College Basketball Rankings: Latest AP Poll updated following multiple Top 25 rivalry matchups

Another week of college basketball is in the books, and AP Poll voters are taking notice. On Monday, the AP released its updated Top 25 college basketball rankings.

College basketball blessed fans with a stunning Week 2 slate. There were seven Top-25 matchups this past week alone, including two top-10 showdowns. Additionally, rivalries erupted last week, with Louisville downing Kentucky.

Clearly, AP Poll voters had no shortage of action to consider. With so much to cover, let’s dive into the updated AP Top 25 college basketball rankings.

1. Purdue (+1)

On Thursday, Purdue reminded fans why it entered the season as the No. 1 team in the country. The Boilermakers secured a convincing 87-80 victory over Alabama.

In the win, All-American point guard Braden Smith was spectacular, tallying 29 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn posted a double-double, recording 19 points and 15 rebounds.

2. Houston (-1)

On Sunday, Houston narrowly defeated Auburn, 73-72. In the win, the Cougars held Auburn to 39% shooting from the field, but only forced eight turnovers.

In a twist, it was Houston’s offensive prowess that ultimately guided it to a victory. Freshman Kingston Flemings was a standout, notching a team-high 22 points, along with five rebounds and seven assists.

3. UConn

UConn also picked up a resume-boosting victory this past week, defeating BYU in nail-biting 86-84 fashion. The Huskies held an 11-point lead at halftime and ultimately had to fend off the Cougars’ second-half rally to escape with the win.

Alex Karaban, Tarris Reed Jr. and Silas Demary Jr. each scored 21 points in the battle. The Huskies were extremely efficient, shooting 57% from the floor and 44% from beyond the arc.

4. Arizona (+1)

After a ramp-up game against Northern Arizona last week, the Wildcats squared off versus UCLA on Friday. Arizona squeaked out a 69-65 win over the Bruins.

Arizona guard Anthony Dell’Orso was the story of the game, logging 20 points off the bench. Freshman Koa Peat struggled against the Bruins, committing six turnovers.

5. Duke (-1)

Duke didn’t face any ranked foes this past week, but it did produce two quality performances. On Tuesday, the Blue Devils blew out Army by 55 points.

The team followed up the win with another convincing 100-62 triumph over Indiana State. Star freshman Cameron Boozer put on a show against the Sycamores, racking up a career-high 35 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.

6. Louisville (+6)

Perhaps no team made its fanbase happier than Louisville last week. The Cardinals picked up their first win over Kentucky in the Pat Kelsey era. Moreover, they won in impressive fashion.

The Cardinals dominated Kentucky for much of the game, leading by up to 20 points. The Wildcats ultimately clawed back into the game to keep it competitive, but Louisville freshman Mikel Brown Jr.’s 29-point effort was enough to give the Cardinals the win.

7. Michigan (-1)

Michigan was pushed to its limits this past week. On Tuesday, Wake Forest nearly toppled the Wolverines, ultimately falling 85-84 in overtime.

TCU smelled blood in the water and, just three days later, was four points away from upsetting Michigan. While the Wolverines would like to win more comfortably, they’ve shown they can survive in the clutch.

8. Illinois (+6)

Illinois made cracked the top 10 this week, thanks to its 81-77 triumph over Texas Tech on Tuesday. California transfer Andrej Stojakovic stole the show in the win, recording 23 points on 11-16 shooting.

Stojakovic’s impressive shooting wasn’t his only strength in the win. He also blocked a last-second 3-point attempt by the Red Raiders.

9. BYU (-2)

BYU’s record is no longer flawless, but the Cougars didn’t lose any respect from fans around the nation. In BYU’s 86-84 loss to UConn, Cougars freshman AJ Dybantsa scored a game-high 25 points.

Assist-to-turnover ratio was the deciding factor of the game. BYU recorded just seven assists compared to 14 turnovers. Meanwhile, UConn logged 21 assists in the win.

10. Florida

Michigan isn’t the only team that had a close call last week. On Tuesday, Florida edged out a 78-76 win over Florida State. Guard Boogie Fland hit two-game winning free throws with 15.8 seconds remaining against the Seminoles.

Florida didn’t allow its next in-state opponent to get nearly as close. The Gators dominated Miami in an 82-68 effort on Sunday. Alex Condon led Florida with 19 points.

Remainder of the AP Poll Top 25

11. Alabama (-3)
12. Kentucky (-3)
13. Gonzaga (+6)
14. St. John’s (-1)
15. Texas Tech (-4)
16. Iowa State
17. Michigan State
18. North Carolina
19. UCLA (-4)
20. Tennessee
21. Arkansas
22. Auburn
23. Wisconsin (+1)
24. Kansas (+1)
25. NC State

Dropped out of rankings: Creighton

Others receiving votes: San Diego State 71, Indiana 65, Vanderbilt 57, Oregon 28, Ohio State 21, USC 16, Georgetown 16, Creighton 12, Baylor 11, Saint Mary’s 8, Missouri 7, Ole Miss 5, Iowa 3, Utah State 2, Georgia 2, Virginia 1, Virginia Tech 1, Stanford 1, Kansas State 1.