AP Top 25 rankings show Kansas holding steady at No. 1, having garnered 44 of 62 first-place votes following a thrilling home victory against North Carolina. In a nail-biting finish, Kansas managed to maintain its lead, overcoming a 20-point deficit to secure a 92-89 triumph. This win solidifies their position above Alabama, which received six first-place votes, and UConn, the two-time reigning national champion, which tallied seven votes.
Gonzaga, led by coach Mark Few, climbed two spots to No. 4 after decisively defeating then-No. 8 Baylor in their season opener and subsequently overcoming Arizona State. Meanwhile, Bruce Pearl’s Auburn Tigers made headlines by jumping six spots to No. 5, marking the most significant rise of the week after a win against then-No. 4 Houston. Both Gonzaga and Auburn secured the remaining five first-place votes, showcasing their strong performances.
Auburn’s entry into the top 10 was the only fresh addition in a reshuffled lineup, with Duke rising to No. 6. Iowa State claimed the seventh spot, followed by Houston, Arizona, and UNC, which slipped one position following their defeat at Kansas’s Allen Fieldhouse.
St. John’s re-entering the rankings at No. 22 was particularly significant. This marks the Red Storm’s first appearance in the Top 25 since January 2019 and coincides with the return of Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, who has a storied history in college basketball.
This is the first time a team coached by Pitino has made it into the Top 25 since he was at Louisville during the 2016-17 season. His career faced turbulence when he was dismissed amid a federal investigation into corruption in college basketball. After three seasons at Iona, Pitino took the helm at St. John’s, aiming to revitalize the program.
Joining St. John’s in the rankings is Ohio State at No. 21, marking their first appearance since January 2023.
Texas (No. 19) and UCLA (No. 22) fell out of the preseason poll, reflecting the competitive nature of this season.
After Auburn, Kentucky made the second-largest leap, rising four spots to No. 19 as Mark Pope begins his tenure. Marquette and Cincinnati also saw progress, climbing three spots each to No. 15 and No. 17, respectively.
In total, 13 teams improved their standings compared to the preseason poll, showcasing a dynamic early season.
Texas A&M experienced the most significant drop, falling 10 spots to No. 23 after a loss to UCF. Houston, along with Baylor, also slipped four spots due to defeats against ranked teams.
Seven teams dropped in the rankings, reflecting the intense competition in college basketball.
The Southeastern Conference leads with eight ranked teams, including Tennessee at No. 11, Arkansas at No. 18 under new coach John Calipari, Florida at No. 20, and Ole Miss at No. 25.
Following closely is the Big 12 with six ranked teams, while the Big East and Big Ten each have four. The ACC has two representatives, and the West Coast Conference has one.
Here’s the complete AP Top 25:
1. Kansas
2. Alabama
3. UConn
4. Gonzaga
5. Auburn
6. Duke
7. Iowa St
8. Houston
9. Arizona
10. UNC
11. Tennessee
12. Baylor
13. Purdue
14. Creighton
15. Marquette
16. Indiana
17. Cincinnati
18. Arkansas
19. Kentucky
20. Florida
21. Ohio State
22. St. John’s
23. Texas A&M
24. Rutgers
25. Ole Miss
