Virginia Plummets, UNC Returns to Top 25 in Latest Men’s College Basketball AP Poll

Purdue remained atop the Related Press Prime 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 speedy 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 all the pieces,” coach Matt Painter mentioned afterward, including: “However we’ve earned it. however we’ve acquired to maintain incomes it. This isn’t the season. That is only a third of the season.”

THE TOP 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 sudden run to the NCAA title sport, the Tar Heels began December by turning into solely the sixth staff 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 received 4 straight since, the previous two coming towards Huge Ten groups — Ohio State on Dec. 17 and Michigan final week — to regroup.

RISING

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

SLIDING

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

STATUS QUO

Seven groups held their positions from final week, with No. 12 Baylor and No. 19 Kentucky becoming a member of the unchanged high 5.

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 Prime 25 since March 2014.

FAREWELL (FOR NOW)

Illinois (No. 16), Virginia Tech (No. 21), Marquette (No. 24) and Arizona State (No. 25) fell out from final week’s ballot.

CONFERENCE WATCH

The Southeastern Convention led all leagues with six ranked groups, adopted by the Huge 12 with 5 and the Atlantic Coast Convention with 4.

The Huge Ten had three ranked groups whereas the Pac-12 and Huge East every had two. The American Athletic, West Coast and Mountain West conferences every had one.

Full males’s high 25 (as of Dec. 26):

1. Purdue
2. UConn
3. Houston
4. Kansas
5. Arizona
6. Texas
7. Tennessee
8. Alabama
9. Arkansas
10. Gonzaga
11. UCLA
12. Baylor
13. Virginia
14. Miami 
15. Wisconsin
16. Indiana
17. Duke
18. TCU
19. Kentucky
20. Auburn
21. Mississippi State
22-t. New Mexico
22-t. Xavier
24. West Virginia
25. North Carolina

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