It didn’t take long for the first shake-up of the college basketball season. Houston has climbed into the top spot of the AP Top 25 after a dominant start and some wobbly showings from its closest competition.
A New No. 1 Emerges in Houston Cougars
The Cougars, who quietly took care of business through their first few games, jumped Purdue for No. 1 despite earning fewer first-place votes. Purdue survived a shaky 87-77 win over Oakland and looked far from its preseason form, which gave voters reason to lean toward Houston. Six different teams earned first-place votes, a sign that this season’s power balance is already wide open.
Gators Fall, Wildcats Rise Following Vegas Showdown
The defending national champion Florida Gators took the biggest tumble after being outplayed by Arizona in the Hall of Fame Series. That loss sent Florida sliding seven spots to No. 10, while Arizona, fueled by freshman star Koa Peat, surged to No. 5.
Peat’s 30-point debut was one of the most aazing first games in recent college hoops history and instantly changed Arizona’s trajectory. The Wildcats suddenly look like a contender capable of hanging with anyone.
St. John’s, another preseason darling, also stumbled after an upset loss to Alabama at Madison Square Garden, dropping from No. 5 to No. 13.
Crimson Tide and Blue Devils Make Noise Early On
Alabama was one of the week’s biggest winners, storming into the top ten at No. 8 after its statement win over St. John’s. Labaron Philon’s decision to stay at Alabama after flirting with the transfer portal proved massive, as he and Aden Holloway combined for 46 points to take down the Red Storm.
Meanwhile, Duke continues to look every bit like a title contender. The Blue Devils moved up to No. 4 behind freshman sensation Cam Boozer, who impressed in a win over Texas. UConn also climbed one spot to No. 3 after a pair of blowout victories to open its title defense campaign.
Tar Heels on the Rise, Jayhawks Take a Hit
North Carolina made one of the biggest jumps of the week, soaring seven spots to No. 18 after taking down Kansas in Chapel Hill. Freshman forward Caleb Wilson was electric once again, proving why he’s being mentioned among the best first-year players in the country.
The loss sent Kansas tumbling all the way to No. 25. It’s still early, but both teams’ trajectories now look drastically different from where they started just a week ago.
Lots of Power Conference Teams
Once again, the SEC, Big 12, and Big Ten rule the national picture. Together, they make up more than two-thirds of the AP Top 25. The Big 12 leads the way with three of the top seven teams, Houston, Arizona, and BYU, while the SEC boasts three inside the top ten.
The ACC and Big East still have strong representation, each landing three teams, but the early results show the same trend as recent seasons: the sport’s heavyweights remain concentrated in a few power leagues.
Full AP Top 25 Rankings (Week 2)
1. Houston (18)
2. Purdue (36)
3. UConn (3)
4. Duke (2)
5. Arizona
6. Michigan (1)
7. BYU
8. Alabama (1)
9. Kentucky
10. Florida
11. Texas Tech
12. Louisville
13. St. John’s
14. Illinois
15. UCLA
16. Iowa State
17. Michigan State
18. North Carolina
19. Gonzaga
20. Tennessee
21. Arkansas
22. Auburn
23. Creighton
24. Wisconsin
25. Kansas
Others receiving votes: NC State, San Diego State, Indiana, Oregon, Vanderbilt, Ohio State, Baylor, USC, Kansas State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Georgia, Stanford, Oklahoma State, Texas, Georgetown, Utah State, Iowa, Virginia Tech.
November Madness Just Getting Started
After just one week, the rankings already look drastically different. Houston’s rise, Florida’s fall, and the emergence of young stars like Peat, Boozer, and Wilson set the tone for what promises to be a turbulent season.
If the first AP poll of the season proved anything, it’s that no one is safe and every week will bring new twists. The season may be young, but the fight for college basketball’s top spot is already heating up.