AP Top 25 poll released following upset-filled Week 15 in college basketball

275133747_4796292347117549_592518599057046758_nby:Jonathan Wagner02/21/22

Jonathan Wagner

Week 15 was another upset-filled and action packed week within college basketball, leading to some major changes within the latest AP Top 25 poll. There were 11 ranked teams that lost over the course of the week, although some of those came in matchups between two top 25 teams.

There are once again changes at the top of the rankings in the AP Top 25 poll, as four top ten teams lost during Week 15. Auburn (previously No. 2) began the week with a win over Vanderbilt, but fell against Florida on Saturday. Kentucky (previously No. 4) defeated Alabama on Saturday, but lost against No. 16 Tennessee earlier in the week. Baylor (previously No. 7) beat TCU, but lost to No. 11 Texas Tech. And Providence defeated Butler, but fell to No. 10 Villanova.

With Texas Tech and Villanova each going 2-0 on the week and picking up top ten wins following being just outside of the top ten after last week, there has been a significant shakeup at the top of the rankings.

Many other teams picked up losses over the week as well. Illinois (previously No. 12) went 1-1, beating Michigan State but losing to Rutgers. Tennessee (previously No. 16) beat Kentucky, but fell to Arkansas. Ohio State (previously No. 18) beat Minnesota but lost to Iowa. Michigan State (previously No. 19) went 0-2 on the week with losses against Illinois and Penn State. Texas, Wyoming, and Alabama also picked up losses during Week 15.

Post-Week 15 AP Top 25

  1. Gonzaga (23-2)
  2. Arizona (24-2)
  3. Auburn (24-3)
  4. Purdue (24-4)
  5. Kansas (22-4)
  6. Kentucky (22-5)
  7. Duke (23-4)
  8. Villanova (21-6)
  9. Texas Tech (21-6)
  10. Baylor (22-5)
  11. Providence (22-3)
  12. UCLA (19-5)
  13. Wisconsin (21-5)
  14. Houston (22-4)
  15. Illinois (19-7)
  16. USC (23-4)
  17. Tennessee (19-7)
  18. Arkansas (21-6)
  19. Murray State (26-2)
  20. Texas (19-8)
  21. UConn (19-7)
  22. Ohio State (16-7)
  23. Saint Mary’s (22-6)
  24. Alabama (17-10)
  25. Iowa (18-8)

Iowa and Saint Mary’s are the two new teams in this week’s top 25. Michigan State and Wyoming fell out of the rankings. The teams just outside of the top 25 looking in include Michigan State (58 votes), Rutgers (35), Wyoming (24), Boise State (22), Davidson (19), San Diego State (14), South Dakota State (13), LSU (13), and Marquette (12).