In this week’s Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll, released on Monday, a new-look top five emerges. Here are five takeaways from the poll.
Iowa State moves up amid historic start
While Arizona (16-0) remains atop the poll with its undefeated record still intact, Iowa State (16-0) moves up one spot to No. 2 amid its best start in program history and a program-record 16-game winning streak.
Of its 16 wins, 14 have been by double digits, which is tied with Gonzaga for the second-most in Division-I, only behind High Point (15). The Cyclones can put up points, but their seventh-best defense (62.9 PPG) has been key to their success.
Michigan drops two spots after suffering first loss of season
The Wolverines (14-1) have looked like the best team in the sport for much of the season, but a shocking 91-88 loss to unranked Wisconsin on Saturday handed them their first defeat of the season and dropped them down to No. 4 in the poll.
While Michigan shot 47% from the floor, it had no answers for Wisconsin defensively, allowing the Badgers to knock down 15 triples. The Wolverines are as explosive as any team offensively, but Saturday’s loss proved they are not unbeatable in what appears to be a deep Big Ten conference.
The Cornhuskers (16-0) climb two more spots to No. 8 after completing a 16-point second-half comeback in Saturday’s 83-77 win over Indiana. Nebraska shot 50% (8-of-16) from long range after halftime and extended its best undefeated start in program history.
The Cavaliers (14-2) move up seven spots to No. 16 as they head into Tuesday’s meeting with No. 20 Louisville on a three-game winning streak. A common theme for Virginia this season has been scoring 70 or more points, which it has done in all 16 games. That is its longest such streak in a single season in program history since a 15-game streak in 1954-55.
The Crimson Tide (11-5) fall five spots to No. 18 after suffering back-to-back losses to then-No. 11 Vanderbilt and Texas, respectively. An issue for Alabama during its three conference games has been defending in the paint, having allowed 30 or more paint points in each game.
The Volunteers (11-5) drop three spots to No. 24 after falling to Florida in consecutive games for the first time since losing four straight from 2014-15. Turnovers were a major issue for Tennessee, which committed 18 in Saturday’s 91-67 loss to the Gators.
Florida among four newcomers to the poll
It has not been the best start for the Gators (11-5) in their title defense, but they return to the poll at No. 19 after Saturday’s dominant win over then-No. 21 Tennessee. Sophomore guard Boogie Fland was key with 23 points (9-of-13 FG), while junior center Rueben Chinyelu (17 points, 16 rebounds) became the first Gators player with a 15-point, 15-rebound game in ranked SEC action since Udonis Haslem in 2002 against Georgia.
In addition to Florida, No. 22 Clemson (14-3), No. 23 Utah State (14-1) and No. 25 Seton Hall (14-2) join the rankings, with the 25th-ranked Pirates earning their first ranking since 2022.