LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas dropped out of The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll for the primary time in 12 years on Monday, ending the Jayhawks’ report streak of 231 consecutive weeks ranked within the Prime 25.
Gonzaga and Baylor held down the highest two spots, simply as they’ve all season, with the Bulldogs getting 55 of 63 first-place votes and the Bears getting the opposite eight. Michigan took benefit of Villanova’s loss at St. John’s to leap into the highest three, rival Ohio State climbed three spots to No. 4 and the Wildcats rounded out the highest 5.
Illinois gave the Large Ten three groups within the high six after beating Indiana in overtime and pounding No. 21 Wisconsin over the weekend. The Illini had been adopted by Texas Tech, Houston, Virginia and Missouri, which beat Kentucky and No. 11 Alabama to succeed in the highest 10 for the primary time since Dec. 24, 2012.
The true drama got here not on the high of the ballot, although, however on the backside of it.
The Jayhawks started their Prime 25 streak on Feb. 2, 2009, when freshman guard Bryce Thompson was 6 years previous. Their decade-plus of dominance, which started the season after successful the nationwide championship, included 10 consecutive Large 12 regular-season titles, 5 convention match titles, two extra Closing 4 journeys and a runner-up end in 2012.
Their recreation in opposition to No. 23 Oklahoma State on Monday night time was to be the Jayhawks’ first unranked in 434 video games.
“It’s basketball and we’ve got one other recreation to deal with,” Jayhawks guard Jalen Wilson stated after a 91-79 loss at No. 14 West Virginia on Saturday, their sixth defeat within the final 10 video games. “In basketball you typically must deal with what’s in entrance of you and never take into consideration the previous and what you couldn’t finished. One other day, one other recreation we simply must deal with.”
The Jayhawks began 8-1 and climbed to No. 3 by Dec. 28, with their lone loss to Gonzaga and victories over then-ranked groups Kentucky, West Virginia, Creighton and Texas Tech on the highway. However they’ve scuffled since the start of Big 12 play, shedding Thompson to an damage and failing to get sufficient manufacturing from an in any other case veteran group.
“Now we have loads of video games to go win and I do know this group can do it,” Kansas guard Christian Braun stated. “Everybody’s head is in a great spot, however we simply must do it on the court docket. Now we have to cease speaking about it and truly be about it.”
Type of just like the Bulldogs and Bears have been this season.
Gonzaga trailed Pacific at halftime final week earlier than a 25-8 ending run to win the sport simply, then had its recreation in opposition to Santa Clara canceled over the weekend. The Bulldogs had a tricky check in opposition to BYU on Monday night time.
“It’s actually arduous when everyone round them nationally and all the pieces simply thinks you’re going to breeze by means of stuff,” Bulldogs coach Mark Few stated after their newest win, “however it’s not actuality.”
Baylor beat then-No. 6 Texas on the highway final week within the first matchup involving top-10 groups from the state of Texas, solely to announce one other pause for COVID-19 on Thursday. That led to postponements in opposition to TCU and No. 11 Oklahoma, so the Bears received’t be on the court docket once more — on the soonest — till dealing with Texas Tech on Feb. 13.
The Crimson Tide and Sooners had been adopted at No. 13 by the Longhorns, who fell seven spots after their losses to Baylor and Oklahoma State final week. The Mountaineers had been subsequent, with Iowa falling seven spots to No. 15, adopted by Tennessee, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Creighton and Southern California.
Rounding out the Prime 25 had been Wisconsin, Loyola of Chicago, Oklahoma State, Purdue and Rutgers.
IN AND OUT
Loyola entered the ballot for the primary time for the reason that remaining ballot of the 1984-85 season. That will shock those that recall the Ramblers’ dramatic run to the Closing 4 in 2018, however they by no means cracked the Prime 25 that season.
The Trojans’ win over then-No. 21 UCLA on Saturday night time propelled them to their first rating since December 2017, whereas Oklahoma State and Rutgers additionally joined the Prime 25. The Cowboys are ranked for the primary time since February 2015.
The Bruins dropped out, together with Kansas, Florida and Drake, whose 18-0 begin was spoiled in a 74-57 loss to Valparaiso.
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR
Colorado, San Diego State and Xavier had been the primary three to reside outdoors the Prime 25, whereas Belmont continued to select up votes after the Bruins improved to 20-1 with romps over Jap Illinois and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.
The AP Prime 25
| RANK | TEAM | PV RANK | CONFERENCE | POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gonzaga (18-0) | 1 | West Coast | 1,567 (55) |
| 2 | Baylor (17-0) | 2 | Large 12 | 1,520 (8) |
| 3 | Michigan (13-1) | 4 | Large Ten | 1,438 |
| 4 | Ohio State (15-4) | 7 | Large Ten | 1,365 |
| 5 | Villanova (12-2) | 3 | Large East | 1,281 |
| 6 | Illinois (13-5) | 12 | Large Ten | 1,239 |
| 7 | Texas Tech (14-5) | 13 | Large 12 | 1,102 |
| 8 | Houston (16-2) | 5 | American Athletic | 1,060 |
| 9 | Virginia (13-3) | 14 | Atlantic Coast | 969 |
| 10 | Missouri (13-3) | 18 | Southeastern | 966 |
| 11 | Alabama (15-5) | 10 | Southeastern | 911 |
| 12 | Oklahoma (12-5) | 9 | Large 12 | 863 |
| 13 | Texas (11-5) | 6 | Large 12 | 841 |
| 14 | West Virginia (13-5) | 17 | Large 12 | 824 |
| 15 | Iowa (13-6) | 8 | Large Ten | 757 |
| 16 | Tennessee (13-4) | 11 | Southeastern | 690 |
| 17 | Florida State (10-3) | 20 | Atlantic Coast | 514 |
| 18 | Virginia Tech (14-4) | 16 | Atlantic Coast | 486 |
| 19 | Creighton (14-5) | 15 | Large East | 465 |
| 20 | USC (15-3) | NR | Pacific 12 | 411 |
| 21 | Wisconsin (14-6) | 19 | Large Ten | 358 |
| 22 | Loyola Chicago (0-0) | NR | Missouri Valley | 200 |
| 23 | Oklahoma State (12-5) | NR | Large 12 | 181 |
| 24 | Purdue (13-7) | 24 | Large Ten | 85 |
| 25 | Rutgers (11-6) | NR | Large Ten | 65 |
Others receiving votes: Colorado 41, San Diego State 38, Xavier 37, UCLA 35, Florida 29, Louisville 28, Belmont 25, Kansas 18, Drake 16, Minnesota 12, North Carolina 8, St. John’s 7, Toledo 6, Clemson 6, Arkansas 3, Boise State 3, Saint Louis 2, UAB 1, Virginia Commonwealth 1, BYU 1.
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