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AP Poll: Week of 3/2

Did the Tar Heels move any in this week’s Top 25 rankings?

By Matt Ferenchick
NCAA Basketball: Florida State at North Carolina Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

It was a big last week for North Carolina basketball.

After mightily blowing it against Marquette, the men’s team bounced back with their most important win of the season over Florida State. Some of that was negated by the loss to Syracuse, but that win was still bigger than the loss was crushing for NCAA Tournament purposes.

As for the women, they’ve built upon their recent upset of NC State, and are also seemingly safely in the field right now. They picked up two wins during the week, including one over fellow bubble team Virginia Tech.

With the regular season nearing an end, let’s take a look at where things stand in college basketball.

Men’s Basketball

AP Top 25

  1. Gonzaga Bulldogs (59 first place votes)
  2. Michigan Wolverines (4)
  3. Baylor Bears
  4. Illinois Fighting Illini
  5. Iowa Hawkeyes
  6. West Virginia Mountaineers
  7. Ohio State Buckeyes
  8. Alabama Crimson Tide
  9. Houston Cougars
  10. Villanova Wildcats
  11. Florida State Seminoles
  12. Arkansas Razorbacks
  13. Kansas Jayhawks
  14. Creighton Blue Jays
  15. Texas Longhorns
  16. Oklahoma Sooners
  17. Oklahoma State Cowboys
  18. Texas Tech Red Raiders
  19. San Diego State Aztecs
  20. Loyola Chicago Ramblers
  21. Virginia Cavaliers
  22. Virginia Tech Hokies
  23. Purdue Boilermakers
  24. Colorado Buffaloes
  25. Wisconsin Badgers

Where is UNC?

The poll came out prior to last night’s loss, so thanks to the comeback win over Florida State, the Tar Heels are still among the “others receiving votes.” However, they’re still a long way off getting ranked as they’re 102 ranking points behind #25 Wisconsin.

Biggest Winners

For the first time all season, there was a change in the top two of the AP Poll. After Baylor’s loss to Kansas, the Bears dropped a spot to third. That allowed Michigan to move up to second, ending the exclusivity Gonzaga and Baylor have had on the top two spots. The biggest winner by number of spots was Oklahoma State, who moved up nine.

Biggest Losers

The team the Cowboys beat to help them jump nine spots was their state rival Oklahoma. As a result, the Sooners fell nine spots the other way.

Conference Breakdown

Marquee Matchups This Week

  • #3 Baylor at #6 West Virginia - Tonight at 5 PM ET on ESPN
  • #4 Illinois at #2 Michigan - Tonight at 7 PM ET on ESPN
  • #4 Illinois at #7 Ohio State - Saturday at 4 PM ET on ESPN

Women’s Basketball

AP Top 25

  1. UConn Huskies (27 first place votes)
  2. Texas A&M Aggies (2)
  3. NC State Wolfpack
  4. Stanford Cardinal (1)
  5. Louisville Cardinals
  6. Baylor Bears
  7. South Carolina Gamecocks
  8. Maryland Terrapins
  9. UCLA Bruins
  10. Indiana Hoosiers
  11. Arizona Wildcats
  12. Michigan Wolverines
  13. Arkansas Razorbacks
  14. Tennessee Volunteers
  15. South Florida Bulls
  16. Georgia Bulldogs
  17. Kentucky Wildcats
  18. Gonzaga Bulldogs
  19. Oregon Ducks
  20. West Virginia Mountaineers
  21. South Dakota State Jackrabbits
  22. Ohio State Buckeyes
  23. Missouri State Bears
  24. Rugers Scarlet Knights
  25. DePaul Blue Demons

Where is UNC?

The two-straight wins haven’t been enough to get the Tar Heels any votes, never mind come close to getting ranked. They’re still holding to a tournament berth on in ESPN’s WBB Bracketology, and are currently listed as a 10 seed. If that’s to be trusted, they have some breathing room going into the ACC Tournament, but it would behoove them to pick up at least one win.

Biggest Winners

Tennessee had the biggest jump of the week, moving up six spots. That’s come after winning three of their last four, including one over then #2 South Carolina.

Biggest Losers

Ohio State took the biggest fall of the week. They’ve lost three straight and four of five and are now down to #22 after having been as high as #11 a month ago.

Conference Breakdown

  • AAC: 1
  • ACC: 2
  • Big 12: 2
  • Big East: 2
  • Big Ten: 5
  • Missouri Valley: 1
  • Pac-12: 4
  • SEC: 6
  • Summit League: 1
  • WCC: 1

Marquee Matchups This Week

Several of the major conferences kick off their league tournaments this week. That makes it a little hard to project exactly what big matchups we’ll get. Instead, let’s look at what the most important conference tournaments this week will be.

  • ACC: March 3-7, Championship Game Sunday at 12 PM ET on ESPN2

The final could be a all top five matchup and battle for a #1 seed if both Louisville and NC State make it. Beyond that, there are several bubble teams battling for spots. In addition to UNC as we mentioned, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Notre Dame, and Miami are all right around the bubble.

  • SEC: March 3-7, Championship Game Sunday at 2 PM ET on ESPN2

Not as many bubble implications in the SEC, but six ranked teams, the lowest of which is #17, will do battle for their conference crown in Greenville, SC.

  • Pac-12: March 3-7, Championship Game Sunday at 8 PM ET on ESPN2

Stanford is playing for a #1 seed, but will face stiff competition in fellow top 20 teams UCLA, Arizona, and Stanford. There’s also some important bubble games as Washington State and Colorado are both right near the edge.

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