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Auburn Becomes No. 1 in AP Top 25 for First Time in Program History

Brian ZhangBy Updated:3 Mins Read

With several key losses and a struggling 13–14 record last season, Auburn didn’t seem to be in any conversations heading into the 2022 college basketball year. 

Now three months into the season, they’re all basketball fans can talk about. This week, the Tigers climbed past Gonzaga to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll. The 18–1 team was able to surge to No. 1 after beating Kentucky 80–71, in front of an electrifying home crowd on Saturday.

This secured them 45 of 61 first-place votes to become the nation’s top-ranked team for the first time since the poll began 74 years ago.

The Bulldogs dropped to No. 2 with 15 first-place votes. Arizona remained third and earned the other No. 1 vote.

”The No. 1 ranking matters because it’s historical,” Tigers coach Bruce Pearl said. ”I’m very happy for Auburn. I’m very happy for my coaches and or players to have been able to achieve that. That said, we got a lot of work to do.”

Rightfully so, as the Tigers need to stay locked in if they want to remain atop. Several teams continue to compete closely behind, including the No. 2 Gonzaga Bulldogs, who beat a solid San Francisco team by 16 to move to 15–2 on the season. Arizona (16–1) remained at No. 3 in the poll after two tough away wins. 

Baylor and Kansas round out the top five respectively. Purdue drops out of the top five after a dramatic loss to Indiana. The Boilermakers dropped to sixth, while Duke fell to ninth following an unexpected overtime defeat in an ACC battle against Florida State.

 

Coming In/Out

Marquette returned to the Top 25 after beating three straight ranked teams – Seton Hall, Villanova and Xavier.

The Texas Longhorns dropped out of the poll as they’ve lost three of their last five games.

Loyola fell out after losing to Missouri State on Saturday.

 

Big Rises/Falls

Tennessee climbed six spots to No. 18 following wins over Vanderbilt and LSU.

Texas Tech and UConn each jumped five spots with the Red Raiders reaching a season-best No. 13 in the poll.

Iowa State fell eight spots to No. 23, after losses to Texas Tech and TCU.

Illinois fell seven spots to No. 24 after losing a heartbreaker to Purdue and a bad loss to Maryland.

 

AP Top 25 Poll:

  1. Auburn (45 first-place votes)
  2. Gonzaga (15)
  3. Arizona (1)
  4. Baylor
  5. Kansas
  6. Purdue
  7. Houston
  8. UCLA
  9. Duke
  10. Michigan State
  11. Wisconsin
  12. Kentucky
  13. Texas Tech
  14. Villanova
  15. USC
  16. Ohio State
  17. Providence
  18. Tennessee
  19. LSU
  20. UConn
  21. Xavier
  22. Marquette
  23. Iowa State
  24. Illinois
  25. Davidson

Others receiving votes: BYU 120, Alabama 77, Texas 61, Colorado State 57, Florida State 50, Loyola Chicago 21, Oregon 19, Wake Forest 12, Indiana 10, Murray State 10, Iowa 8, TCU 6, Miami 4, Florida 3, Boise State 3, Saint Mary’s (Cal) 3, Wyoming 2, Iona 1, Seton Hall 1.

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