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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.