As March Madness looms on the horizon, the Florida Gators are hitting their stride at just the right moment. Riding a wave of momentum with a seven-game winning streak, the Gators have clawed their way back into the AP Top 25's top 10 for the first time since mid-November.
After a decisive road victory against the Ole Miss Rebels, Todd Golden’s squad has surged five spots to claim the No. 7 position. They're nestled between the No.
6 UConn Huskies and the No. 8 Purdue Boilermakers, showcasing their formidable presence in the rankings.
Mirroring these standings, the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll also sees Florida holding strong at No. 7. The Gators are making waves in the NCAA Tournament selection committee's top 16 seeds, breaking into the top 10 at No. 9, a testament to their impressive season.
In the Southeastern Conference, the Tennessee Volunteers have re-entered the top 25, landing at No. 22.
Florida continues to lead the SEC pack, with the Alabama Crimson Tide making a notable leap of eight spots to No. 17.
Meanwhile, the Arkansas Razorbacks hold steady at No. 20.
The Vanderbilt Commodores have slipped six spots, barely clinging to their No. 25 ranking, while the Texas A&M Aggies garnered a handful of votes, rounding out the SEC's representation.
Here's a look at the AP Top 25 Men's Basketball rankings after Week 16:
- Duke
- Arizona
- Michigan
- Iowa State
- Houston
- UConn
- Florida
- Purdue
- Gonzaga
- Illinois
- Virginia
- Nebraska
- Michigan State
- Kansas
- St.
John's
16.
Texas Tech
17.
Alabama
18.
North Carolina
19.
BYU
20.
Arkansas
21.
Miami (OH)
22.
Tennessee
23.
St. Louis
- Louisville
- Vanderbilt
Others receiving votes include Wisconsin with 47, Saint Mary's with 30, and Villanova with 15, among others. As the season progresses, the Gators and their SEC counterparts are poised to make some noise in the upcoming tournament. Keep an eye on these teams as they continue to battle for supremacy on the court.