UConn Holds Top Five Spot as St. John’s Slips to No. 23 in AP Top 25

By
Jim Williams
-
11

The latest AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll brought mixed emotions for New York-area fans. UConn maintained its position in the top five, holding steady at No. 4, while St. John’s dropped nine places to No. 23 after a tough week of competition. The Huskies continue to look like a national contender, while the Red Storm will aim to regroup after losses to Iowa State and Auburn.

Michigan Rockets to No. 3

The biggest headline nationally came from Michigan, which surged to No. 3 in the rankings. The Wolverines dominated the Players Era Championship, defeating San Diego State, Auburn, and Gonzaga by a combined 110 points. Their 101-61 rout of Gonzaga marked the worst loss in coach Mark Few’s 902-game career. Forward Yaxel Lendeborg summed up the team’s confidence: “Today was to put the world on notice that we’re here to be the best team in the nation and we’ll continue to do that.”

Top of the Poll

  • No. 1 Purdue held firm with 40 first-place votes.
  • No. 2 Arizona stayed in place with six first-place votes.
  • No. 3 Michigan earned 15 first-place votes after its dominant run.
  • No. 4 Duke and No. 5 UConn rounded out the top five.

Louisville remained at No. 6, while Michigan State climbed to No. 7 after strong wins in the Fort Myers Tip-Off. Houston dropped to No. 8 following a loss to Tennessee.

Movers and Shakers

  • No. 17 Vanderbilt had the biggest jump, climbing seven spots after winning the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas.
  • No. 10 Iowa State rose five places after three wins at the Players Era Championship.
  • No. 13 Tennessee gained four spots after beating Houston and losing to Kansas.
  • No. 21 Kansas returned to the poll after three wins at the Players Era.
  • No. 24 Southern California entered the rankings for the first time since 2023-24 after winning the Maui Invitational.

Teams Falling

  • St. John’s dropped nine places to No. 23, the biggest fall among teams still ranked.
  • Florida, the reigning national champion, fell five spots to No. 15 after losing to TCU.
  • Alabama slipped four places to No. 12 after losing to Gonzaga.
  • UCLA fell out of the poll entirely after a loss to California in the Empire Classic championship.

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