The latest AP Top 25 poll for men’s college basketball has seen significant shifts following a thrilling Feast Week. Notably, the **Michigan Wolverines** surged from seventh to third, while **Purdue** and **Arizona** maintained their positions at first and second, respectively. The poll reflects the dynamic nature of the season as teams position themselves ahead of key matchups.
In this week’s rankings, **Duke** holds steady at No. 4, and the **UConn Huskies** remain at No. 5. However, the **Houston Cougars** have fallen to eighth after previously sitting third, while **Michigan State** climbed four spots to seventh. The **Vanderbilt Commodores** experienced the most dramatic increase, ascending seven spots to No. 17.
The poll also indicates a return to form for the **Kansas Jayhawks**, who re-entered the rankings after dropping out last week. **USC** also joined the top 25 following their success in the **Maui Invitational**. In contrast, **UCLA** and **NC State** fell out of the rankings.
St. John’s suffered the biggest drop, falling nine spots to No. 23. The **Florida Gators** slid five spots to No. 15, while **Alabama** and **Arkansas** also experienced declines.
Highlights of the Top Teams
As the season progresses, each team’s performance becomes crucial. The **Purdue Boilermakers** remain undefeated, posting a record of 7-0. A standout player, **Braden Smith**, recently became second on the Big Ten all-time assists list, with 821 assists. He is now pursuing **Cassius Winston’s** record of 890 assists. Purdue’s next game is against **Rutgers** on Tuesday at 20:00 ET.
The **Arizona Wildcats**, also 7-0, are noted for their offensive prowess, achieving 18 games of 100 points in the last five seasons under head coach **Tommy Lloyd**. They will face **Auburn** on Saturday at 22:00 ET.
Michigan’s ascent to third place is bolstered by their impressive record and performance metrics. They currently rank first in the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) and have three Quad 1 wins, the most in the nation. Their next challenge comes against **Rutgers** on Saturday at 16:00 ET.
Duke’s standout, **Cameron Boozer**, is making history as the first Duke player in 45 years to have multiple 35-point games while shooting over 70%. The Blue Devils will host **Florida** on Tuesday at 19:30 ET.
UConn’s strong performance against ranked opponents keeps them in the fifth position, and they will meet **Kansas** on Tuesday at 21:00 ET.
Notable Performances and Upcoming Matches
The **Louisville Cardinals** have made headlines by achieving multiple wins by 50 points for the first time since the 2004-05 season. They are next scheduled to play against **Arkansas** on Wednesday at 19:15 ET.
**Michigan State Spartans** are tied with Arizona for the most wins against AP-ranked opponents this season, demonstrating their competitive edge with a 7-0 record. They are set to face **Iowa** on Tuesday at 19:00 ET.
The **BYU Cougars** have made a strong impression with a 6-1 record, thanks to **AJ Dybantsa**, who has scored at least 15 points in all seven games of his college career. They will play against **California Baptist** on Wednesday at 21:00 ET.
The **Iowa State Cyclones** achieved a significant victory over **Syracuse**, marking their best start to a season since 2021-22. They are poised to continue their momentum with a match against **Alcorn State** on Wednesday at 20:00 ET.
As the season unfolds, teams will continue to jostle for position in a highly competitive landscape, with critical matchups on the horizon that could reshape the rankings once more. The next week promises to deliver exciting basketball action as teams strive to solidify their standings in the AP Top 25.
