Texas Surges to No. 2 in AP Top 25, Trails UConn

Bassyonni

ago 30 minutes

Texas Surges to No. 2 in AP Top 25, Trails UConn

In the latest Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll, Texas has achieved a remarkable feat, climbing to No. 2. This rise comes after impressive victories against two highly-ranked teams during a Thanksgiving tournament held in Las Vegas.

Texas Achievements

Texas defeated then-No. 2 South Carolina with a tight score of 66-64. This win followed a previous victory against then-No. 3 UCLA, where the Longhorns triumphed 76-65. These back-to-back wins mark the first occurrence in 25 years that a team has defeated two top-3 opponents so quickly.

Current Top 5 Rankings

1. UConn (22 first-place votes) – Record: 7-0
2. Texas (10 first-place votes) – Record: 8-0
3. South Carolina – Record: 7-1
4. UCLA – Record: 8-1
5. LSU – Record: 8-0

UConn continues to lead the rankings after a dominating 104-39 victory over Xavier in their Big East season opener. Meanwhile, Texas has garnered 10 first-place votes from a panel of 32 national media members, while UConn received 22 votes.

Notable Performances and Records

LSU, holding the fifth position, has yet to face a ranked opponent this season. However, they have made headlines by scoring over 100 points in their opening eight games, setting an NCAA record. This achievement surpasses the previous record of six consecutive games with 100 points set by the 1981-82 Louisiana Tech team.

Other teams in the top ten include Michigan, Maryland, TCU, Oklahoma, and Iowa State, with Iowa State’s Audi Crooks showcasing an exceptional 47-point performance against Indiana.

Debuts and Trends

Ohio State has made a notable entry into the rankings at No. 23, after narrowly defeating West Virginia 83-81 last week. They followed this up with an extraordinary 98-point victory over Niagara, marking both the highest points scored in school history and the largest margin of victory for the Buckeyes.

Conference Representation

With Ohio State’s entrance into the rankings, the Big Ten now matches the Southeastern Conference with eight teams in the top 25. The Big 12 follows with five teams, while the Atlantic Coast Conference has three representatives and the Big East has one.

Upcoming Matchups

This week promises exciting games as the ACC-SEC challenge unfolds. Key matchups include:

No. 22 Louisville vs. No. 3 South Carolina
No. 11 North Carolina at No. 2 Texas
No. 13 Ole Miss at No. 18 Notre Dame

As the season progresses, Texas’s rise to No. 2 showcases their potential and determination to challenge for the top spot in women’s basketball this year.