As the college basketball calendar hits its annual holiday pause, the action on the court may have slowed, but the movement in the rankings hasn’t. While the AP poll took a breather this week-understandable, given the lull in games around Christmas-the USA Today Coaches Poll kept things rolling, offering a fresh look at how teams stack up heading into the heart of conference play.
Let’s start at the top, where three unbeatens are setting the tone. Michigan, Arizona, and Iowa State continue to flex their early-season dominance, claiming the top three spots.
Michigan holds onto No. 1 with 11 wins and 20 first-place votes, while Arizona isn’t far behind with a 12-0 record and 11 first-place nods of its own. Iowa State rounds out the undefeated trio at No. 3, still perfect through 12 games and showing no signs of slowing down.
UConn and Duke round out the top five, with the Huskies sitting at 12-1 and the Blue Devils climbing one spot to No. 5 after another solid week. Purdue, Gonzaga, and Houston follow closely behind, all boasting just one loss apiece. Gonzaga, despite a recent stumble, remains steady at No. 7-an important note for Kentucky fans still feeling the sting of that head-to-head matchup.
Speaking of Kentucky, the Wildcats may not be back in the Top 25 just yet, but they’re knocking on the door. After falling out of the rankings in the wake of that tough loss to Gonzaga, they’ve been steadily working their way back into the conversation.
Last week, they were just outside at No. 27.
This week, they’re the final team receiving votes-just three shy of St. John’s, a team they’ve already beaten.
It's not the kind of December momentum Big Blue Nation is used to, but the arrow is pointing up.
Back to the poll: Vanderbilt continues to be one of the season’s biggest surprises. The Commodores are undefeated at 12-0 and now stand as the highest-ranked SEC team at No.
- They’ll get a major test this Saturday when they open SEC play against No.
15 Alabama, a team that’s battled through a tough non-conference slate to post a 9-3 record.
The SEC is well represented overall, with Arkansas (No. 18), Tennessee (No.
20), Florida (No. 22), and Georgia (No. 24) all making the cut. That depth is going to make the conference race a grind, and it kicks off in earnest this weekend.
Elsewhere in the poll, teams like North Carolina (No. 12), Nebraska (No. 13), and Louisville (also tied at No. 13) are holding steady, while traditional powers like Kansas (No. 17) and Michigan State (No. 9) remain in the mix despite a few early bumps.
And then there’s St. John’s, sneaking into the final spot at No.
- The Red Storm are 8-4 and have been up and down, but their return to the rankings-however slight-is a sign that voters still see potential.
Here’s how the full Top 25 shakes out in Week 9 of the Coaches Poll:
USA Today Coaches Poll - Week 9
- Michigan (11-0)
- Arizona (12-0)
- Iowa State (12-0)
- UConn (12-1)
- Duke (11-1)
- Purdue (11-1)
- Gonzaga (13-1)
- Houston (11-1)
- Michigan State (11-1)
- BYU (12-1)
- Vanderbilt (12-0)
- North Carolina (12-1)
- Nebraska (12-0)
- Louisville (10-2)
- Alabama (9-3)
- Texas Tech (10-3)
- Kansas (10-3)
- Arkansas (9-3)
- Illinois (9-3)
- Tennessee (9-3)
- Virginia (11-1)
- Florida (8-4)
- Iowa (10-2)
- Georgia (11-1)
- St.
John’s (8-4)
As the non-conference slate winds down and league play ramps up, we’re about to learn a lot more about these teams. The early-season narratives are in place, but January is where contenders separate from the pack. Buckle up-conference play is here.