There’s a new No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll this week, and NC State remained on the list

North Carolina, Houston and Purdue have combined to occupy the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll for 15 weeks. But after the Boilermakers were upset at Northwestern, it’s time to usher in the fourth school to be named the top team in the land:

Alabama.

The Crimson Tide is rolling through Southeastern Conference opponents, holding a 12-0 mark in league play, including a 57-point win over Vanderbilt, a 40-point win over LSU, a 28-point win over Florida and a 26-point win over Kentucky.

Bama is a bit different than the team that edged the Tar Heels 103-101 in quadruple overtime on Nov. 27. The Tide now starts three freshmen, including the national Freshman of the Year frontrunner Brandon Miller.

Their only loss in their past 14 games was a head-scratching 93-69 defeat at Oklahoma, but they’ve won four straight since then heading into Wednesday’s showdown at No. 10 Tennessee.

Of local interest, N.C. State is down one spot after its road loss to Virginia and is now No. 23. Neither Carolina nor Duke were among those receiving votes this week.

Highest rise

Baylor is the hottest team in the Big 12. The Bears started out 0-3 in league play, but have won eight of the past nine — including a non-conference win over Arkansas. Baylor is up five spots to No. 9.

As noted in this space two weeks ago, Creighton has come back strong after stumbling through a six game losing streak earlier this season after an injury to center Ryan Kalkbrenner changed their lineup.

The Bluejays have won their last eight games including over ranked foes Providence, Xavier and Connecticut. They’re looking like the team ranked No. 10 in the preseason poll and moved up five spots to No. 18 this week.

Miami jumped four spots to No. 15 and faced the Tar Heels on Monday in Chapel Hill. Carolina hasn’t beaten a team currently ranked all season.

Biggest drop

Arizona has had a tendency this season to, I don’t know, get bored or distracted against teams it should beat. That happened again last week in an 88-79 loss at Stanford and, coupled with a 13-point home loss to Washington State, the Wildcats have fallen twice to teams in the bottom half of the Pac-12. Arizona fell four spots to No. 8.

Tennessee came up on the short end of two buzzer-beating 3-pointers last week that had increasing degree of difficulties. The Volunteers fell to Vandy on a 3 from the right corner as time expired. Then they watched Missouri advance the ball the length of the court for about a 35-foot heave for another one-point loss.

It marked the first time this season the Vols have lost back-to-back games, but they could be trending in the wrong direction. They’ve lost three of their last four games with Bama and a trip to face a desperate Kentucky team they already lost to this season looming this week. Tennessee dropped four spots to No. 10.

TCU is getting caught in the Big 12 crucible, losing both its games last week against Kansas State and Baylor, which now means it’s lost four of its last five games. The Horned Frogs have played four of those games without starting guard Mike Miles, who suffered an injury in their overtime loss to Mississippi State. TCU fell five spots to No. 22.

Iowa State is suffering the same fate as the Frogs. The Cyclones are in a freefall, down eight spots to No. 19, after losing to West Virginia and Oklahoma State. They have also lost four of five games.

Outta here

Rutgers made an unceremonious exit after losing consecutive road games at Indiana and Illinois last week. The Scarlet Knights dropped out from No. 23.

AP Top 25

C.L. Brown’s ballot

This story was originally published February 13, 2023 at 9:23 AM.

C.L. Brown

The News & Observer

C.L. Brown covers the University of North Carolina for The News & Observer. Brown brings more than two decades of reporting experience including stints as the beat writer on Indiana University and the University of Louisville. After a long stay at the Louisville Courier-Journal, where he earned an APSE award, he’s had stops at ESPN.com, The Athletic and even tried his hand at running his own website, clbrownhoops.com.