Houston replaces UConn at No. 1, Kentucky surges in updated AP Top 25

The updated AP Top 25 featured significant movement for several of the nation’s top college basketball teams after a jam-packed week of upsets. UConn held the top spot for multiple weeks and received all 62 first-place votes in last week’s rankings but has fallen off its perch after a 19-point loss at Creighton on Tuesday. The Huskies bounced back with a 24-point win over Villanova on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to fend off a surging Houston team and Purdue to retain the No. 1 ranking.

Arizona climbed to No. 4 in last week’s rankings but suffered its first home loss of the season to Washington State on Thursday. Tennessee has won four straight since its loss at Texas A&M on Feb. 10 and took the Wildcats’ place at No. 4 spot in this week’s poll. The Volunteers are coming off an 86-51 revenge win over the Aggies at home and close the season with four ranked matchups.

Wake Forest’s home win over Duke on Saturday initiated movement in the ACC. The Demon Deacons are still unranked but look to continue to build a resume for their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2016-17. The Blue Devils dropped two spots to No. 10 and await an update on the knee injury star big man Kyle Filipowski suffered in the court-storming incident in Winston-Salem. North Carolina jumped its rival and sits No. 9 in this week’s update after winning at Virginia for the first time in 12 years.

Kentucky dropped four of six games as January bled into February but has rattled off four straight wins to put itself back in contention in the SEC standings. The Wildcats looked dominant in their 117-95 win over Alabama on Saturday and jumped one spot to No. 16. The Crimson Tide fell one spot to No. 14.

Here is a look at this week’s AP Top 25 basketball poll:

1. Houston Cougars

Last week’s ranking: No. 2

2. Purdue Boilermakers 

Last week’s ranking: No. 3

3. UConn Huskies 

Last week’s ranking: No. 1

4. Tennessee Volunteers

Last week’s ranking: No. 5

5. Marquette Golden Eagles 

Last week’s ranking: No. 7

6. Arizona Wildcats

Last week’s ranking: No. 4

7. Kansas Jayhawks

Last week’s ranking: No. 9

8. Iowa State Cyclones

Last week’s ranking: No. 6

9. North Carolina Tar Heels 

Last week’s ranking: No. 10

10. Duke Blue Devils

Last week’s ranking: No. 8

11. Auburn Tigers

Last week’s ranking: No. 14

12. Creighton Blue Jays

Last week’s ranking: No. 15

13. Illinois Fighting Illini 

Last week’s ranking: No. 12

14. Alabama Crimson Tide

Last week’s ranking: No. 13

15. Baylor Bears

Last week’s ranking: No. 11

16. Kentucky Wildcats

Last week’s ranking: No. 17

17. Saint Mary’s Gaels 

Last week’s ranking: No. 18

18. South Carolina Gamecocks

Last week’s ranking: No. 20

19. Washington State Cougars

Last week’s ranking: No. 21

20. San Diego State Aztecs

Last week’s ranking: No. 19

21. Dayton Flyers

Last week’s ranking: No. 16

22. Utah State

Last week’s ranking: N/A

23. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Last week’s ranking: N/A

24. Florida Gators

Last week’s ranking: No. 24

25. South Florida

Last week’s ranking: N/A