AP Top 25 Poll - Week 11: Climbing Back

Losses continued for college basketball's elite last week with four top 10 teams suffering defeats. The way this season is going at the moment, maybe the Tar Heels being out of the top 10 isn't such a bad thing after all.

UNC took care of business in its two conference games this week to stop its fall in the polls, Villanova solidified it's claim as the #1 team in the nation, and the Wahoos are right on their tail. Here's how things stand as of January 15th:

1. Villanova (63) 16-1
2. Virginia (1) 16-1
3. Purdue (1) 17-2
4. Oklahoma 14-2
5. Duke 15-2
6. West Virginia 15-2
7. Wichita State 15-2
8. Texas Tech 15-2
9. Michigan State 16-3
10. Kansas 14-3
11. Xavier 16-3
12. Cincinnati 15-2
13. Gonzaga 16-3
14. Arizona 14-4
15. North Carolina 14-4
16. Arizona State 14-3
17. Auburn 16-1
18. Kentucky 14-3
19. Seton Hall 15-3
20. Clemson 15-2
21. Tennessee 12-4
22. Ohio State 15-4
23. Michigan 15-4
24. TCU 13-4
25. Miami 13-3

Where is UNC?

Carolina's rout of Boston College and escape against Notre Dame saw them rise five spots up to #15 in the rankings. They'll have a chance to tack on a key win at home against #20 Clemson on Tuesday, followed by another home game against Georgia Tech Saturday.

Biggest Winners

Oklahoma. The Trae Young Show rolls on, with home wins over ranked conference foes Texas Tech (75-65) and TCU (102-97). The Sooners rose five spots to sit at #4 in the nation thanks to the utterly preposterous play from the freshman from Norman. Young had 27 points and 9 assists against the Red Raiders, followed by 43 points, 11 boards, and 7 assists against the Horned Frogs.

Auburn. The Tigers held serve against their conference foes last week, rising five spots to the #17 spot. They currently sit alone in first place in the SEC and have won 14 straight. In addition to that, their two top challengers for the conference title are Tennessee and Kentucky: The Tigers have beaten the Volunteers on the road already and their only matchup against the Wildcats will be played at home.

Biggest Losers

Michigan State. The Spartans are in danger of supplanting the Arizona Wildcats as the most baffling championship contender in America. Sparty barely escaped being upset at home by Rutgers, needing overtime to survive the Scarlet Knights, and then did suffer a home upset to Michigan. Tom Izzo's squad dropped five spots to #9. When playing their best basketball, they are as good as anyone in the country (as UNC learned the hard way). But when they are off their game, they are vulnerable to immensely inferior competition.

TCU. The Horned Frogs had a rough week, suffering two gut-wrenching road losses to Texas and Oklahoma. They fell eight spots and, despite a strong start to the season, are now 1-4 in the Big 12 and have already seen their chances of a Big 12 title evaporate. Those four conference losses have been by a combined 11 points. Absolutely brutal.

Top Games this Week

Monday:

#10 Kansas @ #6 West Virginia

#5 Duke @ #25 Miami

Tuesday:

#20 Clemson @ #15 UNC

Saturday:

#11 Xavier @ #19 Seton Hall

Conference Breakdown

ACC: 5

American: 2

Big East: 3

Big 10: 4

Big 12: 5

Pac-12: 2

SEC: 3

Western: 1