Tennessee maintained its position as the top team in the AP Top 25 for the second consecutive week, while No. 2 Auburn narrowed the distance as the top five teams remained unchanged in the men’s college basketball poll released Monday.
The Volunteers secured 50 first-place votes from the national media panel following victories over Miami and Illinois, bringing their record to 10-0 for just the fifth time in school history. Auburn, now 9-1 after a dominant 91-53 win against Ohio State, received nine first-place votes last week, totaling 12 overall. Iowa State, Duke, and Kentucky completed the top five.
Tennessee is one of only five unbeaten teams in men’s Division I basketball, alongside No. 7 Florida (10-0) and No. 14 Oklahoma (10-0). Other undefeated teams include Drake (9-0) and Utah State (10-0).
“We know there are areas we need to improve on,” said Tennessee coach Rick Barnes. “It’s about being consistent, both for coaches and players. In December, we have to be realistic and recognize that while we’ve done some good things, there’s still a long way to go.”
Auburn’s Johni Broome led the team with 21 points and 20 rebounds, marking the Tigers’ first 20-20 game in 35 years. He later returned to Auburn for his graduation ceremony. Ohio State coach Jake Diebler praised Auburn’s experience, stating, “They may be the best team in the country right now. They made us pay for our mistakes.”
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) continued to dominate the rankings, with Tennessee, Auburn, Kentucky, No. 6 Alabama, and No. 7 Florida representing five of the top seven spots. Kansas climbed two places to No. 8, while Marquette and Oregon rounded out the top ten.
Two-time defending national champion UConn made a significant leap, rising seven spots to No. 11 after defeating then-No. 8 Gonzaga. They were followed by Texas A&M, Gonzaga, Oklahoma, and Houston, which held steady at No. 15. Purdue fell five spots to No. 16 after a loss to Texas A&M, followed by Ole Miss, UCLA, Cincinnati, and Michigan State. Dayton entered the poll for the first time this season at No. 22, just behind Memphis, which returned after a victory over Clemson. Wisconsin dropped out following a loss to Illinois, and Mississippi State fell out after a narrow win against McNeese State.
San Diego State, Michigan, and Clemson completed the Top 25.
Mid-Major Spotlight
Drake appeared on 11 ballots after an easy victory over St. Ambrose, maintaining an unbeaten record under first-year coach Ben McCollum. Utah State received votes on 10 ballots following a blowout win against South Florida, marking the best start in school history.
“I’ve always believed this is a place where you can consistently win at a high level,” said Utah State coach Jarrod Calhoun. “We focus on getting better each day rather than making history.”
Rising and Falling
UConn’s impressive victory over Gonzaga propelled them up seven spots to No. 11. UCLA climbed six places to No. 18 after defeating Arizona for its eighth consecutive win, while Texas A&M moved up five spots to No. 12.
Michigan experienced the steepest decline, dropping ten spots to No. 24 after blowing a halftime lead in an 89-87 loss to Arkansas at the Jimmy V Classic in Madison Square Garden. Clemson fell nine spots to No. 25, while Gonzaga and Purdue each dropped five places.
In and Out
Memphis returned to the rankings after a brief stint at No. 16 earlier this season, while Dayton made its season debut at the expense of Wisconsin and Mississippi State, which received the most votes of teams outside the Top 25.
Conference Overview
The SEC leads with eight teams in the Top 25, along with the top three teams outside the poll: Mississippi State, Arkansas, and Missouri. The Big Ten has five teams ranked, the Big 12 has four, and the ACC and Big East each have two. Overall, nine conferences are represented in the rankings.
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