Tennessee Volunteers Soar to No. 1 in AP Poll Amid Wild Week of Upsets
It’s official, folks! The Tennessee Volunteers are sitting pretty at the top of the men’s college basketball world. After a chaotic week that saw 14 ranked teams stumble, including six from the top 10, the Vols have claimed the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 for the first time since the 2018-19 season. And let’s be real—this shakeup has everyone talking.
On Monday, Tennessee received 58 first-place votes from a 62-person media panel, catapulting them two spots up from last week. Their rise to the top was aided by losses from former No. 1 Kansas and No. 2 Auburn. Kansas dropped two games, while Auburn fell to No. 4 Duke. Auburn still managed to hold onto the No. 2 spot with three first-place votes, but the Vols are now the team to beat.
Top 5 Rundown
Here’s how the top five shook out this week:
- No. 1 Tennessee (58 first-place votes): 8-0 record
- No. 2 Auburn (3 first-place votes): 8-1 record
- No. 3 Iowa State (1 first-place vote): 7-1 record
- No. 4 Duke: 7-2 record
- No. 5 Kentucky: 8-1 record
Notably, Iowa State climbed three spots to No. 3, marking their highest ranking since the 1956-57 season. Meanwhile, Kentucky rounded out the top five, keeping the SEC well-represented at the top.
Vols’ Dominance
Tennessee’s 8-0 start is their best since the 2000-01 season when they opened 9-0. They’re also sitting at No. 1 in the NET rankings and are second in the KenPom ratings, where they rank second in defensive efficiency and ninth in offensive efficiency. This is all the more impressive considering they lost four starters from last year’s SEC championship team. Last week, the Vols made a statement with a commanding 96-70 win over Syracuse.
It’s not just their record that’s turning heads—it’s how they’re doing it. Tennessee is playing with grit, precision, and a whole lot of swagger. And let’s not forget that jaw-dropping alley-oop from Zakai Zeigler to Chaz Lanier that had fans buzzing. If you haven’t seen it yet, do yourself a favor and check it out.
Chaos at the Top
While Tennessee was climbing, Kansas was tumbling. The Jayhawks, who had held the No. 1 spot since the preseason poll, suffered back-to-back losses to Creighton (76-63) and rival Missouri (76-67). Those stumbles sent Kansas plummeting to No. 10.
Auburn, meanwhile, had a golden opportunity to reclaim the No. 1 spot for the first time since the 2021-22 season. But their hopes were dashed after an 84-78 loss to Duke, though they did bounce back with a win over Richmond.
Big Movers and Shakers
It wasn’t just the top teams making headlines. Here are some of the week’s biggest risers and fallers:
- Biggest Jump: Oklahoma soared eight spots to No. 13 after wins over Georgia Tech and Alcorn State.
- Biggest Drop: Kansas fell nine spots to No. 10, while No. 20 Wisconsin dropped nine spots as well.
- New Faces: No. 14 Michigan, No. 16 Clemson, No. 21 Michigan State, No. 24 UCLA, and No. 25 Mississippi State all entered the rankings this week.
On the flip side, Baylor, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Illinois, and North Carolina all dropped out of the poll.
UConn’s Redemption Arc
Let’s talk about UConn. The two-time reigning national champions were on the verge of falling out of the rankings after an 0-3 showing in Maui. But the Huskies bounced back in a big way, picking up impressive wins over Baylor and Texas. They climbed seven spots to No. 18, and head coach Dan Hurley had a message for the doubters: “Maybe the people with the shovels and the dirt, maybe they were too quick to grab the shovel and throw the dirt on us.”
Conference Power Rankings
The SEC is flexing its muscles this season, leading all conferences with nine ranked teams. The Big Ten isn’t far behind with six, followed by the Big 12 with four. The ACC and Big East each have two ranked teams, while the West Coast and Mountain West conferences have one apiece.
As the season heats up, one thing is clear: no one is safe. With so much volatility in the rankings, every game feels like a must-watch. So buckle up, basketball fans—this season is just getting started.
Originally Written by: Associated Press
