Houston Rises To No. 1 In AP Top 25 Ahead Of Purdue, UConn; South Florida Makes Its Rankings Debut – News18

Now it’s Houston’s flip on the high of The Associated Press Top 25 males’s school basketball ballot.

The Cougars moved to No. 1 for the primary time this season in Monday’s newest ballot, climbing one spot to finish the six-week keep of reigning nationwide champion Connecticut. Houston (24-3) turned the fifth staff to carry the highest spot this season.

Purdue rose one spot to No. 2, whereas the Huskies’ loss to Creighton dropped them to 3rd in a ballot that included South Florida cracking the rankings for the primary time in program historical past.

Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars spent seven weeks at No. 1 final 12 months, their first stint on the high for the reason that “Phi Slama Jama” days in the course of the 1982-83 season with a staff that includes future NBA greats like Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Now they’re again, enjoying in a brand new convention residence (the Big 12) with the identical protection-first system that has Houston main the nation in KenPom’s adjusted defensive effectivity (87.1 factors allowed per 100 possessions).

“Our guys are tough,” Sampson stated after an extra time win at Baylor. “We’re not always pretty. But last time I checked this is not a beauty contest.”

The high 10 featured the identical universe of groups, although in reshuffled order.

Tennessee moved up a spot to No. 4 for its highest rating of the season, adopted by Marquette. Arizona, Kansas, Iowa State, North Carolina and Duke rounded out the highest 10.

While there was loads of motion, there have been no main leaps among the many week’s 12 rising groups. No. 11 Auburn and No. 12 Creighton had the largest jumps of a modest three spots, whereas 4 others groups rose two positions.

No. 21 Dayton took the largest tumble of 9 groups that dropped, falling 5 spots after a loss at George Mason. No. 15 Baylor fell 4 spots after shedding at BYU earlier than falling to Houston.

No. 24 Florida was the one staff to carry its place from final week.

South Florida has been a shock in its first season below Amir Abdur-Rahim, who led a exceptional turnaround at Kennesaw State from a one-win season to an NCAA Tournament bid final 12 months. Now he’s helped the Bulls (21-5) go from being picked ninth within the American Athletic Conference to their first-ever rating at No. 25.

The different two additions are acquainted: No. 22 Utah State spent 5 straight weeks within the ballot earlier this season, whereas No. 23 Gonzaga is again in after falling out for six straight weeks to finish that program’s first stretch among the many unranked for the reason that 2015-16 season.

Colorado State (No. 22), Texas Tech (No. 23) and BYU (No. 25) fell out from final week.

The Southeastern Conference led the best way with six ranked groups, together with No. 14 Alabama, No. 16 Kentucky and No. 18 South Carolina. The Big 12 was subsequent with 4 groups, all within the high 15.

The Big East had three, adopted by the Big Ten, Atlantic Coast, Pac-12, Mountain West and West Coast conferences with two. The Atlantic 10 joined the AAC with one.

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Get ballot alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball all through the season. Sign up right here. AP school basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)