AP Top 25 Poll - Week 12: Movin’ On Up

After two home wins, the North Carolina Tar Heels moved up five spots to No. 10 in the country.

There are a few new teams in the Top 25, and a couple of those names may surprise the casual college basketball fan.

The biggest news from this week’s poll is the notable absence of a certain dark blue team from the Bluegrass State.

Villanova received all but two first place votes, and sits atop the poll for the third straight week. Here is the Top 25:

1. Villanova: 18-1 (63)
2. Virginia: 18-1 (1)
3. Purdue: 19-2 (1)
4. Duke: 17-2
5. Kansas: 16-3
6. Michigan State: 17-3
7. West Virginia: 16-3
8. Xavier: 18-3
9. Cincinnati: 17-2
10. North Carolina: 16-4
11. Arizona: 16-4
12. Oklahoma: 14-4
13. Ohio State: 17-4
14. Texas Tech: 15-4
15. Gonzaga: 17-4
16. Saint Mary’s: 19-2
17. Wichita State: 15-4
18. Clemson: 16-3
19. Auburn: 17-2
20. Florida: 14-5
21. Arizona State: 15-4
22. Tennessee: 13-5
23. Nevada: 18-3
24. Rhode Island: 15-3
25. Michigan: 17-5

Where is UNC?

The Tar Heels moved up five spots this week to No. 10. The win against Clemson did wonders for both teams. For Carolina, the win against a ranked opponent pushed them back into the top ten. For Clemson, their 59th consecutive loss in Chapel Hill and a home win versus Notre Dame bumped the Tigers up two spots.

Editor’s note: This was submitted before the events of last night. Sigh.

Biggest Winners

It was a good week for some teams outside the Power Five conferences. Saint Mary’s, Nevada, and Rhode Island all joined the poll this week, and there is more to these teams than just their impressive records. Rhode Island and Nevada are both in the top 15 in RPI, and Saint Mary’s is 16th in the Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings.

Florida was the other new addition this week. The Gators are back in the poll after a six week absence thanks to a home win against Arkansas and knocking off Kentucky in Rupp Arena.

Ohio State climbed the most spots out of the teams ranked last week. Their wins on the road versus Northwestern and at home against Minnesota move the Buckeyes up eight spots.

Biggest Losers

Losses to South Carolina and Florida bumped Kentucky from the Top 25. It is their first absence from the polls since 2014.

Also falling from the poll are Seton Hall, TCU, and Miami. Seton Hall lost both their games last week, while TCU and Miami went 1-1 last week.

Wichita State tumbled ten spots to No. 17 after winless week. The Shockers lost at home to SMU and on the road to Houston.

Top Games this Week

• Tuesday, January 23:
  7:00 PM ET - #18 Clemson vs. #2 Virginia
  7:00 PM ET - #5 Kansas vs. #12 Oklahoma
• Thursday, January 25:
  7:00 PM ET - #25 Michigan vs. #3 Purdue
• Saturday, January 27:
  2:00 PM ET - #2 Virginia vs. #4 Duke

Conference Breakdown

• ACC: 4
• American: 2
• Atlantic 10: 1
• Big East: 2
• Big Ten: 4
• Big 12: 4
• Mountain West: 1
• Pac-12: 2
• SEC: 3
• West Coast: 2