The Duke Blue Devils became the top team in the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 poll again, being the first time they’ve returned to No. 1 since November of 2021. The development followed the 82-69 blowout win over their all-time rival, the North Carolina Tar Heels, for an eighth straight victory, putting the season record at 28-3.
Duke’s Rejuvenation
Now actually conducted under head coach Jon Scheyer, who fit the shoes of the great Mike Krzyzewski, Duke has shown strength and resilience. Their latest form, typified by choreographed team plays and shrewd strategies, cemented their place where they should rightly be reckoned with in college basketball. The Blue Devils garnered 52 of 61 first-place votes in the last AP poll, a testimony to widespread respect for their dominance.
Houston Cougars Rise to No. 2
Cougar have placed one position higher to take up No. 2. The 27-4 record they kept during this season carried five first-place votes towards the Cougars, revealing that they have done very well throughout this whole season, and disciplined defence and solid offence are the main components of this rise to tops contender status as the post-season draws near.
Auburn Tigers Drop to No. 3
The Auburn Tigers, who were ranked No. 1 for eight weeks consecutively, fell to No. 3 after losing to both Texas A&M and Alabama. Despite the two losses, Auburn is still sitting pretty at 27-4 with four first-place votes. The Tigers will attempt to regroup and get back on track to start the Southeastern Conference (SEC) tournament.
Top 10 Overview
- The latest AP poll reflects several shifts within the top 10:
- Duke Blue Devils (28-3): Regained No. 1 following a decisive win over North Carolina.
- Houston Cougars (27-4): Advanced to No. 2, with steady excellence.
- Auburn Tigers (27-4): Fell back at No. 3 following successive defeats.
- Florida Gators (27-4): Moved up one position to No. 4, proving good season’s work.
- Alabama Crimson Tide (24-7): Moved two positions to No. 5, following its recent win against Auburn.
- St. John’s Red Storm (27-4): Maintained a solid position in the top 10.
- Michigan State Spartans (26-5): Maintained good performance, consistently ranking.
- Tennessee Volunteers (25-6): Achieved the No. 8 rank, reflecting steady performance.
- Texas Tech Red Raiders (24-7): Jumped into the top 10, reflecting strength and competitiveness.
- Clemson Tigers (26-5): Rounded out the top 10 with a decent season record.
Notable Movements
Certain teams experienced drastic changes in rankings:
- Texas A&M Aggies (22-9): Improved eight positions to No. 14, indicating an improvement in performance.
- Wisconsin Badgers (23-8): Fell six positions to No. 18, indicating recent poor performance.
- Missouri Tigers (21-10): Also dropped six positions to No. 21, indicating the need for some readjustment before the playoffs.
Marquette Golden Eagles Occupies No. 25 Position
Despite the latest setbacks for UConn and St. John’s, the Marquette Golden Eagles retained a spot in the AP Top 25 by claiming the No. 25 position. This marks their 50th consecutive week in the poll, something that has not been done since the 1970s. The Marquette team will be tested as they face the Xavier Musketeers in the Big East tournament quarterfinals.
With conference tournaments being played, teams will get their opportunity to solidify their position and make good cases for favorable seeding in the NCAA tournament. College basketball is such that rankings can still change, and each game has significant implications.
