Week 14 of the college basketball season brought plenty of excitement and drama, as some of the nation’s top teams faced unexpected setbacks, while others continued to solidify their positions in the latest Associated Press (AP) men’s basketball poll. The weekend’s action was headlined by losses from two of the sport’s powerhouses: Auburn and Duke. Both teams had been on impressive win streaks but finally stumbled, opening the door for other programs to rise in the rankings. Here’s a breakdown of the key moments from the week and the latest AP Top 25 poll.
Auburn and Duke, two programs that had been dominating their respective conferences, saw their winning streaks come to an end over the weekend. Auburn, which had been sitting atop the national rankings for weeks, suffered its first loss in over two months when it fell to Florida at home, 90-81. The Tigers had been on a 14-game winning streak, despite briefly losing star player Johni Broome earlier in the season. Florida’s victory marked its second win over a top-ranked team this season, following a 30-point rout of Tennessee earlier in the year. The Gators’ impressive performance propelled them to the No. 3 spot in this week’s AP poll. Despite the loss, Auburn retained its No. 1 ranking, thanks in part to the strength of its overall résumé.
Duke also saw its 16-game win streak snapped on Saturday when it fell to Clemson, 77-71. The Blue Devils, led by freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, had been rolling through the ACC but were caught off guard by the Tigers. Clemson’s upset victory sent its fans storming the court, celebrating a monumental win. The game also held special significance for longtime ESPN announcer Dick Vitale, who made his return to the broadcast booth after nearly two years away while battling cancer. Vitale, affectionately known as “Dickie V,” brought his signature energy and enthusiasm to the broadcast, calling the game his “Super Bowl” and praising the electric atmosphere. Duke’s loss dropped it to a tie with Florida at No. 3 in the latest poll.
The biggest beneficiary of the upsets appeared to be Alabama, which cruised to a 24-point victory over Arkansas on Saturday. The Crimson Tide extended their winning streak to six games and seemed poised to take over the No. 1 spot. However, they only managed to climb one spot to No. 2, still trailing Auburn in the rankings. Alabama will have an opportunity to make its case for the top spot when it hosts Auburn next Saturday in a highly anticipated matchup between the two SEC powerhouses.
Elsewhere in the poll, St. John’s made history by reaching its highest ranking since the 1999-2000 season, climbing to No. 9 after extending its win streak to 10 games. The Red Storm, under the guidance of Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, secured victories over Marquette and UConn last week. Arizona also made a significant jump, moving up seven spots to No. 13 after defeating Texas Tech. The Wildcats’ resurgence has been one of the most notable storylines in the Pac-12 this season.
Looking ahead, the SEC remains one of the most competitive conferences in the country, with multiple teams still in the hunt for the title. The ACC, on the other hand, appears to be Duke’s to lose, despite Saturday’s loss to Clemson. The Blue Devils have already faced many of their toughest conference opponents, and their remaining schedule doesn’t include any teams currently ranked in the top 10. However, the loss to Clemson served as a reminder that no team is invincible, especially as the season enters its final stretch.
Several marquee matchups are on tap for this week, including a Tuesday showdown between No. 5 Tennessee and No. 15 Kentucky, as well as a Saturday clash between No. 1 Auburn and No. 2 Alabama. These games will have significant implications for the conference standings and the national rankings. For now, the latest AP Top 25 poll reflects the ever-changing landscape of college basketball, with Auburn and Alabama leading the charge, followed closely by Florida, Duke, and Tennessee. The full poll is as follows:
1. Auburn (21-2)
2. Alabama (20-3)
T3. Florida (20-3)
T3. Duke (20-3)
5. Tennessee (20-4)
6. Houston (19-4)
7. Purdue (19-5)
8. Texas A&M (18-5)
9. St. John’s (21-3)
10. Iowa State (18-5)
11. Michigan State (19-4)
12. Texas Tech (18-5)
13. Arizona (17-6)
14. Memphis (20-4)
15. Kentucky (16-7)
16. Wisconsin (19-5)
17. Kansas (16-7)
18. Marquette (18-6)
19. Ole Miss (18-6)
20. Michigan (18-5)
21. Missouri (17-6)
22. Mississippi State (17-6)
23. Clemson (19-5)
24. Creighton (18-6)
25. Maryland (18-6)
Others Receiving Votes: UCLA 123, UConn 106, Illinois 59, Louisville 53, New Mexico 40, Drake 21, Saint Mary’s 20, Utah State 8, George Mason 7, Gonzaga 5.
