Alabama Reaches No. 1 in Men’s College Hoops AP Poll for First Time in 20 Years

The Crimson Tide and Houston both passed the Boilermakers after Sunday’s loss to Northwestern.

Alabama is the new No. 1, rising to the top spot in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for the first time in 20 years.

Purdue’s loss to Northwestern last week caused a jumble at the top of the AP Top 25 and that helped the Crimson Tide.

Alabama received 38 first-place votes from a 62-person media panel Monday, moving up two spots to leapfrog No. 2 Houston. The Cougars had 22 first-place votes to remain at No. 2 and Purdue, down to No. 3, still had two first-place votes.

UCLA and Kansas rounded out the top five.

Alabama is No. 1 for the first time since spending two weeks atop the poll midway through the 2002–03 season. Alabama (22–3, 12–0 Southeastern Conference) beat Auburn and Florida last week, with its only loss since mid-December coming at Oklahoma in a nonconference game on Jan. 28.

The Tide are 22–3 on the season after beating Auburn over the weekend :: Marvin Gentry/USA TODAY Sports

No. 9 Baylor and No. 18 Creighton made the biggest moves of the week, each gaining five spots.

The Bears beat Oklahoma and picked up a road win at No. 22 TCU last week. The Bluejays beat Seton Hall and eked out a 56–53 win over No. 20 UConn to stretch their winning streak to eight games to remain in contention for the Big East regular-season title.

No. 19 Iowa State had the biggest drop, losing eight places following losses to West Virginia and Oklahoma State.

Full men’s poll as of Feb. 13:

1. Alabama
2. Houston
3. Purdue
4. UCLA
5. Kansas
6. Texas
7. Virginia
8. Arizona
9. Baylor
10. Tennessee
11. Marquette
12. Kansas State
13. Gonzaga
14. Indiana
15. Miami
16. Xavier
17. Saint Mary’s
18. Creighton
19. Iowa State
20. UConn
21. San Diego State
22. TCU
23. NC State
24. Providence
25. Florida Atlantic

Others receiving votes: Missouri 114, Northwestern 96, Illinois 84, Pittsburgh 82, Nevada 36, Oklahoma State 23, Texas A&M 16, Oral Roberts 9, Iowa 5, Arkansas 4, Rutgers 2, Charleston 1, Maryland 1, Boise State 1

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