Undefeated Vols tighten grip on No. 1 spot in Top 25

Tennessee Monday solidified its hold on No. 1 in the AP Top 25 after lopsided wins, including a pair over SEC rivals. Arkansaswhich left the Volunteers as the only undefeated team in men’s Division I college basketball.

The Vols received four more first-place votes and 45 of 60 votes from the national panel to lead the poll for the fifth straight week. Auburn The other 15 won first place and finished at No. 2. Iowa State, Duke And Alabama A top five was unchanged after the first week of conference play for several leagues across the country.

Tennessee improved to 14-0 after defeating Norfolk State and then-No. 76-52. 23 Razorbacks, tying the third-longest winning streak in school history. And when Florida A shootout loss to Kentucky and Oklahoma being blown out by the Crimson Tide left the Volunteers as the only team without a blemish in men’s major college hoops.

“They’re the No. 1 team in the country for a reason,” Arkansas coach John Calipari said, “and my disappointment wasn’t coming into Tennessee and losing a game.” It was that they misbehaved with us.

The Vols have done a lot this season. Only once have they failed to beat anyone by double digits.

“It all goes to the players, you know? Good family,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. “They know what we expect, but they also expect it of themselves. That needs to be re-emphasized every day.”

The Wildcats moved up four spots to sixth in their win over Florida. Marquettegators, UConn And Texas A&MThat beat Texas for the Aggies’ eighth straight win.

Kansas Dropped four spots to No. 11 after losing a nailbiter to West Virginia and blowing out UCF. The Jayhawks came next Houston And Illinois — the top climber this week, moves up nine spots — along with Mississippi State and Oregon.

Michigan State No. 16 was and Oklahoma It dropped five spots after its 107-79 loss to the Crimson Tide. Gonzaga, Memphis And Purdue The Boilermakers moved into the top 20 last week after defeating Minnesota and Northwestern.

gave MountaineerThey were ranked No. 21 for their first ranking since Dec. 26, 2022, after beating Oklahoma State in their win over Kansas. UCLA, Mississippi, Michigan And Utah StateWith the Wolverines back after a two-week absence and the Aggies open their season at No. 25.

“You’re 14-1 and you’re mad. It’s a childish attitude, but you can’t be complacent,” Utah State coach Jerod Calhoun said after his team’s 89-83 win over Fresno State on Saturday. said later. “This is how I live my life in survival mode.”

Rise and fall

Illinois moved up 9 spots to No. 13 after a 109-77 defeat of then-No. 9 in Oregon and its win in Washington on Sunday.

Cincinnati dropped to No. 16 after losses to Kansas and Arizona. The Ducks dropped six spots, and UCLA dropped seven to No. 22. The Bruins lost their only game of the week at Nebraska.

Inside and outside

West Virginia’s appearance at No. 21 is only its second in the AP Top 25 rankings since the last edition of the 2020-21 season. Michigan is ranked for the third time this season while Utah State has been sidelined for the first time with Calhoun. All three came in at the expense of the Bearcats, Razorbacks and Baylor.

On the radar

Pittsburgh was the first team outside the top 25 to open ACC play with wins over California and Stanford. Nebraska was on 21 ballots during its six-game winning streak. St. Bonaventure appeared on five ballots after defeating Fordham for its eighth straight win. The Bonnies, whose only loss came to Utah State, have spent just three weeks in the pool since the 1970-71 season.

Conference clock

The SEC again led all leagues with nine ranked teams, including three of the top five and six of the top 10. The Big Ten was next with six teams in the poll, while the Big 12 had four and the Big East had two — both in the top 10. The ACC, West Coast, American Athletic and Mountain West had one team each in the pool.