Vols and Tigers Lead SEC’s Dominance in AP Top 25

Vols and Tigers Lead the Charge in SEC-Dominated AP Top 25

It’s that time of the year again when college basketball fans eagerly await the latest rankings, and this week, the Tennessee Volunteers and Auburn Tigers have once again proven their dominance. Holding steady at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, these two Southeastern Conference (SEC) powerhouses are making waves in the Associated Press men’s college basketball poll. It’s a testament to the strength of the SEC, which impressively placed 10 teams in Monday’s AP Top 25.

The Volunteers, boasting an impeccable 11-0 record, and the Tigers, with an 11-1 record, have maintained their positions for the third consecutive week. Auburn, in particular, has been a fixture at No. 2 for four weeks running. The top 10 saw some reshuffling, with Kentucky dropping six spots to No. 10 after a tough loss to Ohio State.

Adding to the SEC’s impressive haul, the poll welcomed back four teams that had previously been ranked this season. Notably, No. 19 Mississippi State and No. 23 Arkansas made their return, further solidifying the SEC’s presence.

This marks the first time since the 2012-13 season that a single league has managed to secure 10 ranked teams, a feat the SEC has achieved three times this season, including in the preseason poll.

Following Tennessee and Auburn, Iowa State holds the third spot, with Duke and Alabama rounding out the top five. The rest of the top 10 includes Florida, Kansas, Marquette, and Oregon, each moving up a spot due to Kentucky’s fall.

Rising Stars

Among the teams making significant upward moves, San Diego State had the most notable jump, climbing three spots to No. 20. Meanwhile, No. 12 Oklahoma, No. 17 Cincinnati, and No. 18 Michigan State each rose by two spots. In total, 11 teams saw an increase in their rankings this week.

Teams on the Decline

On the flip side, Kentucky experienced the week’s most significant drop. No. 21 Purdue and No. 22 UCLA also faced setbacks, with the Boilermakers falling five places after a heavy loss to Auburn, and the Bruins dropping four spots after squandering a 16-point lead against an unranked North Carolina team. No. 13 Texas A&M and No. 14 Gonzaga each slipped one spot, rounding out the list of teams on the decline.

Holding Steady

Five teams managed to hold their ground from last week, including the top three: the Volunteers, Tigers, and Cyclones. Two-time reigning national champion UConn (No. 11) and Houston (No. 15) also maintained their positions.

New Arrivals

Joining the ranks this week are No. 24 Illinois and No. 25 Baylor, alongside Mississippi State and Arkansas. Baylor, the highest-ranked of this group earlier in the year, opened at No. 8 and spent five weeks in the poll. Arkansas started at No. 16, while the Bulldogs and Illini each had brief appearances in November and December.

Farewell (for Now)

To make room for the newcomers, Memphis (No. 21), Dayton (No. 22), Michigan (No. 24), and Clemson (No. 25) have exited the poll, at least for the time being.

Conference Breakdown

While the SEC dominated the rankings, the AP Top 25 featured teams from seven different leagues. The Big Ten, led by ninth-ranked new league member Oregon, and the Big 12 each had five teams, placing them second behind the SEC. The Big East was the only other conference with at least two ranked teams. Meanwhile, the Atlantic Coast, West Coast, and Mountain West conferences each had one team represented.