Auburn Tigers Roar to the Top of AP Poll
In a thrilling turn of events, the Auburn Tigers have ascended to the No. 1 spot in The Associated Press men’s basketball poll. This marks only the second time in the program’s history that Auburn has reached such heights. Meanwhile, the Georgia Bulldogs have made a triumphant return to the rankings after a 14-year absence.
Under the guidance of Bruce Pearl, the Tigers boast an impressive 15-1 record, securing 60 of the 62 first-place votes. This leap to the top comes after the previous No. 1, Tennessee Volunteers, suffered their first loss of the season against the Florida Gators, ending their five-week reign. Auburn’s previous stint at No. 1 was a three-week period in January and February of 2022, making them the third team to claim the top spot this season.
The Tigers’ only blemish this season was a loss to the Duke Blue Devils in early December. Since then, they’ve been on a tear, winning eight consecutive games. However, the team is currently without star forward Johni Broome, who is sidelined with an ankle injury sustained in their recent victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks.
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is well-represented in the latest poll, with nine teams making the cut. Notably, three of these teams are in the top five, and five are in the top ten, underscoring the strength of the conference this season.
Top Contenders
Following Auburn, Iowa State has climbed to No. 2, marking the highest ranking in the program’s history. The Cyclones are followed by Duke, Alabama, and Florida, with both the Blue Devils and Gators receiving a first-place vote.
The Volunteers, who were the last unbeaten team in Division I, have dropped to No. 6 after a significant 30-point loss to Florida. They managed to bounce back with a win over the Texas Longhorns, but the damage was done, resulting in a five-spot drop.
Rounding out the top ten are Marquette at No. 7, who held steady from last week, followed by the Kentucky Wildcats, preseason No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks, and the Houston Cougars.
Movers and Shakers
- Rising Stars: No. 12 Michigan State and No. 20 Michigan made significant strides, each climbing four spots. Florida and No. 17 Purdue also saw gains, moving up three positions.
- Falling Giants: Tennessee’s drop was notable, but it was No. 19 Illinois that experienced the biggest fall, sliding six spots after a home loss to the USC Trojans. The UConn Huskies, two-time reigning national champions, matched Tennessee’s five-spot decline, landing at No. 14 after a loss to the Villanova Wildcats.
New Faces
The Georgia Bulldogs have made a notable entry at No. 23, marking their first appearance in the AP Top 25 since January 2011. This comes after impressive wins against then-No. 6 Kentucky and then-No. 17 Oklahoma, marking their first back-to-back victories against ranked opponents since the 2006-07 season. Joining them are the No. 24 Wisconsin Badgers and No. 25 Baylor Bears, both of whom have been in the poll multiple times this season.
Goodbye, For Now
Unfortunately, the West Virginia Mountaineers (No. 21) and the UCLA Bruins (No. 22) have dropped out of this week’s poll, joining the Sooners in their departure.
Conference Breakdown
The SEC continues to dominate with nine ranked teams, including No. 11 Texas A&M, No. 15 Mississippi State, and No. 21 Mississippi. The Big Ten follows with six teams, while the Big 12 has four. The Big East has two, and the Atlantic Coast, West Coast, American Athletic, and Mountain West conferences each have one representative.
Originally Written by: Jeff BorzelloJeff BorzelloESPN staffJeff BorzelloAssociated PressESPN staff
