AP Poll Top 25 revealed following seventh week of college basketball season
The AP provided a nice Christmas gift for college basketball fans by releasing a new Top 25 poll on Monday. With the seventh week of college basketball in the books, conference play is quickly approaching as the calendar prepares to flip to 2024.
It was another exciting week of games, and one top team found itself on the wrong end of a double-overtime thriller. Arizona took on Florida Atlantic in Las Vegas, and the Owls upset the No. 4-ranked Wildcats at T-Mobile Arena to provide quite the shakeup in this week’s rankings.
Let’s dive into the rest of the AP poll Top 25 as the holiday week of games gets ready to begin.
1. Purdue
After upsetting Arizona last week, Purdue got one final victory before the holiday break. The Boilermakers handled Jacksonville State with ease en route to the 100-57 victory at Mackey Arena.
Purdue now gets ready to head into Big Ten play with an 11-1 record — only losing to conference foe Northwestern earlier this year. One final non-conference tuneup awaits this week against Eastern Kentucky.
2. Kansas
Kansas only had one game this week before the break — a 75-60 victory over Yale. The Jayhawks held strong at No. 2 in the latest rankings with a long layoff before their next game against Wichita State.
Kevin McCullar led the charge for KU in the victory with 34 points and sent the team into the break on a high note. The Jayhawks will be back on the court later this week when they start backup against Wichita State.
3. Houston
Houston also held strong in the rankings thanks to a resounding victory over Texas State last week. The Cougars are about to dive headfirst into their Big 12 schedule with one last non-conference game awaiting.
It was all Houston against Texas State in the 72-37 victory. Penn awaits this week, and the Cougars’ first Big 12 game is coming up after the new year against Iowa State.
4. Arizona
After suffering a big loss to Purdue last week, Arizona was upset again. This time, it came at the hands of last year’s Cinderella story in a 96-95 loss to Florida Atlantic in double overtime.
Just like that, Tommy Lloyd’s group has two losses after taking an undefeated record into last week’s poll. With Pac-12 play coming up, Arizona will have some opportunities to bounce back to further cement its standing as a top team in the country.
5. UConn
UConn suffered its second loss of the year this week against Seton Hall in a 75-60 upset. The Huskies then had another close call against St. John’s on Saturday, but snuck away with a 69-65 victory.
It’s been an interesting week for Dan Hurley’s group before the holiday break, but UConn is still toward the top of the rankings thanks to some other notable games this week. The Huskies resume Big East play against DePaul.
6. Tennessee
Tennessee found itself in a closer game than some might have expected against Tarleton State. In the final minutes, though, the Volunteers kicked it into gear to pull off the 65-46 victory in Knoxville.
Tennessee has now won five straight games to build some momentum going into the holiday break. Again one of the top defensive teams in the country, the Vols will take on Norfolk State after the new year before the conference opener against Ole Miss.
7. Florida Atlantic
Florida Atlantic has bounced around the top part of the AP poll Top 25 this year, but the Owls jumped back into the Top 10 with this week’s victory over Arizona. Dusty May and Co. look like they could be a fun team in March once again.
FAU has now won three straight games, and one of its two losses came to Illinois earlier this year. The Owls will take on in-state rival Florida Gulf Coast after the holidays with their first AAC season beginning after the new year against East Carolina.
8. Kentucky
Don’t look now, but here comes Kentucky. The Wildcats, fresh off a massive victory over North Carolina, flew past fierce rival Louisville earlier this week in a game that appeared to have big implications for Kenny Payne.
UK is fueled by a talented young group and, after jumping into the top 10 a week ago, will stay there this week. A non-conference game is coming up against Illinois State — a reunion of sorts for Antonio Reeves — before conference play picks up.
9. North Carolina
After dropping out of the top 10 last week, North Carolina is back after getting a big victory over Oklahoma this week. The Tar Heels bounced back well from two straight losses, and it sent Hubert Davis’ group into the holidays on a high note.
Last year was a bit of a disappointment for UNC, but this season is going pretty well so far. A final tune-up awaits against Charleston Southern before getting ACC play going again against Pitt.
10. Marquette
The Big East looks primed for a big year with Marquette also making a move in this week’s AP poll Top 25. The Golden Eagles fell to Providence, but bounced back with a big victory over Georgetown to stay in the top 10.
Marquette now brings a 10-3 record into the break as Shaka Smart’s group looks to sustain the momentum it built last year. A huge matchup is coming up, though, against Creighton later this week.
Rest of AP poll Top 25
11. Illinois
12. Oklahoma
13. Gonzaga
14. BYU
15. Colorado State
16. Duke
17. Baylor
18. Clemson
19. Memphis
20. James Madison
21. Texas
22. Creighton
23. Wisconsin
24. Ole Miss
25. Providence
Others receiving votes: Miami 97, Auburn 87, Colorado 84, Utah 37, Iowa St. 24, Ohio St. 12, Michigan St. 10, TCU 10, Texas A&M 9, San Diego St. 8, Northwestern 5, Providence 5, Alabama 3, Dayton 3, Nevada 3, New Mexico 2, Grand Canyon 2, Washington 2, Saint Joseph’s 2, South Carolina 1, Mississippi St. 1.