Auburn has closed the gap on top-ranked Tennessee as both teams continue to dominate the AP Top 25 rankings for men’s college basketball. While Tennessee maintains its No. 1 position for the second consecutive week, the competition remains fierce, with Auburn sitting closely behind at No. 2.
The Volunteers, led by Coach Rick Barnes, secured 50 first-place votes after impressive victories against Miami and Illinois, marking a perfect 10-0 record for only the fifth time in the program’s history. Auburn, with its recent performance, garnered nine first-place votes, totaling 12, as the top five teams—comprising Iowa State, Duke, and Kentucky—remained unchanged.
Among the remaining unbeatens in men’s Division I basketball, Tennessee stands out as one of three teams from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) with a flawless record, alongside No. 7 Florida and No. 14 Oklahoma. Other notable undefeated teams include Drake and Utah State.
Auburn improved to a strong 9-1 after a commanding 91-53 victory over Ohio State in Atlanta. Johni Broome’s standout performance included 21 points and 20 rebounds, marking the Tigers’ first 20-20 game in 35 years. Following the game, he quickly returned to Auburn to celebrate his graduation.
Ohio State coach Jake Diebler remarked, “They may be the best team in the country right now. They have a lot of experience, and they made us pay when we made a mistake,” highlighting the strength and skill of the Tigers.
The SEC’s dominance in the rankings is evident, with five of the top seven teams hailing from the conference, including Kentucky, No. 6 Alabama, and No. 7 Florida. Kansas has moved up two spots to No. 8, while Marquette and Oregon complete the top ten.
UConn, the two-time defending national champion, climbed seven spots to No. 11 after defeating then-No. 8 Gonzaga. Following them are Texas A&M, Gonzaga, Oklahoma, and Houston, which held steady at No. 15.
Purdue faced a setback, dropping five spots to No. 16 after a loss to Texas A&M. The rankings also include Ole Miss, UCLA, Cincinnati, and Michigan State. Dayton made its debut in the poll at No. 22, just behind Memphis, which returned after a victory over Clemson. Wisconsin and Mississippi State fell out of the rankings following their respective losses.
San Diego State, Michigan, and Clemson round out the Top 25.
Here’s the full AP Top 25:
1. Tennessee
2. Auburn
3. Iowa State
4. Kentucky
5. Duke
6. Alabama
7. Florida
8. Kansas
9. Marquette
10. Oregon
11. UConn
12. Texas A&M
13. Gonzaga
14. Oklahoma
15. Houston
16. Purdue
17. Ole Miss
18. UCLA
19. Cincinnati
20. Michigan State
21. Memphis
22. Dayton
23. San Diego State
24. Michigan
25. Clemson
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