No major shakeup for KU basketball, K-State in new AP Top 25; Mizzou returns to poll
Kansas, which had its seven-game winning snapped on Saturday at Texas after a Senior Night victory over Texas Tech on Tuesday, remained No. 3 in this week’s AP men’s basketball top 25.
The Jayhawks (25-6) did not receive any first-place votes. KU was awarded eight first-place votes a week ago.
Last week’s No. 1 Houston (29-2) remained atop the poll after defeating Memphis by two points on the road and also defeating Wichita State at home on Thursday. Houston received 58 first-place votes.
Former No. 2 Alabama (26-5) fell to No. 4 after losing at Texas A&M on Saturday in College Station and defeating Auburn in overtime on Wednesday.
UCLA (27-4) took over the No. 2 slot. The Bruins received three first-place votes.
Kansas State (23-8), which went 1-1 last week with a win at home against Oklahoma and loss at West Virginia, moved from No. 11 to No. 12.
Missouri (23-8), which won two games last week (Ole Miss and LSU) and now has won four in a row, moved into the poll at No. 25.
In early January MU was ranked for the first time since the 2020-21 season. The Tigers were No. 20 in the Jan. 2 and Jan. 9 polls before dropping out.
Dennis Gates and Frank Haith (2011-12) are the only two MU coaches in history to have their Tiger teams ranked in their debut seasons. The AP poll began in 1948.
The updated poll:
Houston is No. 1, UCLA No. 2 and KU No. 3, followed by Alabama, Purdue, Marquette, Texas, Arizona, Gonzaga and Baylor in the top 10.
UConn is No. 11 followed by Kansas State, Virginia, Miami, Xavier, Saint Mary’s, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Indiana and San Diego State. Rounding out the top 25: No. 21 Duke, No. 22 TCU, No. 23 Kentucky, No. 24 Creighton and No. 25 Missouri.
Others receiving votes: Oral Roberts, Florida Atlantic, Utah State, Providence, Iowa State, Northwestern, West Virginia, Toledo, Pittsburgh, Charleston, Michigan State, VCU, Boise State, Iowa, USC, Vanderbilt, Maryland, Memphis, Arkansas, North Texas and Drake.
This story was originally published March 6, 2023 at 11:46 AM.
