The Auburn Tigers haven’t lost a game since November 24th, and their reward is the No. 1 spot in the AP college basketball poll for the first time in school history.
Superstar freshman Jabari Smith and the Tigers are 18-1, 7-0 in the challenging SEC, and held off the No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats 80-71 on Saturday to put themselves in this position. They bump down the No. 2 Gonzaga Bulldogs, who are 15-2 and have waltzed through their WCC slate so far at 4-0. But the quality of competition between the leagues is noticeable this season, and the tough battles of a Power Five league are swaying voters.
Also Marquette (14-6, 6-3 Big East) reaches the Top 25 for the first time in the Shaka Smart Era, as the Golden Eagles beat Villanova in Radnor and Xavier at home last week for two big Quad 1 wins. And the Davidson Wildcats take what looks like the token mid-major spot from the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers who lost last week. Davidson is 16-2, 6-0 in the Atlantic 10, and has won 15 straight since November 19th. That includes a 79-78 win over Alabama on December 21st.
Here is the complete AP Preseason College Basketball Poll on October 18th:
College Basketball AP Poll Week 14
Ranking | Team | Last poll | Conference | Votes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ranking | Team | Last poll | Conference | Votes |
1 | Auburn (22-1) | 1 | Southeastern | 1,506 (48) |
2 | Gonzaga (19-2) | 2 | West Coast | 1,477 (13) |
3 | Purdue (20-3) | 4 | Big Ten | 1,329 |
4 | Arizona (19-2) | 7 | Pacific 12 | 1,300 |
5 | Kentucky (19-4) | 5 | Southeastern | 1,288 |
6 | Houston (20-2) | 6 | American Athletic | 1,205 |
7 | Duke (19-3) | 9 | Atlantic Coast | 1,179 |
8 | Kansas (19-3) | 10 | Big 12 | 1,173 |
9 | Texas Tech (18-5) | 14 | Big 12 | 947 |
10 | Baylor (19-4) | 8 | Big 12 | 921 |
11 | Providence (20-2) | 15 | Big East | 899 |
12 | UCLA (16-4) | 3 | Pacific 12 | 881 |
13 | Illinois (17-5) | 18 | Big Ten | 818 |
14 | Wisconsin (18-4) | 11 | Big Ten | 706 |
15 | Villanova (17-6) | 12 | Big East | 634 |
16 | Ohio State (14-5) | 16 | Big Ten | 628 |
17 | Michigan State (17-5) | 13 | Big Ten | 536 |
18 | Marquette (16-7) | 24 | Big East | 522 |
19 | Tennessee (16-6) | 22 | Southeastern | 377 |
20 | Texas (17-6) | 23 | Big 12 | 294 |
21 | USC (19-4) | 19 | Pacific 12 | 278 |
22 | Saint Mary's (19-4) | NR | West Coast | 185 |
23 | Murray State (22-2) | NR | Ohio Valley | 178 |
24 | Connecticut (15-6) | 17 | Big East | 118 |
25 | Xavier (16-6) | 21 | Big East | 91 |