In a thrilling weekend of college basketball, Duke emerged victorious over Michigan, showcasing why they're now the top team in the nation. The Blue Devils' impressive performance in this high-stakes non-conference matchup propelled them to the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 poll for the first time this season. With March Madness on the horizon, Jon Scheyer's squad is now the ACC favorite and a strong contender for the top seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Michigan, despite the setback, remains a formidable force. Now ranked No. 3, the Wolverines have only their second loss of the season to reflect on.
A narrow five-point defeat against a championship-caliber opponent like Duke doesn't overshadow their potential for a deep tournament run. They're still in control of their destiny in the Big Ten title race.
Things are a bit rocky for Houston, though. After entering the week ranked No. 2, the Cougars faced tough losses to Iowa State and Arizona, slipping to No.
- These setbacks doubled their season losses in just four days, leaving Kelvin Sampson's team with some ground to cover if they aim to claim a third straight Big 12 crown.
Elsewhere, UConn's loss to Creighton saw them drop to No. 6, while Kansas, with two losses in their last three games, fell to No. 14 in the rankings.
On a high note, Miami (Ohio) is making waves as the highest-ranked mid-major team, boasting a flawless 27-0 record. Their rise was helped by the end of Saint Louis' impressive 18-game winning streak.
Here's a look at the latest AP Top 25 rankings:
- Duke (56 first-place votes)
- Arizona (5)
- 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 (Ohio) 22.
Tennessee 23.
Saint Louis 24.
Louisville 25.
Vanderbilt
Others receiving votes include Wisconsin, Saint Mary's, and Villanova, among others. With the regular season winding down, the race to the tournament is heating up, promising an exciting finish.