Auburn Tops AP Poll Again After Nail-Biting Win Over Tennessee

AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn men’s basketball team remains the unanimous No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the second consecutive week after a thrilling 53-51 victory over then-No. 6 Tennessee on Saturday. The Tigers secured their top spot with a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final 30 seconds, capping off a week of dramatic finishes.

“We can play better, and we still were able to beat a great team,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “We’ve won four of the last six games in the last possession. It’s going to be a battle every night, but we’re happy with this one because that’s a great team.”

The Tigers were bolstered by the return of All-American forward Johnni Broome, who had missed two games due to an ankle injury. Broome led the team with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocked shots against Tennessee.

Auburn’s victory solidified its position atop a top-five that remained unchanged from the previous week. Houston held steady at No. 2, followed by Duke, Iowa State, and Alabama. The biggest shifts occurred further down the rankings, with St. John's and Memphis each climbing five spots. St. John’s moved to No. 15 after an overtime win against Xavier, while Memphis rose to No. 16 after winning seven of its last eight games.

Texas Tech made its season debut in the Top 25 at No. 22, while Vanderbilt entered the poll at No. 24 for the first time since December 2015. Michigan and West Virginia dropped out of the rankings after losing both of their games to unranked opponents.

The SEC continued to dominate the rankings, with three teams in the top five, four in the top 10, and 10 overall. The Big Ten followed with five ranked teams, while the Big 12 had four, the Big East three, the ACC two, and the American Athletic Conference one.

Houston coach Kelvin Sampson praised his team’s resilience after a double-overtime win at Kansas. “Our kids have a clear understanding of how it is we win,” Sampson said. “The way we won in double-overtime, I think it speaks to this program’s culture, how tough our kids are, and our ability to hang in there.”

As the season progresses, Auburn’s ability to win close games has become a defining trait. With Broome back in the lineup and the team’s confidence soaring, the Tigers are poised to remain a formidable force in college basketball.