Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: Michigan rises, Villanova disappears in latest AP poll

By Holden Walter-Warner

VILLANOVA, PA - NOVEMBER 14: Adrien Nunez #5, Isaiah Livers #4, Zavier Simpson #3, Charles Matthews #1, and Ignas Brazdeikis #13 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate their win against the Villanova Wildcats in the final second of the game at Finneran Pavilion on November 14, 2018 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. Michigan defeated Villanova 73-46. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
VILLANOVA, PA - NOVEMBER 14: Adrien Nunez #5, Isaiah Livers #4, Zavier Simpson #3, Charles Matthews #1, and Ignas Brazdeikis #13 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate their win against the Villanova Wildcats in the final second of the game at Finneran Pavilion on November 14, 2018 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. Michigan defeated Villanova 73-46. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 15: Ryan Kriener #15, Connor McCaffery #30, Nicholas Baer #51, and Riley Till #20 of the Iowa Hawkeyes react during the second half of the game against Iowa Hawkeyes during the 2k Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 15: Ryan Kriener #15, Connor McCaffery #30, Nicholas Baer #51, and Riley Till #20 of the Iowa Hawkeyes react during the second half of the game against Iowa Hawkeyes during the 2k Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

The top of the NCAA Basketball AP Top 25 remained stable for another week, but the reigning national champions took a nosedive straight out of the rankings.

Week 2 didn’t bring a whole lot of changes to the AP Top 25, outside of the monumental (and correct) change at the top of the rankings.

Thankfully, Week 3 came along and gave poll watchers the biggest shake-up of the season so far.

First, it’s only right that we welcome the poll’s newest members to the Top 25. The three programs entering the rankings share a common bond – a conference.

The Big Ten boosted Iowa (No. 20), Ohio State (No. 23), and Wisconsin (No. 25) into the rankings this week. That gives the conference a whopping six teams in the AP Top 25, although none is ranked higher than the Michigan Wolverines (No. 9).

Interestingly enough, the top three teams missing the cut this week are also Big Ten squads: Nebraska, Indiana, and Maryland. Talk about the best conference in the land this season might start here.

Of course, for three teams to enter the poll, another three teams had to exit.

This week’s teams to fall from grace were Marquette, Syracuse, and Villanova.

The Golden Eagles were crushed by Indiana immediately after entering the rankings, so their drop was no surprise. Same with the Orange, who lost both of their 2K Classic games at Madison Square Garden, despite vociferous fan support in New York City.

Villanova, though? Let’s just say we have some thoughts about the defending national champions.

Here are three thoughts on Week 3 of the AP Top 25.

Home/Virginia Tech Hokies