Tennessee maintained its position at No. 1 in the college basketball AP Top 25 for the second week in a row, while No. 2 Auburn narrowed the gap in a ranking where the top five remained unchanged, according to the latest poll released on Monday.
The Volunteers secured 50 first-place votes from the national media, following victories against Miami and Illinois, bringing coach Rick Barnes’ squad to an impressive 10-0 record for just the fifth time in the program’s history. Auburn collected nine additional first-place votes, totaling 12. The remainder of the top five includes Iowa State, Duke, and Kentucky, who retained their spots.
Currently, Tennessee stands as one of only five unbeaten teams in Division I men’s basketball and is among three teams from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) still without a loss, alongside No. 7 Florida (10-0) and No. 14 Oklahoma (10-0). Drake (9-0) and Utah State (10-0) are also undefeated this week.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Barnes mentioned, “As we review our games, there are numerous aspects we need to improve upon for consistency. This is a collective effort — both coaches and players. It’s crucial to stay realistic and acknowledge areas for improvement while recognizing that there’s a long journey ahead to fulfill our goals.”
Auburn achieved a commanding 91-53 victory over Ohio State in Atlanta, improving its record to 9-1. Johni Broome had an impressive game, achieving 21 points and 20 rebounds, marking the Tigers’ first 20-20 performance in 35 years. He then hurried back to Auburn to attend his graduation ceremony that Saturday night.
“They might be the top team in the country right now,” commented Ohio State’s coach Jake Diebler. “Their level of experience is evident, and they capitalized on our mistakes effectively.”
The SEC continues to showcase its strength in the rankings, with Tennessee and Auburn joined by Kentucky, No. 6 Alabama, and No. 7 Florida, accounting for five of the top seven teams. Kansas moved up two places to No. 8, while Marquette and Oregon completed the top ten.
Two-time defending champions UConn made a significant leap, rising seven spots to No. 11 after defeating previously ranked No. 8 Gonzaga. Following UConn in the rankings are Texas A&M, Gonzaga, Oklahoma, and Houston, which held steady at No. 15.
Purdue fell five spots to No. 16 after losing to Texas A&M, followed closely by Ole Miss, UCLA, Cincinnati, and Michigan State. Dayton made its first appearance in the poll this season at No. 22, just behind Memphis, which returned after defeating Clemson. Wisconsin fell out of the rankings after a loss to Illinois, and Mississippi State also dropped out after a tight win over McNeese State.
San Diego State, Michigan, and Clemson rounded out the Top 25.
In the mid-major spotlight, Drake was featured on 11 ballots, maintaining its undefeated status after an easy victory against St. Ambrose. Utah State made it onto 10 ballots following a commanding win over South Florida, marking the best start in the school’s history.
“I’ve always believed this is a place where you can consistently win at a high level, and we’re proving that,” said Utah State’s coach Jarrod Calhoun. “We never emphasize making history. Instead, we focus on constant improvement and enjoying the journey.”
UConn’s rise was the most notable this week, climbing seven spots to No. 11 after its victory over Gonzaga. UCLA saw a six-spot increase to No. 18 following its eighth consecutive win against Arizona, while Texas A&M advanced five spots to No. 12.
Michigan faced a significant drop, falling ten spots to No. 24 after losing to Arkansas in a close game, while Clemson slipped nine spots to No. 25. Both Gonzaga and Purdue also dropped five spots in the rankings.
Memphis returned to the rankings after facing a setback earlier in the season, while Dayton made its season debut, displacing Wisconsin and Mississippi State, which had received the highest number of votes among unranked teams.
In terms of conference representation, the SEC boasts eight teams in the Top 25, along with the top three teams just outside the poll: Mississippi State, Arkansas, and Missouri. The Big Ten follows with five teams, while the Big 12 has four, and both the ACC and Big East have two each. In total, nine conferences have at least one ranked team.