This week’s top 25 men’s college basketball poll from the Associated Press features four teams from Texas, all from the Big 12 Conference.
First-place Texas Tech has made the biggest leap of the four, jumping five spots to No.15 after top-20 wins over BYU and Oklahoma last week. The Red Raiders have been a surprise team in the Big 12 following a last-place finish last season.
Houston continues to be the state’s premier college basketball team and the No.4 team in the country this week. The Cougars have won four games in a row and defeated then-No.21 BYU and a good Kansas State team last week.
Baylor and TCU also appeared in the top 25. The Bears have lost three in a row — including a triple-overtime loss to the Horned Frogs on Saturday. That game also helped catapult the Horned Frogs back into the top 25 after a one-week absence.
This week’s most significant climb came from Iowa State, which jumped 11 spots to No.12 after winning five of its last six games, including a win over Kansas. The Cyclones are among eight Big 12 teams featured in the top 25. Wisconsin (Big Ten) also made a significant jump, reaching the top 10 for the first time this season at No.6.
Oklahoma fell the furthest with a 12-spot drop in the rankings, while Memphis and Colorado State fell out entirely. Alabama and New Mexico also returned to the top 25 this week.
Here is the full AP Top 25:
1. UConn Huskies (18-2)
2. Purdue Boilermakers (19-2)
3. North Carolina Tar Heels (17-3)
4. Houston Cougars (18-2)
5. Tennessee Volunteers (15-4)
6. Wisconsin Badgers (16-4)
7. Duke Blue Devils (15-4)
8. Kansas Jayhawks (16-4)
9. Marquette Golden Eagles (15-5)
10. Kentucky Wildcats (15-4)
11. Arizona Wildcats (15-5)
12. Iowa State Cyclones (16-4)
13. Creighton Bluejays (16-5)
14. Illinois Fighting Illini (15-5)
15. Texas Tech Red Raiders (16-3)
16. Auburn Tigers (16-4)
17. Utah State Aggies (18-2)
18. Baylor Bears (14-5)
19. New Mexico Lobos (18-3)
20. Florida Atlantic Owls (17-4)
21. Dayton Flyers (16-3)
22. BYU Cougars (15-5)
23. Oklahoma Sooners (15-5)
24. Alabama Crimson Tide (14-6)
25. TCU Horned Frogs (15-5)
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: South Carolina 108, San Diego State 95, Memphis 48, Northwestern 32, Mississippi 30, Texas 10, Colorado State 10, Saint Mary’s 9, Indiana State 5, Boise State 5, Richmond 4, Gonzaga 4, Virginia 3, McNeese State 2, Appalachian State 1.