UConn men's basketball has climbed to No. 5 in the latest AP Poll, showcasing resilience after their first Big East loss with wins over Butler and Georgetown. The Huskies' position in the rankings has stirred debate among top sports analysts.
With a standout 24-2 record, UConn is seen by some as just behind the near-unanimous No. 1 Michigan, while others have placed them outside the top 10.
Seth Davis, a veteran national reporter, gave UConn their lowest ranking at No. 11, notably placing St. John's above them at No.
- On the flip side, UConn was ranked No. 2 by four ballots, including those from CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein and ESPN's Jeff Borzello.
Rothstein, in particular, praised UConn's strong performance in the Big East and their impressive non-conference victories.
David Borges of CT Insider aligned with the majority, ranking UConn at No. 5 for the second week. While Rothstein and Borzello elevated UConn over Arizona after their recent losses, Borges kept Arizona at No. 4 due to their head-to-head win over the Huskies.
ESPN's iconic broadcaster Dick Vitale boosted UConn to No. 4, up from No. 6 in his previous ballot.
Throughout the season, UConn has garnered five first-place votes and reached No. 2 in the AP Poll for two weeks before a setback against St. John's on February 6. The Huskies last held the No. 1 spot in the final 2023-24 AP Poll following their second consecutive national championship.