Houston again at No. 1 in AP Top 25 for third time this season
Houston returned to No. 1 within the AP males’s school basketball ballot on Monday for the third time this season, whereas Northwestern and Texas A&M barged into the rankings after every had a pair of spectacular wins final week.
The Cougars, using a seven-game profitable streak, jumped over Alabama and again into the highest spot, the place they spent two weeks in November and December and had one other two-week stint final month. They picked up 48 first-place votes from the 62-member nationwide media panel to put declare to No. 1 with simply two weeks left within the common season.
[Power Rankings: 3 teams have risen above the pack]
“This is my fourth year coaching these guys. We’ve developed a really good program here,” mentioned Houston coach Kelvin Sampson, referring to his veteran leaders that went to a Final Four two years in the past and the Elite Eight final season. “But the emphasis is ‘we have.’ One person doesn’t do it. I’m proud of our program. I’m proud of everyone in it.”
The Crimson Tide dropped just one spot after dropping to Tennessee and routing Georgia of their lone week at No. 1. They held onto seven first-place votes, whereas Kansas additionally earned seven to climb two spots to No. 3 on this week’s ballot.
UCLA remained at No. 4 whereas Purdue slid two spots to spherical out of the highest 5.
“We’re not as good a basketball team, from a tactical standpoint, as last year’s basketball team yet,” mentioned Jayhawks coach Bill Self, whose group is attempting to develop into the primary back-to-back nationwide champions since Florida in 2006 and ’07. “From a competitive standpoint, this team is an equivalent, or on par, with that team.”
That was evident Saturday, when the Jayhawks rallied from 17 all the way down to beat No. 9 Baylor 87-71 in Allen Fieldhouse.
Virginia was at No. 6 after beating Louisville and Notre Dame final week. Arizona was seventh whereas Texas fell two spots to eighth after dropping to Texas Tech and needing time beyond regulation to beat Oklahoma. The Bears held their spot whereas Marquette moved into the highest 10 for the primary time since Feb. 25, 2019.
The Volunteers dropped to No. 11 after following up their win over Alabama with a loss to Kentucky. Gonzaga, Miami and Kansas State have been subsequent, with Saint Mary’s giving the West Coast Conference two groups within the high 15.
The Gaels (24-5, 13-1) and Bulldogs (23-5, 12-2) every play midweek video games earlier than their showdown on Saturday.
Xavier held regular at No. 16 this week whereas Indiana, UConn, Creighton and Providence rounded out the highest 20.
Northwestern entered the ballot for the primary time in additional than two years at No. 21 after following its upset of Purdue two weeks in the past with wins over the Hoosiers and Iowa. San Diego State, Iowa State and TCU have been subsequent, with Texas A&M making it again into the ballot after spending one week at No. 24 in November.
“We haven’t gotten ahead of ourselves,” Wildcats coach Chris Collins mentioned. “We’ve had big aspirations of who we could be, and not many people believed it. I’m sure a lot of people laughed at them. But we had them and they were real. And these guys have followed up on it. But we’re still in the moment. For me, it’s not a time for reflection.
“We need extra,” Collins continued. “We can mirror on the finish of the yr, when it’s all accomplished in a month’s time. And we are able to look again on the ups and downs. But we’re attempting our hardest proper now to remain within the second.”
IN AND OUT
The Wildcats, winners of five straight, and the Aggies entered the poll at the expense of North Carolina State and Florida Atlantic. The Wolfpack lost to Syracuse on Tuesday and the Owls lost to Middle Tennessee on Thursday.
RISING AND FALLING
There was very little movement in this week’s poll. Providence made the biggest climb at just four spots to No. 20 after wins over Creighton and Villanova. Iowa State likewise made the biggest fall at four sports to No. 23 after following a win over TCU with a loss to Kansas State on Saturday.
CONFERENCE WATCH
The Big 12 continues to lead the way with six teams in the AP Top 25 and Oklahoma State receiving a vote. The Big East has five teams in the poll — and all in the top 20 — while the SEC and Big Ten have three teams apiece.
THE AP TOP 25
First-place votes in parentheses.
- Houston (48) 25-2
- Alabama (7) 23-4
- Kansas (7) 22-5
- UCLA 23-4
- Purdue 24-4
- Virginia 21-4
- Arizona 24-4
- Texas 21-6
- Baylor 20-7
- Marquette 21-6
- Tennessee 20-7
- Gonzaga 23-5
- Miami 22-5
- Kansas State 20-7
- St. Mary’s 24-5
- Xavier 20-7
- Indiana 19-8
- UConn 20-7
- Creighton 18-9
- Providence 20-7
- Northwestern 20-7
- San Diego State 21-5
- Iowa State 17-9
- TCU 18-9
- Texas A&M 20-7
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