Better late than never: Some early AP Top 25 teams returned to the poll this week

C.L. Brown
·3 min read

Here come the late bloomers.

At least four teams ranked in the preseason top 10 that fell completely out of the top 25 poll are beginning to look the part of a team deserving to be ranked.

Indiana is finally getting healthy and has won its past five games behind forward Trayce Jackson-Davis playing as well as any frontcourt player not named Zach Edey. The Hoosiers jumped back in the poll at No. 21.

North Carolina has won five consecutive games, with a big week looming. The Tar Heels will look to avenge its Dec. 30 loss at Pitt when the Panthers travel to to Chapel Hill on Wednesday. Then, the first installment of the rivalry series with Duke takes place at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday.

Carolina received 47 votes this week, but should they emerge with two wins, the Heels will get proper recognition.

Also keep an eye out for Illinois, which received 56 votes; and Creighton, which is the only eight-loss team to receive consideration with 51 votes. The Illini have won six of their past seven games, with the only loss coming to Indiana during that span.

The Blue Jays stumbled through a six-game losing streak when center Ryan Kalkbreener was injured, but they seem to have found their stride. Creighton has won four straight, including wins over Xavier and Providence.

Highest rise

Baylor seems to have shaken off its three game losing streak that it had to start Big 12 play and has now won six straight. That includes last week’s home win over Kansas and Arkansas in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge. The Bears jumped six spots from No. 17 up to No. 11.

All five of Baylor’s losses have come to teams currently ranked in the Top 25 including a one point loss to TCU and an overtime loss by two to Kansas State.

Providence was also on the move up six spots to No. 17.

Biggest drop

Auburn dropped two games last week to Texas A&M and at West Virginia. The Tigers fell 10 spots back to No. 24.

UConn continued its free fall with an 82-79 loss to Xavier in its lone game of the week. Removed from context, it’s not a bad loss for the Huskies even with it coming at home. But looking at the bigger picture, they’ve dropped four of their past five and six of their past eight games.

There is such a thing in college basketball of peaking too early and it seems UConn might be the prime example of it, falling five spots back to No. 24.

Outta here

The College of Charleston saw its 20 game win streak snapped at home in an 85-81 loss to Hofstra. If there’s any consolation, the Cougars still maintain first place in the Colonial Athletic Association.

New Mexico dropped back out from No. 25 after a loss to Nevada.

AP Top 25

Rk. Team (1st)

1. Purdue (62)

2. Tennessee

3. Houston

4. Alabama

5. Arizona

6. Virginia

7. Kansas State

8. Kansas

9. UCLA

10. Texas

11. Baylor

12. Gonzaga

13. Iowa State

14. Marquette

15. TCU

16. Xavier

17. Providence

18. Florida Atlantic

19. St. Mary’s

20. Clemson

21. Indiana

22. San Diego St

23. Miami

24. UConn

25. Auburn

C.L. Brown’s ballot

Rk. Team

1. Purdue

2. Tennessee

3. Houston

4. Alabama

5. Virginia

6. Arizona

7. Baylor

8. UCLA

9. Kansas State

10. Gonzaga

11. Kansas

12.Texas

13. Marquette

14. Iowa State

15. TCU

16. Xavier

17. Providence

18. Florida Atlantic

19. Indiana

20. St. Mary’s

21. Miami

22. UConn

23. North Carolina

24. Memphis

25. Missouri

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