Tennessee has solidified its position at No. 1 in the AP Top 25 rankings on Monday after dominating victories, including a significant win against SEC foe Arkansas, making the Volunteers the sole undefeated team in men’s Division I college basketball.
With a perfect record of 14-0, Tennessee secured their latest triumphs against Norfolk State and achieved a commanding 76-52 victory over the then-No. 23 Arkansas. This impressive performance ties the Volunteers for the third-longest winning streak in the program’s history. As Florida succumbed to Kentucky in a high-scoring battle and Oklahoma faced a heavy loss to Alabama, Tennessee emerged as the only team in major college basketball without a loss.
“They’re the No. 1 team in the country for a reason,” remarked Arkansas coach John Calipari. “My disappointment wasn’t just in losing to Tennessee; it was the way they physically dominated us.”
This season, the Volunteers have consistently showcased their strength, managing to win by double digits in nearly every game, with just one exception.
“The credit goes to the players,” stated Tennessee coach Rick Barnes. “They come from supportive families and understand our expectations. They hold themselves accountable, and we make sure to reinforce that every day.”
Kentucky climbed four spots to No. 6 after their victory over Florida. They were closely followed by Marquette, Florida, UConn, and Texas A&M, which secured their eighth consecutive win by defeating Texas.
Kansas slipped to No. 11 after a close loss to West Virginia, despite a convincing win against UCF. The Jayhawks were followed by Houston and Illinois, the latter making a notable jump of nine spots this week, alongside Mississippi State and Oregon.
Michigan State held the No. 16 position, while Oklahoma dropped five spots following a 107-79 defeat against Alabama. Gonzaga, Memphis, and Purdue completed the top 20 after the Boilermakers achieved victories over Minnesota and Northwestern last week.
West Virginia, after defeating Kansas and Oklahoma State, earned a No. 21 ranking, marking their first appearance since December 2022. They were followed by UCLA, Ole Miss, Michigan, and Utah State, with the Wolverines returning after a two-week hiatus and the Aggies making their season debut at No. 25.
“You’re 14-1, and you’re upset?” questioned Utah State coach Jarrod Calhoun after his team fought for an 89-83 win against Fresno State. “That seems immature, but there’s always room for improvement. That’s how I approach life—always in survival mode.”
Illinois climbed nine spots to No. 13 after a dominant 109-77 victory over then-No. 9 Oregon and a win against Washington on Sunday.
Cincinnati fell out of the rankings from No. 16 after losses to Kansas and Arizona. Oregon dropped six spots, while UCLA fell seven to No. 22 after losing to Nebraska in their only game of the week.
West Virginia’s ranking at No. 21 is only their second appearance in the AP Top 25 since the end of the 2020-21 season. Michigan is ranked for the third time this season, while Utah State is making its first appearance under coach Calhoun. These teams replaced Cincinnati, Arkansas, and Baylor in the rankings.
Pittsburgh is positioned just outside the Top 25 after starting ACC play with wins against Cal and Stanford. Nebraska received votes on 21 ballots during their six-game winning streak. St. Bonaventure was noted on five ballots after defeating Fordham for their eighth consecutive victory; the Bonnies, with only one loss to Utah State, have spent just three weeks in the poll since the 1970-71 season.
The SEC continues to dominate, leading all conferences with nine ranked teams, including three in the top five and six in the top ten. The Big Ten follows with six teams in the poll, while the Big 12 has four and the Big East has two, both within the top ten. The ACC, West Coast, American Athletic, and Mountain West each have one representative in the rankings.
Here’s the full AP Top 25:
1. Tennessee
2. Auburn
3. Iowa State
4. Duke
5. Alabama
6. Kentucky
7. Marquette
8. Florida
9. UConn
10. Texas A&M
11. Kansas
12. Houston
13. Illinois
14. Mississippi State
15. Oregon
16. Michigan State
17. Oklahoma
18. Gonzaga
19. Memphis
20. Purdue
21. West Virginia
22. UCLA
23. Ole Miss
24. Michigan
25. Utah State
