The University of Alabama is the new No.1 team in this week’s AP men’s basketball Top 25 poll.
Alabama (22-3) jumps over No.2 Houston (23-2) and takes the spot from Purdue (23-3), which lost to unranked Northwestern on Sunday. The Crimson Tide beat Florida and Auburn last week to stretch its current winning streak to four games, remain undefeated in conference play, and earn its first No.1 ranking since the 2002-2003 season.
Alabama also beat Houston on the road earlier this season.
UCLA (21-4) and Kansas (20-5) move up to No.4 and No.5, while Texas (20-6) slides down one spot to No.6 after a loss to Kansas and may fall even further in next week’s poll after a Monday night loss to Texas Tech.
Tennessee (19-6) and Arizona (22-4) also drop after losses, while Virginia (19-4) moves up a spot, and Baylor enters the top 10.
Florida Atlantic (24-2) is the only newcomer in the rankings this week, sliding in at No.25 after missing out last week.
Rutgers (16-9), ranked No.24 last week, is the only team to drop out of the rankings after losing both its games last week.
Houston and Texas remain the highest-ranked schools in the state, while Baylor joins them as the third team from the state in the top 10.
The Cougars play at SMU at 6 p.m. CT on Thursday and at home against Memphis at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday.
Texas opened the week with a loss against Texas Tech and hosts Oklahoma on Saturday.
Baylor’s only game this week is on the road against No.5 Kansas at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday.
TCU (17-8) remains in the poll at No.22 after suffering three consecutive losses. The Horned Frogs play at No.19 Iowa State at 8 p.m. CT on Wednesday and host Oklahoma State at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday.
Texas A&M (18-7) continues its late-season climb as one of the schools outside the poll to receive votes after improving to 10-2 in SEC play.
The Aggies are scheduled to play Arkansas and Missouri this week.
The Big 12 still leads the country with six ranked teams again this week, and Oklahoma State is lurking just beyond the Top 25.
FULL AP TOP 25 (first-place votes)
1. Alabama (38) 22-3
2. Houston (22) 23-2
3. Purdue (2) 23-3
4. UCLA 20-5
5. Kansas 20-5
6. Texas 20-5 (when the poll was released)
7. Virginia 19-4
8. Arizona 22-4
9. Baylor 19-6
10. Tennessee 19-6
11. Marquette 20-6
12. Kansas State 19-6
13. Gonzaga 21-5
14. Indiana 18-7
15. Miami (FL) 20-5
16. Xavier 19-6
17. St. Mary’s 22-5
18. Creighton 17-8
19. Iowa State 16-8
20. Connecticut 19-7
21. San Diego State 20-5
22. TCU 17-8
23. North Carolina State 20-6
24. Providence 18-7
25. Florida Atlantic 24-2
Here are the other teams who received votes but did not make the top 25:
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, Maryland 1, Charleston 1, Boise State 1.
