Tennessee is the nation’s No. 1 team, followed by Auburn at No. 2, for the third consecutive week in the AP men’s basketball Top 25, but some of the biggest moves in this week’s poll belong to the Vols and Tigers’ SEC counterparts.
Kentucky dropped six spots to No. 10 after an 85-65 loss to Ohio State at Madison Square Garden, the Wildcats’ second defeat under first-year coach Mark Pope. No. 12 Oklahoma crept two spots closer to the top 10 after battling back against Michigan to remain among the ranks of the unbeaten. And new No. 16 Mississippi State vaulted into the Top 25 after an emphatic 79-66 win at previously 21st-ranked Memphis.
Since Tennessee leapfrogged Auburn for No. 1 in the AP poll on Dec. 9, with Kansas vacating the top spot amid a two-game skid, the Tigers have kept up their high-level play and continue to cut into the Vols’ lead, now garnering 21 first-place votes to Tennessee’s 41. Forward Johni Broome shook off a shoulder injury scare and posted 23 points and 11 rebounds in Auburn’s 87-69 win over previous No. 16 Purdue in Birmingham on Saturday. The Vols held serve in a 48-point rout of Western Carolina this week and take on Middle Tennessee at home on Monday night.
Here’s the full poll, alongside the ballot of The Athletic’s C.J. Moore:
AP Top 25: Dec. 23
| Rank | Team | Record | Prev | CJ’s vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
11-0 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
2 |
11-1 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
3 |
10-1 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
4 |
10-2 |
5 |
4 |
|
|
5 |
10-2 |
6 |
6 |
|
|
6 |
12-0 |
7 |
5 |
|
|
7 |
9-2 |
8 |
11 |
|
|
8 |
11-2 |
9 |
8 |
|
|
9 |
11-1 |
10 |
7 |
|
|
10 |
10-2 |
4 |
9 |
|
|
11 |
10-3 |
11 |
12 |
|
|
12 |
12-0 |
14 |
17 |
|
|
13 |
10-2 |
12 |
14 |
|
|
14 |
9-3 |
13 |
15 |
|
|
15 |
8-3 |
15 |
10 |
|
|
16 |
11-1 |
17 |
18 |
|
|
17 |
10-1 |
19 |
25 |
|
|
18 |
10-2 |
20 |
23 |
|
|
19 |
11-1 |
NR |
16 |
|
|
20 |
8-2 |
23 |
NR |
|
|
21 |
8-4 |
16 |
21 |
|
|
22 |
10-2 |
18 |
13 |
|
|
23 |
10-2 |
NR |
NR |
|
|
24 |
8-3 |
NR |
20 |
|
|
25 |
7-3 |
NR |
NR |
|
|
NR |
10-2 |
NR |
19 |
|
|
NR |
11-1 |
NR |
22 |
|
|
NR |
10-2 |
NR |
24 |
GO DEEPER
Men’s college hoops Top 25: Welcome to Defense Appreciation Week
Auburn stays hot
Auburn put on another offensive clinic in its win over Purdue. In eight of its 12 games, Auburn has produced the most efficient performance the opposing defense has allowed and the second-most efficient output three times. The other game was against North Carolina in Maui, when Auburn had the fourth-most efficient performance UNC’s defense has allowed this season. And on that “off” night, the Tigers still scored 85 and won by 13. — Moore
Welcome to the rankings, Mississippi State
The 11-1 Bulldogs dominate on the offensive glass, and they’re getting nearly 10 shots more per game than their opponent. Against Memphis on Saturday, they had 17 more field goal attempts in an impressive 13-point win on the road in which they never trailed after the second basket of the game. — Moore
Cincinnati tallies one of week’s best wins
The Bearcats rank fifth in adjusted defense and became the first team to hold Dayton under one point per possession this season in Friday’s 66-59 win. The Flyers scored only four points in the first 11 minutes. The offense has struggled against better opponents, but that defense should be good enough to get Cincy to the NCAA Tournament for the first time under Wes Miller. — Moore
(Photo: Luke Hales / Getty Images)
