UCLA, Kentucky Rise in Men’s AP Top 25 After Statement Blowouts

Auburn, meanwhile, leads the NCAA AP top 25 poll for the second straight week.

After reaching No. 1 in the men’s AP college basketball poll for the first time in program history last week, Auburn remains atop the rankings after pushing its record to 20–1.

The Tigers avoided a short stay at the top by escaping Missouri on the road and then cruising past Oklahoma in Saturday’s Big 12/SEC Challenge.

The week’s headline results, however, came from No. 3 UCLA and No. 5 Kentucky. The Bruins dispatched Arizona in a top-10 clash to rise four spots in the poll, while UK dealt Kansas a rare blowout at Allen Fieldhouse to jump seven spots and enter the top five.

Kentucky star Oscar Tshiebwe flexes after scoring vs. Kansas :: Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal/USA TODAY Network

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Arizona fell from No. 3 to No. 7, while Kansas dropped five spots to No. 10. Elsewhere, 18–2 Providence continued to rise in the poll after a pair of key Big East wins, now checking in at No. 15. Davidson fell out of the top 25, clearing room for Texas to return at No. 23.

Full AP top 25 (as of Jan. 31):

1. Auburn (49 first-place votes)
2. Gonzaga (12)
3. UCLA
4. Purdue
5. Kentucky
6. Houston
7. Arizona
8. Baylor
9. Duke
10. Kansas
11. Wisconsin
12. Villanova
13. Michigan State
14. Texas Tech
15. Providence
16. Ohio State
17. UConn
18. Illinois
19. USC
20. Iowa State
21. Xavier
22. Tennessee
23. Texas
24. Marquette
25. LSU

Others receiving votes: Alabama 97, Murray State 42, Saint Mary’s 32, Boise State 32, Miami (FL) 29, Indiana 22, Davidson 10, Arkansas 7, Iowa 6, Iona 6, TCU 4, Notre Dame 4, Loyola Chicago 4, Colorado State 3, Toledo 1

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