After a vacation week filled with upsets, this week’s Associated Press Top 25 seems fully completely different.
Listed below are 5 takeaways from the ballot, which was launched Monday:
Kansas nonetheless No. 1; Auburn inching nearer
Though the No. 1 Jayhawks took down No. 11 Duke, 75-72, in Las Vegas in the course of the vacation week, the remainder of the highest 5 noticed huge modifications, highlighted by a climb to No. 2 for Auburn.
With wins over No. 5 Iowa State, 83-81, No. 12 North Carolina, 85-72, and Memphis, 90-76, the Auburn Tigers gained the Maui Invitational and moved up two spots to the No. 2 rating.
Ahead Johni Broome was sensational, with a 20-point double-double in every recreation of the event. Broome is averaging 20.7 factors and 12.9 rebounds per recreation, whereas the staff is taking pictures a formidable 52.5 p.c from the ground.
Auburn additionally took down then-No. 4 Houston, 74-69, on Nov. 9. Whereas Kansas owns wins over a pair of blue bloods in North Carolina, 92-89, and Duke, Auburn could also be one of the best staff in faculty basketball proper now.
In the event that they take down Duke within the ACC/SEC Problem on Wednesday evening, there shall be no debate.
UConn drops three in a row, plummets down rankings
Pretty much as good as Auburn’s efficiency in Maui was, another performances garnered a whole lot of consideration as effectively.
Two-time defending nationwide champion UConn entered the event with the No. 2 rating. After three consecutive losses in Maui, the Huskies (5-3) are lucky to even be within the ballot at No. 25.
With losses to Memphis, 99-97 in additional time, Colorado, 73-72, and Dayton, 85-67, UConn grew to become simply the fourth AP high two staff to lose three straight video games within the AP Ballot period (since 1948-49).
UConn has to get higher on protection after permitting a minimum of 50 p.c taking pictures in all three of its losses. If the protection doesn’t enhance, the struggles could solely be getting began for the Huskies.
Gonzaga, Houston slide down rankings
Whereas the Gonzaga Bulldogs (7-1) bounced again from an opening-round loss to West Virginia, 86-78 in additional time, to win third place within the Battle 4 Atlantis, it was not simple for the Bulldogs.
A serious a part of Gonzaga’s success has been Ryan Nembhard. Nembhard is the primary Gonzaga participant below head coach Mark Few with 10 factors, 10 assists and 5 steals in a recreation. He’s additionally the third participant this century with 10 factors, 12 assists and 5 steals in opposition to a ranked staff.
Within the loss to the Mountaineers, Gonzaga was simply 7-for-21 (33.3 p.c) from three-point vary and acquired outrebounded 42-36. The Bulldogs might want to clear these areas up going ahead.
No staff skilled a much bigger fall within the rankings, except for UConn, than the Houston Cougars (4-3). Houston dropped two of its three video games within the Gamers Period Pageant event, shedding 85-80 in additional time to No. 9 Alabama and falling to San Diego State, 73-70, within the third-place recreation.
A giant concern for Houston in opposition to the Aztecs was its seven bench factors and lack of manufacturing, given solely two gamers scored in double figures. Houston should discover some extra balanced manufacturing on offense and get some further assist from the bench.
Wisconsin, Florida proceed to shock
The Wisconsin Badgers (8-0) acquire 4 spots to No. 11 within the ballot. The Badgers are one of the best free-throw taking pictures staff within the nation. They entered Saturday’s recreation in opposition to Chicago State taking pictures 86.5 p.c. The Badgers made 18 of their 21 free-throw makes an attempt within the 74-53 win.
John Tonje has been an absolute pressure with a number of 30-point video games this season, together with a 41-point outing in opposition to then-No. 9 Arizona.
The Badgers have some difficult video games developing in opposition to No. 5 Marquette (8-0) and No. 19 Illinois (6-1). If Tonje retains placing this staff on his again, it may very well be tough for groups to sluggish Wisconsin down.
A staff that has not been talked about typically is the Florida Gators (8-0). Florida strikes up 5 spots to No. 13. Whereas the Gators have been spectacular, they haven’t confronted a ranked opponent this season.
With intriguing video games developing in opposition to Virginia (5-2) on Wednesday, Arizona State (7-1) and No. 20 North Carolina (4-3), the Gators may have a possibility to earn their maintain towards the highest of the ballot.
Oregon, Memphis enter the ballot after impressing in vacation tournaments
The Oregon Geese (8-0) go from unranked to No. 12 within the ballot after a dominant displaying within the Gamers Period Pageant event. The Geese defeated No. 9 Alabama, 83-81, to win the event title. With a game-high 22 factors off the bench, Keeshawn Barthelemy had the highest-scoring recreation by an Oregon reserve in opposition to an AP-ranked opponent since A.D. Smith put up 23 factors in opposition to No. 10 UCLA in 1998.
Aside from enhancing its 32.8 p.c charge from three, there may be not a lot slowing down the Geese in the meanwhile.
Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers (6-1) additionally go from unranked to the ballot. The Sixteenth-ranked Tigers took down UConn earlier than finally falling to Auburn within the Maui Invitational championship recreation.
Memphis shot 50 p.c from the ground and an unimaginable 66.7 p.c from three within the loss to Auburn. Defensively, they might not get sufficient stops. If the Tigers wish to make some extra noise, their protection has to enhance.
