Crawford Releases Week 2 AP Men’s Basketball Top 25 Ballot
Week 2 of the college basketball season brought significant changes to the AP Men’s Basketball Top 25 rankings. Performance has been the primary criterion for adjustment, leading to remarkable shifts in the standings as teams achieved impressive victories.
Top Teams in Week 2 AP Men’s Basketball Rankings
The following teams made notable strides in this week’s rankings:
- 1. Purdue: Climbed from 8th to 1st after defeating Alabama 87–80 and Akron 97–79.
- 2. Houston: Remained stable at 2nd, with a dominant 78–45 win over Oakland and a narrow 73–72 victory against Auburn.
- 3. Arizona: Held steady at 3rd after wins against Northern Arizona (84–49) and UCLA (69–65).
- 4. UConn: Advanced from 5th to 4th following an 86–84 nail-biter against BYU.
- 5. Duke: Dropped from 1st to 5th despite a pair of strong victories over Army (114–59) and Indiana State (100–62).
Detailed Insights on Top Teams
Purdue’s victory at Alabama is especially noteworthy, demonstrating their resilience and showcasing their capability to take on challenging opponents. Houston’s robust defense characterized their recent outings, making them a formidable contender alongside Purdue.
Arizona’s recent success solidifies their reputation, leading their tier with a collection of strong wins, including the significant road victory against UCLA. UConn’s close match against BYU underscored their explosive potential as they prepared to face Arizona next.
Duke’s performance remains top-tier, despite their drop in ranking. Their upcoming match against Kansas presents an opportunity to reclaim their former standing.
Other Notable Teams
Several other programs also impacted the rankings:
- 6. Florida: Continued to display consistency with wins over Florida State and Miami.
- 8. Louisville: Climbed to 8th after winning against Kentucky and Ohio.
- 10. Alabama: Maintained their ranking despite a loss to Purdue, indicating resilience.
- 13. BYU: Secured a solid performance against Delaware but fell short in a close match with UConn.
- 18. Auburn: Entered the rankings after a strong performance against Wofford and a near victory against Houston.
The season is still young, with numerous matchups on the horizon likely to influence the rankings further. Key games this week include Duke vs. Kansas and UConn vs. Arizona, which are expected to be pivotal in shaping the next week’s AP Top 25. The dynamic nature of college basketball ensures that the upcoming weeks will continue to provide excitement and surprises.
