This week’s AP poll proves anything can happen at top

College basketball’s pecking order shifted again on Nov. 17 as the latest AP Top 25 poll revealed an incredibly tight race at the top. Purdue reclaimed the No. 1 ranking from Houston after just one week, but the real intrigue lies in how competitive the top spots have become, with five different teams receiving first-place votes from the 61-member media panel.

The Boilermakers earned 44 first-place votes after an impressive week that included a road victory over then-No. 8 Alabama and a win against Akron. Their brief stay at No. 2 lasted only seven days, but they wasted no time proving they belonged back on top.

Houston holds strong at No. 2

Houston, which spent a single week at No. 1 after leapfrogging Purdue in the previous poll, dropped to the second spot but still received 12 first-place votes. The Cougars posted wins over Oakland and edged No. 22 Auburn in a compelling matchup between two Final Four teams from last season, showing they remain a legitimate contender for the top ranking.

UConn and Arizona prepare for clash

The third and fourth spots set up what promises to be one of the week’s most anticipated matchups. UConn remained at No. 3 with three first-place votes after defeating then-No. 7 BYU 86-84 on Saturday. That victory marked the beginning of a challenging stretch for the Huskies that includes their Wednesday night game against Arizona, followed by future contests against Illinois and No. 24 Kansas.

Arizona swapped positions with Duke this week, climbing to No. 4 with two first-place votes. The Wildcats’ ascent came partly due to their victory over then-No. 15 UCLA, demonstrating their ability to handle ranked opponents. The Wednesday showdown between Arizona and UConn will likely have significant implications for next week’s poll.

Duke rounds out top 5

Duke slipped one spot to No. 5 but received the remaining first-place vote, keeping them firmly in the conversation for the nation’s best team. The Blue Devils face their own test against Kansas on Tuesday night, giving them an opportunity to make a statement before Arizona and UConn meet.

Louisville makes dramatic jump

Among the week’s biggest movers, Louisville tied for the largest climb in the Top 25, jumping six spots to No. 6. The Cardinals earned their rise with a convincing 96-88 victory over then-No. 9 Kentucky last week, announcing themselves as a serious threat in a crowded top 10.

Michigan fell one spot to seventh, while Big Ten rival Illinois also surged six positions to No. 8. BYU dropped two spots to ninth after losing to UConn, and defending national champion Florida rounded out the top 10.

Second 10 features shuffling

The losses by Alabama and Kentucky cost each team three spots in this week’s poll, pushing them into the second 10 at No. 11 and No. 12, respectively. Gonzaga landed at No. 13, followed by St. John’s at No. 14 and Texas Tech at No. 15. The Red Raiders dropped four spots following their loss to Illinois.

Illinois faces brutal schedule

The Fighting Illini have climbed nine spots from their No. 17 preseason ranking, reaching their highest position since they were No. 6 in the final poll two seasons ago. However, maintaining that status will prove challenging. Illinois plays Alabama on Wednesday night, faces UConn in a couple of weeks, meets No. 20 Tennessee in early December, and then takes on Ohio State, Nebraska and Missouri before the holiday break.

Coach Brad Underwood emphasized the importance of staying grounded despite early success. He stressed the need for mental focus and avoiding external distractions, referring to getting caught up in hype as drinking poison that teams must avoid.

Conference breakdown

The Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC each placed six teams in the Top 25, though the Big Ten and Big 12 both had three teams apiece in the top 10. The ACC followed with four ranked programs, the Big East contributed two and the West Coast Conference added one.

New faces and near misses

North Carolina State entered the poll at No. 25, replacing Creighton. San Diego State topped the list of teams receiving votes but falling short of the rankings, followed by Indiana, which appeared on 18 ballots. Georgetown received attention on six ballots after starting 4-0, marking their first consideration for rankings since the final poll of the 2014-15 season.

What’s ahead

With multiple top-10 matchups scheduled this week and the holiday tournament season approaching, the rankings figure to experience more volatility. The Arizona-UConn game on Wednesday could reshape the top four, while other ranked teams face significant tests that will determine whether the current order holds or undergoes another dramatic transformation.

Story credit: ARIZONA SPORTS