Men's college basketball rankings: Gonzaga returns to AP Top 25 poll at No. 23

Bulldogs rejoined the AP Poll amid a six-game win streak

Six weeks ago, the Gonzaga Bulldogs fell out of the AP Top 25 poll following a loss at Santa Clara, snapping the program's historic run of appearances in the top 25 that dated back to 2016.

The 77-76 loss to the Broncos was Gonzaga's fourth letdown in an eight-game span that saw it go from No. 7 prior to its defeat at Washington, to out of the poll entirely.

Since then, the Bulldogs (22-6, 12-2 WCC) have won 11 of their last 12 games and have turned a corner on the offensive end of the floor, where they rank 10th in the country in adjusted efficiency per KenPom after being 33rd following the Santa Clara loss. In that stretch they've averaged 88.5 points per game and shot 54.3% from the floor, including 38.9% from beyond the arc. 

The turning point has significantly helped the at-large NCAA Tournament hopes, which were also boosted with a win at No. 17 Kentucky, and now amid a six-game win streak, Gonzaga is back in the AP Top 25 poll after ironically a win over Santa Clara.

The Bulldogs checked in at No. 23 in the latest rankings, receiving 184 votes from the panel a week after they were left on the outside with 99 votes. Utah State (207 votes) and Dayton (261) sat just ahead at No. 22 and No. 21, respectively, while Florida and South Florida came in at No. 24 and No. 25, respectively.

Saint Mary's bumped up on spot to No. 17 as it extended its 15-game win streak, the longest active streak in the nation, with wins over Pepperdine and Portland last week. The Gaels, still atop the West Coast Conference standings, clinched at least a share of the league's regular season title and can nab their first title outright since the 2011-12 season with victories over the Waves and Bulldogs this week. 

The top-25 matchup between Gonzaga and Saint Mary's in Moraga, California, is Saturday on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. PST.

Washington State crept up two spots to No. 19 after a topsy-turvy week that featured a resounding win at then-No. 4 Arizona followed by a loss at Arizona State days later. The Cougars lost their standing atop the Pac-12 table with the loss to the Aztecs, as they sit .5 games back of the Wildcats with three games left in the regular season.

It's the first time both the Bulldogs and Cougars were ranked in the AP Top 25 poll since March 2008.

Elsewhere, Houston claimed the poll's top spot for the first time this season while UConn dropped to No. 3 behind Purdue after the reigning national champions lost to Creighton last week. Tennessee checked in at No. 4 with No. 5 Marquette right behind. Kentucky moved up one spot to No. 16 after dropping 117 points on then-No. 13 Alabama.

Here's the rest of the AP Top 25 poll:

1. Houston (24-3, 11-3 Big 12)

2. Purdue (25-3, 14-3 Big Ten)

3. UConn (25-3, 15-2 Big East)

4. Tennessee (21-6, 11-3 SEC)

5. Marquette (21-6, 12-4 Big East)

6. Arizona (21-6, 12-4 Pac-12)

7. Kansas (21-6, 9-5 Big 12)

8. Iowa State (21-6, 10-4 Big 12)

9. North Carolina (21-6, 13-3 ACC)

10. Duke (21-6, 12-4 ACC)

11. Auburn (21-6, 10-4 SEC)

12. Creighton (20-8, 11-6 Big East)

13. Illinois (20-7, 11-5 Big Ten)

14. Alabama (19-8, 11-3 SEC)

15. Baylor (19-8, 8-6 Big 12)

16. Kentucky (19-8, 9-5 SEC)

17. Saint Mary's (23-6, 14-0 WCC)

18. South Carolina (22-5, 10-4 SEC)

19. Washington State (21-7, 12-5 Pac-12)

20. San Diego State (21-7, 10-5 MWC)

21. Dayton (21-5, 11-3 A10)

22. Utah State (22-5, 10-4 MWC)

23. Gonzaga (22-6, 12-2 WCC)

24. Florida (19-8, 9-5 SEC)

25. South Florida (21-5, 14-1 AAC)