Auburn stays in the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 for the 27th consecutive day, while others in the Top 10 improve their rankings with strong performances.
Blue bloods Kentucky, Duke and Kansas all had impressive wins this week to move up the rankings.
The biggest fallout this week was more of a surprise: UCLA. The Bruins entered the week at No. 3 in the rankings but dropped to No. 12 after a pair of losses. This is the first time the Bruins, a Final Four team from last year and the preseason No. 2 team, have fallen outside the top 10.
The first one came from ranked Arizona. The Bruins shot just 3-of-14 from three-point range in the tough Pac-12 loss.
The second defeat was to a hungry Arizona State team, who pulled off a shocking three-overtime upset.
The Bruins continued to struggle with their shooting (5-of-22 from three) in this game, as star guard Johnny Juzang went 8-22 from the field and missed almost every jumper down the stretch. Arizona State’s guard Marreon Jackson led the way for the Sun Devils, as he scored 24 as well as several clutch threes.
“What all of us have been through for two years, it’s good for everyone to enjoy a good moment,” coach Bob Hurley said. “It was exciting to see that.”
“I’ve played in a lot of games in great atmospheres, but beating the No. 3 team in the country, I don’t think it gets any better than that,” Jackson added.
The big loss has led to some movement in the rankings heading into Week 14.
Marquette rises six spots to No. 18 after beating Villanova
Illinois and Texas Tech’s climb jump five spots after both had big wins.
No. 12 UCLA falls nine spots after losses to Arizona and Arizona State.
No. 24 UConn slide seven spots after losing at home to Creighton and on the road to Villanova.
No. 22 Saint Mary’s and No. 23 Murray State were the week’s new additions.
Iowa State (No. 20) and LSU (No. 25) fell out from last week’s rankings.
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