Sports
Kansas Remains No. 1 in AP Top 25 Basketball Poll; Auburn and Gonzaga Crack Top 5
The first regular season AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for the 2024-25 season has been released, and Kansas retains its top spot after an impressive start to the season. The Jayhawks secured a significant win against North Carolina, solidifying their position at the top of the rankings[2][4].
Alabama holds firm at No. 2, following dominant wins over UNC Asheville and a closer victory against Arkansas State. The Crimson Tide’s performance has kept them in the second spot, reflecting their strong start to the season[2].
UConn, the reigning champions, remain at No. 3 after convincing wins over Sacred Heart and New Hampshire. The Huskies are set to face their first major test during the Maui Invitational later this month[2].
Auburn has made a significant jump to No. 4, thanks to a notable win over Houston. The Tigers’ 74-69 victory, marked by a strong performance from freshman Tahaad Pettiford, is considered one of the best wins of the season so far[2].
Gonzaga rounds out the top 5, moving up from their preseason ranking of 6. The Bulldogs started the season with a convincing win over Baylor and managed to hold off Arizona State in a closer game[2][4].
Other notable movements include Houston dropping to No. 8 after their loss to Auburn, and Iowa State maintaining a top 10 position at No. 6. Duke, with its highly anticipated freshman class and veteran transfers, stays at No. 7[2].
Baylor, despite a significant loss to Gonzaga, rebounded with a win over Arkansas and is ranked No. 12. Purdue, Creighton, and Indiana also saw positive movements in the rankings following their early-season performances[2].
Teams like Texas A&M and UCLA experienced setbacks, with Texas A&M dropping to No. 22 after a loss to UCF, and UCLA projected to drop out of the rankings entirely[2].