A challenging run at the Maui Invitational cast a shadow on UConn’s future prospects following their consecutive national championships. However, the narrative has shifted.
Revitalized by their return to home ground, the Huskies demonstrated their resilience and strength with a convincing victory against Baylor. Carrying this momentum forward, UConn continued their success in Austin, defeating Texas by 11 points.
These crucial wins significantly influenced the AP Top 25 voters, propelling UConn up seven spots to land at No. 18 in the latest poll. “Perhaps those looking to write us off were premature in their assumptions,” said UConn coach Dan Hurley.
The Huskies are set to face another challenging opponent on Saturday as they go head-to-head with No. 8 Gonzaga at Madison Square Garden. Gonzaga has also had a remarkable season, with notable wins, including a dominant performance against Baylor and two victories in The Battle 4 Atlantis. They recently experienced a thrilling matchup against No. 5 Kentucky, narrowly losing 90-89 in Seattle, setting the stage for an exciting encounter in New York.
In the rankings, Iowa State has made headlines with their highest preseason ranking at No. 5. Following a narrow two-point loss to No. 2 Auburn, they have soared to their highest ranking in decades. The Cyclones recently triumphed over No. 6 Marquette with an 11-point margin and comfortably defeated Jackson State. As a result, they claim the No. 3 spot in this week’s poll, marking their best ranking since the 1956-57 season. Keshon Gilbert earned recognition as the Big 12 player of the week for his stellar performance, scoring 24 points and notching seven assists against Marquette.
This Thursday, Iowa State is gearing up for an emotionally charged game against rival Iowa. While the Hawkeyes hold a solid 7-2 record, they are coming off a close two-point defeat against No. 14 Michigan.
On the other hand, the Tennessee Volunteers have showcased their prowess despite losing four starters from their SEC championship-winning team. Led by standout senior guard Chaz Lanier, Tennessee (8-0) is experiencing its best start since the 2000-01 season when they also began with nine straight victories. They have ascended to the No. 1 position in NET rankings, marking their first time at the top since the 2018-19 season, following Kansas’ two losses and Auburn’s defeat against No. 4 Duke.
“It’s mainly a testament to our promising start and a recognition of the hard work the players have put in,” said Tennessee coach Rick Barnes. The Vols will kick off their week at No. 1 against Miami at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, after which they will face a formidable Illinois team in Champaign on Saturday.
The 11th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers have managed well in the absence of two-time AP player of the year Zach Edey. With victories over ranked teams such as No. 7 Alabama and No. 19 Ole Miss, Purdue’s Trey Kaufman-Renn has emerged as a key player, averaging 18.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Purdue will host yet another ranked team on Saturday.
Meanwhile, No. 17 Texas A&M has rebounded from a season-opening loss to UCF, now boasting wins against Ohio State and Creighton, including a recent victory over Texas Tech. Wade Taylor IV, one of the standout guards in the Big 12, is contributing significantly with averages of 16.1 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game.
The NET rankings released by the NCAA on Monday echoed the sentiments of AP voters, placing Tennessee and Auburn at the top. However, KenPom’s rankings differ, placing Auburn ahead of Tennessee. Bart Torvik’s analysis takes a starkly different angle, ranking Houston—currently No. 15 in the AP poll—at No. 1, followed by Duke, with Auburn and Tennessee closely in the mix. In contrast, NET rankings rate Gonzaga significantly higher, placing them third, whilst they hold the eighth position in the AP poll. KenPom has Gonzaga at fourth behind Duke, while Bart Torvik positions the Zags at fifth.
