No. 1 Purdue headlines AP Top 25; Miami leaps, North Carolina returns

Purdue remained atop The Related Press High 25 males’s faculty basketball ballot for a 3rd straight week, whereas preseason No. 1 North Carolina returned to the rankings and New Mexico cracked the ballot for the primary time in eight years.

The Boilermakers earned 40 of 60 first-place votes in Monday’s newest ballot, whereas fellow unbeaten Connecticut earned the opposite 20 to sit down at No. 2 in an unchanged high.

Purdue had by no means been ranked No. 1 earlier than a one-week keep there final December, and was unranked to start out the season. However the Boilermakers made a fast rise from No. 24 to No. 5 in a one-week span in late November, then climbed to No. 1 on Dec. 12.

The Boilermakers’ win towards New Orleans final week marked their first dwelling sport with that No. 1 rating.

“We’ve not had any handouts. We’ve needed to work for every little thing,” coach Matt Painter mentioned afterward, including: “However we’ve earned it. however we’ve obtained to maintain incomes it. This isn’t the season. That is only a third of the season.”

The highest tier

No. 3 Houston, No. 4 Kansas and No. 5 Arizona held their positions as the highest 5 remained in place for a second straight week.

Texas was subsequent at No. 6, adopted by Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas and Gonzaga – the preseason alternative at No. 2 that returned to the highest 10 after sliding as little as No. 18 earlier this month.

Tar Heels return

North Carolina is again within the ballot at No. 25 after a tumultuous opening to the season.

Returning 4 starters from final 12 months’s surprising run to the NCAA title sport, the Tar Heels began December by changing into solely the sixth group to go from preseason No. 1 to unranked since at the least the 1961-62 season. That got here after a run of 4 straight losses.

However UNC has gained 4 straight since, the previous two coming towards Massive Ten groups — Ohio State on Dec. 17 and Michigan final week — to regroup.

Rising

Miami had the week’s greatest soar after a win towards Virginia, climbing eight spots to No. 14 for its highest rating because the 2017-18 season. No. 20 Auburn rose three spots. In all, 10 groups moved up from final week.

Sliding

Virginia took the week’s greatest tumble, falling seven spots to No. 13. Mississippi State was shut behind, falling six spots to No. 21. Duke was the one different group to slip, falling three spots to No. 17.

Welcome

Xavier and New Mexico are tied at No. 22, whereas No. 24 West Virginia joined them in new additions to the ballot this season. For the Lobos, it marks the primary time they’ve cracked the AP High 25 since March 2014.

Related Press High 25

Others receiving votes: Coll of Charleston 102, Maryland 87, Memphis 74, Illinois 65, Ohio State 59, Missouri 57, Virginia Tech 57, San Diego State 39, Iowa State 19, Marquette 12, Texas Tech 10, Michigan State 7, Windfall 6, Kansas State 5, Southern Cal 4, San Francisco 1.