AP Men’s College Basketball Poll: Tennessee Holds Strong at No. 1, Gonzaga Stumbles, and Oregon Surges
The latest AP men’s college basketball poll is here, and it’s packed with drama, surprises, and some serious flexing from the nation’s top programs. Let’s dive into the highlights, shake-ups, and standout performances from Week 6 of the 2024-25 season.
First up, the Tennessee Volunteers are proving why they’re the top dogs. After claiming the No. 1 spot last week for the first time since February 2019, they’ve held their ground with back-to-back wins. The Volunteers are now 10-0 to start the season, marking just the fifth time in program history they’ve achieved such a feat. Meanwhile, Auburn, Iowa State, Duke, and Kentucky also secured victories to maintain their top-10 status. But not everyone had a smooth ride—Marquette and Gonzaga both stumbled, with the latter enduring a rare losing streak.
As a result, the top-10 saw some reshuffling. Kansas, after dropping two straight games, managed to bounce back with a win. And how about Oregon? Just two weeks ago, the Ducks were unranked, but now they’re knocking on the door of the top five. Let’s break down the Week 6 rankings and what’s next for each team.
1. Tennessee Volunteers
Previous ranking: 1
2024-25 record: 10-0
Stat to know: Tennessee needed a Jordan Gainey layup at the buzzer to edge Illinois on Saturday. Gainey, who dropped a game-high 23 points, became the first Tennessee player to hit a game-winning buzzer-beater since Lamonté Turner in 2019.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Western Carolina, 7 p.m., SEC Network
2. Auburn Tigers
Previous ranking: 2
2024-25 record: 9-1
Stat to know: Auburn crushed Richmond and Ohio State last week, winning both games by at least 35 points. It’s the first time the Tigers have pulled off consecutive 35-plus-point wins since November 2000.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Georgia State, 8 p.m., ESPN+
3. Iowa State Cyclones
Previous ranking: 3
2024-25 record: 9-1
Stat to know: The Cyclones have scored 80 points in 10 straight games to start the season, matching their longest streak since 1987-88.
What’s next: Sunday vs. Morgan State, 1 p.m., ESPN+
4. Kentucky Wildcats
Previous ranking: 5
2024-25 record: 10-1
Stat to know: Lamont Butler was unstoppable, scoring 33 points on 100% shooting in Kentucky’s win over Louisville. His performance ranks as the second-most points by a DI player on perfect shooting in the past 25 seasons.
What’s next: Saturday vs. Ohio State (CBS Sports Classic), 5:30 p.m., CBS
5. Duke Blue Devils
Previous ranking: 4
2024-25 record: 8-2
Stat to know: Duke’s win over Incarnate Word last Tuesday marked its 30th straight home victory against unranked non-conference opponents. Since 2000, the Blue Devils are an astonishing 172-2 in such games.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. George Mason, 7 p.m., ACC Network
6. Alabama Crimson Tide
Previous ranking: 7
2024-25 record: 8-2
Stat to know: Alabama’s first-ever win against Creighton was powered by Mark Sears, who scored a season-high 27 points. It was his fourth 20-point game in five outings.
What’s next: Wednesday at North Dakota, 9 p.m., CBSSN
7. Florida Gators
Previous ranking: 9
2024-25 record: 10-0
Stat to know: Walter Clayton Jr. drained five three-pointers in Florida’s win over Arizona State, becoming just the second Gator to hit five triples in three consecutive games.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. North Carolina (Jumpman Invitational), 7 p.m., ESPN
And that’s just the top seven! The rest of the rankings feature plenty of intrigue, from Kansas rebounding at No. 8 to Oregon’s meteoric rise to No. 10. Meanwhile, Gonzaga’s rare back-to-back losses have them sliding to No. 13, and Dayton’s upset of Marquette has them debuting at No. 22. With so much action, the 2024-25 season is shaping up to be one for the books.
Here’s a quick recap of some key storylines:
- Biggest Movers: Oregon (up from No. 12 to No. 10) and UConn (up from No. 18 to No. 11).
- Biggest Drop: Gonzaga (down from No. 8 to No. 13).
- New Faces: Memphis (No. 21) and Dayton (No. 22).
With conference play looming, expect even more shake-ups in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned as the nation’s top teams battle for supremacy!
Originally Written by: Jeff Borzello
