College basketball’s landscape shifted once again this week, and the latest AP Top 25 poll reflects just how chaotic things got. With four top-10 teams taking a loss - including powerhouses like UConn and Duke - the door opened for some serious reshuffling. Houston took full advantage, leaping up to No. 3 and putting the rest of the country on notice.
Let’s start with the headliner: Duke vs. North Carolina.
This rivalry doesn’t need any extra drama, but it delivered anyway. The Tar Heels trailed for all but the final 0.4 seconds of the game - yes, you read that right - before Seth Trimble buried a clutch three to lift UNC to a stunning 71-68 victory.
That’s the kind of moment that echoes through a season, and the pollsters took notice, bumping Carolina up three spots to No. 11.
Duke, meanwhile, came into the game riding a 10-game win streak and hadn’t lost a single contest in ACC play. Despite the gut-punch loss, the Blue Devils held firm at No.
- That tells you just how much respect they’ve earned over the last several weeks.
UConn wasn’t as lucky. The Huskies were on an 18-game heater before running into a red-hot St.
John’s squad. That 81-72 loss snapped their streak and dropped them three spots to No.
- Their only other loss this season came way back in mid-November against current No.
1 Arizona - so while the stumble hurts, it doesn’t erase what’s been a dominant campaign so far.
Speaking of Arizona, the Wildcats remain perched atop the poll, collecting 59 first-place votes. Michigan holds steady at No. 2, while Houston’s rise to No. 3 is a testament to their consistency and ability to capitalize when others slip.
The top 10 now features some familiar faces and a few that are starting to look like serious contenders. Iowa State climbs into the top five at No. 5, while Nebraska continues its impressive run, landing at No.
- Illinois, Kansas, and Michigan State round out the top 10 - all teams with the firepower to make deep runs come March.
Here’s how the full AP Top 25 shakes out this week:
AP Top 25 Rankings: 1.
Arizona (59)
2.
Michigan
3.
Houston
4.
Duke
5.
Iowa State
6.
UConn
7.
Nebraska
8.
Illinois
9.
Kansas
10.
Michigan State
11.
North Carolina
12.
Gonzaga
13.
Purdue
14.
Florida
15.
Virginia
16.
Texas Tech
17.
St. John’s
- Saint Louis
- Vanderbilt
- Clemson
- Arkansas
- BYU
- Miami (OH)
- Louisville
- Kentucky
As we head deeper into February, the margins between these teams are getting razor-thin. One big win - or one untimely loss - can shake up the entire top 10.
And with rivalry games, conference battles, and tournament seeding all looming large, buckle up. This ride is just getting started.