts yet remained in the poll. The Boilermakers fell to Marquette, Creighton battled an in-state rival with a loss to Nebraska, and Arizona’s performance left them at a .500 record for the first time in several seasons.
In conference representation, the SEC leads with nine teams ranked in the Top 25, featuring four in the top ten: Auburn, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama. The Big 12 follows with six teams, including top-ranked Kansas, Iowa State, and Houston. The Big East showcases four teams, with the Big Ten presenting three and the ACC contributing two teams to the rankings.