AP Poll: Updated college basketball top 25 after third week of season

On3 imageby:Jonathan Wagner•11/29/21•

Jonathan Wagner

We’re only three weeks into college basketball season and it has already been filled with a ton of excitement. The season has already seen many top 25 matchups, and the third week of the season was no different. Following a memorable and crazy week of college basketball, the latest AP top 25 poll has been released.

Updated AP basketball top 25

  1. Duke (7-0)
  2. Purdue (6-0)
  3. Gonzaga (6-1)
  4. Baylor (7-0)
  5. UCLA (6-1)
  6. Villanova (4-2)
  7. Texas (4-1)
  8. Kansas (5-1)
  9. Kentucky (5-1)
  10. Arkansas (6-0)
  11. Arizona (6-0)
  12. BYU (6-0)
  13. Tennessee (4-1)
  14. Florida (6-0)
  15. Houston (5-1)
  16. Alabama (6-1)
  17. UConn (6-1)
  18. Memphis (5-1)
  19. Iowa State (6-0)
  20. USC (6-0)
  21. Auburn (5-1)
  22. Michigan State (5-2)
  23. Wisconsin (5-1)
  24. Michigan (4-2)
  25. Seton Hall (5-1)

The debate for the top spot is already here

Gonzaga entered the week with a 4-0 record and a firm grasp on the top spot. The Bulldogs won their first two games of the week, including a 20-point victory over UCLA (previously No. 2). But when Gonzaga faced off against Duke (No. 5), it was the Blue Devils that walked away with a victory. Duke now sits at 7-0 on the season, holding the top spot in the AP basketball top 25 through three weeks. UCLA won two games during the week in addition to the loss to Gonzaga.

Purdue entered the week with a perfect 5-0 week, a No. 3 ranking, and plenty of momentum after beating UNC and Villanova for back-to-back top 25 wins. The Boilermakers only played once last week, winning 97-40 over Omaha. Kansas (prev. No. 4) went 2-1 on the week, losing 74-73 in a tight game against Dayton. Baylor (prev. No. 6) had a 3-0 week, including an impressive 75-58 victory over Michigan State.

Memphis (No. 9) came into the week with a 4-0 record and looked like a team that could quickly rise in the rankings. The Tigers beat Virginia Tech to open the week, but later lost 78-59 to Iowa State. Alabama (No. 10) also suffered an upset loss this week, falling by four to Iona. With a lot of upsets within the top ten, and even just outside, there have been some major changes within the AP basketball top 25.

Houston (No. 12) was looking dominant to begin the season, and the Cougars began the week with an impressive 18-point victory over Butler. But Houston lost 65-63 to Wisconsin, although Houston later beat Oregon 78-49. Illinois (No. 14) also started its week with a 20-point loss to Cincinnati. The Fighting Illini did bounce back with two wins to end the week, though.

St. Bonaventure (No. 16) was 5-0 entering the week, but the Bonnies’ only game of the week was a 90-80 loss to Northern Iowa. No. 19 Auburn and No. 22 UConn faced off in an exciting game that required double overtime. UConn ultimately came away with a 115-109 victory in one of the most exciting games of the season so far. The Huskies lost their next game to Michigan State, while Auburn won its next two games of the week.

Illinois, St. Bonaventure, LSU, Ohio State, and Indiana finish just on the outside of this week’s AP basketball top 25.