Duke Holds Firm at No. 1 in AP Top 25 as NCAA Tournament Approaches
March Madness is upon us, and the excitement is palpable as the latest Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll was released on Monday. The Duke Blue Devils have managed to hold onto their top spot, a position they have now occupied for two consecutive weeks. This comes just a day after the NCAA tournament selection committee announced Auburn as the No. 1 overall seed for the tournament.
The Blue Devils, boasting an impressive 31-3 record, secured 49 of the 59 first-place votes. Their dominance in the Atlantic Coast Conference, where they swept both the regular-season and tournament titles, has been a testament to the leadership of Jon Scheyer. Scheyer, in his third year as head coach, has successfully stepped into the shoes of the legendary Mike Krzyzewski, guiding Duke to this remarkable achievement.
Meanwhile, Houston remains steady at No. 2, having garnered six first-place votes. The Cougars are followed by the Southeastern Conference tournament champions, the Florida Gators, and then Auburn, which had previously enjoyed an eight-week stint at No. 1, the longest in the nation this season.
Both the Gators and Tigers received two first-place votes each. Notably, all four of these top-ranked teams have earned 1-seeds for the upcoming NCAA tournament, as revealed in Sunday night’s bracket announcement.
In a significant move, St. John’s has climbed to No. 5 after clinching the Big East title. Under the guidance of Rick Pitino, the Red Storm have reached their highest ranking since January 1991, when they also held the No. 5 spot for a week.
The rest of the top 10 is rounded out by Tennessee, Alabama, Michigan State, Texas Tech, and Louisville.
- No. 21 Arizona and No. 24 Gonzaga are the new additions to this week’s poll. Both teams have been in and out of the rankings throughout the season.
- They replaced Marquette and Illinois, who have dropped out of the top 25.
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has made history with a record 14 teams earning NCAA tournament bids. This impressive feat is reflected in the rankings, with seven SEC teams making the top 25. The Big Ten follows with six teams, the Big 12 with five, and the Atlantic Coast Conference with three.
As the tournament looms, fans and analysts alike are eagerly anticipating the matchups and potential upsets that make March Madness one of the most thrilling times in sports. With Duke leading the charge, the stage is set for an unforgettable tournament.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
