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NCAA Basketball: Gonzaga widens lead at top, Furman enters AP Top 25

By Holden Walter-Warner

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: Josh Perkins #13 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs drives the baseline during the second half of the game against the Duke Blue Devils at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: Josh Perkins #13 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs drives the baseline during the second half of the game against the Duke Blue Devils at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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BOISE, ID – MARCH 17: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 90-84 in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 17, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID – MARCH 17: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 90-84 in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 17, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Gonzaga tightened their grip atop the NCAA Basketball AP Top 25, but there’s a new team in the top five and plenty of movement throughout the poll.

The cold air of December has rolled into town, but the frost only served to cement Gonzaga’s hold on the AP Top 25.

For the second straight week, the Bulldogs stand firm at the front of the AP poll, holding off the Kansas Jayhawks in the second slot – just like last Monday.

There was no movement from a week ago in the top four, the prospective NCAA Tournament top seeds all maintaining their position. Duke held on to the third spot, while fellow ACC squad Virginia kept the fourth spot.

Nevada was kicked out of the top five, though, despite not losing.

The Michigan Wolverines moved up to No. 5, and it’s easy to understand why. Outside of not losing a game yet, they’ve been dominating their top-level competition, beating ranked Villanova, North Carolina, and Purdue teams by at least 17 points each.

Week 5 brought three newcomers to the AP Top 25: Arizona State (No. 20), Nebraska (24), and Furman (25).

Meanwhile, three teams fell out from the rankings, oddly enough, all from the teens: Texas (17), Oregon (18), and Purdue (19).

The biggest boost within the rankings was awarded to Wisconsin, which shot up ten spots from No. 22 to No. 12.

Meanwhile, several teams fell exactly four spots, although all of the teams booted from the AP poll fell more than four rungs off the ladder.

Here are three thoughts on Week 5’s AP Top 25 poll.