Auburn and Duke maintain their strong grip on the AP Top 25 rankings, securing their positions at the summit. For Auburn, it marks the second consecutive week as the unanimous choice for the No. 1 spot with all 61 votes. Their eighth straight week at the top was cemented by commanding victories over Ole Miss and previously ranked No. 17 Kentucky.
Duke holds steady at No. 2 for the second week running, delivering emphatic wins against Miami and Florida State. This is noteworthy as they accomplished this without their guard, Tyrese Proctor, who remains sidelined due to a bone bruise in his left knee.
Houston climbed to No. 3, boosted by their wins over Texas Tech and Cincinnati. Meanwhile, Tennessee ascended to No. 4 after an exhilarating buzzer-beater from Jahmai Mashack clinched victory over Alabama with a score of 79-76.
Florida occupies the No. 5 spot, although they’ve slipped two places following a loss to Georgia before redeeming themselves against Texas A&M.
Michigan State joins Auburn and Duke in maintaining their previous week’s positions, holding firm at No. 8.
A remarkable shift has been the rise of St. John’s under the guidance of coach Rick Pitino. The Red Storm (26-4, 17-2 Big East) have not tasted NCAA Tournament action since 2019, yet they’re almost assured of a return following their capture of the Big East regular-season title for the first time in four decades. This triumph came with a 71-61 win over Seton Hall. St. John’s defeated Butler last week, advancing to No. 6 in the rankings, their highest since ranking No. 5 in the 1990-91 season.
This week saw no new entries or departures in the poll team-wise.
In terms of movement, Louisville made a significant leap by five spots to No. 14, propelled by victories over Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh. Maryland improved to No. 13, climbing three places post a narrow defeat to Michigan State, where Tre Holloman’s midcourt miracle sealed the game, coupled with a win over Penn State.
Conversely, Texas A&M experienced a steep decline, plunging 10 spots to No. 22, grappling with losses to Vanderbilt and Florida, marking a four-game losing streak.
Within the conferences, the SEC remains dominant with three teams in the top five and eight among the Top 25. The Big 12 showcases three teams in the top 10 and five overall, while the Big Ten also features five teams. The ACC, Big East, American, and West Coast conferences all have their presence in the poll, contributing to the week’s dynamic ranking scenario.
