There was a massive reshuffle on the AP Top 25 college men’s basketball poll, with Michigan dropping from the top after a loss to Duke. The Blue Devils also rose up the rankings courtesy of an important victory over the Wolverines in perhaps the most anticipated regular-season game.
Several teams went up the rankings, but none was as astronomical as Alabama, rising eight places from No. 25 last week to No. 17. Tennessee also went from being unranked a week ago to being ranked No. 22 thanks to a narrow win over rival Vanderbilt on Saturday.
We look at the top 5 teams in the AP Top 25 after Week 16.
Top 5 men’s basketball teams in the Week 16 AP Top 25 Poll
5. Houston Cougars
The Cougars dropped three places from No. 2 last week after recording consecutive losses for the first time since January 2024. The losses ended the program’s streak of 87 games without back-to-back losses. The team failed to bounce back on Monday, losing away at Kansas. Houston will face Colorado on Saturday.
4. Iowa Cyclones
The Cyclones rose two places to rank No. 4, despite their loss to BYU on Saturday. To be fair, the team defeated Houston earlier in the week to extend its win streak against ranked opponents to four games. That streak was broken by the Cougars, but not easily. An impressive AJ Dybantsa performance played a big part, as the freshman dropped 29 points.
3. Michigan Wolverines
Michigan’s loss to Duke ended its six-game streak against ranked opponents this season. No other team has that rate of success against ranked teams this season. The Wolverines moved off the summit of the AP Top 25 poll after the loss, dropping two places to now rank No. 3. Michigan fans are already clamoring for a postseason rematch with Duke which may carry more consequence.
2. Arizona State Wildcats
The Wildcats bounced back after two consecutive defeats saw them crash from No. 1 last week. However, wins against two ranked opponents, BYU and Houston, have propelled the Wildcats up the rankings. Arizona is the second team to record three wins against AP top-three opponents in a season. Kansas is the only other team to have done it in 2011-12.
1. Duke Blue Devils
After a statement win against Michigan on Saturday, the Blue Devils are No. 1 on the AP Top 25 for the first time this season. Led in offense by the usual suspect, Cameron Boozer, they outscored the Wolverines 68-63 in a tense defensive battle.
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Edited by Kayode Akinwumi
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