On this week’s Associated Press Top 25 males’s basketball ballot launched Monday, a unanimous No. 1 emerges and two applications enter the rankings following huge turnarounds.
Listed below are 5 takeaways from the ballot:
Auburn’s six ranked wins make it a unanimous No. 1
The Tigers (17-1, 5-0 SEC) have now gained six video games over AP prime 25 opponents this season, which is essentially the most of any group.
Regardless of star ahead Johni Broome’s left ankle harm forcing him to be sidelined, Auburn picked up a commanding 88-66 win over then-No. 15 Mississippi State and a nail-biting 70-68 win over previously-No. 23 Georgia final week.
Because the Tigers get set to host No. 6 Tennessee on Saturday, getting their star participant again goes to be essential contemplating they allowed 34 factors within the paint within the win over Georgia. Even with Auburn not at full energy, although, the Tigers nonetheless picked up a pair of ranked wins, which ought to concern anybody that faces them, particularly when Broome returns.
Houston beneficial properties three spots using prolonged successful streak
The Cougars (14-3, 6-0 Large 12) are winners of 10 straight video games after in some way escaping Orlando with a 69-68 win over UCF on Saturday.
Houston trailed 38-30 on the break and 68-67 with 9 seconds remaining earlier than senior ahead J’Wan Roberts hit the game-winning layup with one second to go.
Poor three-point taking pictures (18.8%) was the story within the loss for a Houston group that’s fourth within the nation in long-range taking pictures (40.55%), per NCAA.com. If Houston can preserve its season-long effectivity to associate with its lockdown protection that has allowed fewer than 60 factors in 5 of its six convention video games, will probably be a tough out the remainder of the best way.
Purdue sees substantial acquire in rankings after spectacular win
The Boilermakers (15-4, 7-1 Large Ten), up six spots to No. 11, took benefit of their protection in a giant highway win over then-No. 13 Oregon, 65-58, on Saturday.
Regardless of taking pictures simply 33.9% and an abysmal 2-of-12 (16.7%) from deep, Purdue received a team-high 23 factors from junior ahead Trey Kaufman-Renn and one other sensational defensive efficiency.
In eight convention video games, Purdue has given up 61 factors or fewer in 5 of them. If the Boilermakers are in a position to maintain that, they might proceed so as to add to their seven-game successful streak that additionally contains six straight convention wins.
UConn suffers second loss in three video games, drops 5 spots
The Huskies (13-5, 5-2 Large East) fall to No. 19 after a 68-63 loss to Creighton on Saturday.
Contemplating freshman ahead Liam McNeeley, who’s third on the group in scoring (13.6 PPG), has not performed since he injured his proper ankle towards DePaul on Jan. 1, it’s not too stunning that the Huskies have dropped just a few video games.
If UConn is at full energy, it’s arduous to think about them shedding both of these tightly contested video games. With no ranked opponents scheduled till a highway sport at No. 10 Marquette on Feb. 1, the main focus ought to be on getting its star freshman wholesome for the second half of convention play and past.
Missouri, Louisville enter ballot throughout turnaround seasons
The Tigers (15-3, 4-1 SEC) enter the rankings at No. 22 a yr faraway from ending 8-24 total and 0-18 in SEC play.
Missouri took down then-No. 1 Kansas on Dec. 8 and is at present on a four-game successful streak within the convention, together with a highway win at No. 5 Florida on Jan. 14. The Tigers have 4 gamers averaging double-figure scoring, which ought to bode properly for them in a stacked SEC.
The Cardinals (14-5, 7-1 ACC) inherit the No. 25 rating after successful their eighth straight sport since a loss to in-state rival Kentucky on Dec. 14.
The final two years mixed, Louisville went 12-52 and an atrocious 5-35 in convention play. Led by first-year coach Pat Kelsey, the Cardinals already had extra wins by Nov. 28 (5) than that they had your entire 2022-23 season and are at present tied for second within the ACC standings.
Louisville has 5 gamers averaging 10 or extra factors every sport, which persistently provides them somebody to show to when the photographs usually are not falling.
