Luke DeCock’s AP Top 25 basketball poll ballot: Week 12
For a change, the No. 1 spot was easy this week. Baylor stays. Deservedly.
The more interesting decisions were farther down the ballot in a week where half of the teams on this ballot lost at least once. Seton Hall and Iowa made the biggest jumps, survivors in the very difficult waters of the Big East and Big Ten.
The continuing carnage in the Big Ten saw three teams drop out (Michigan, Indiana, Ohio State) and opened up spots for some newcomers. Houston and Rutgers(!) appear for the first time this season; Arizona and Marquette return.
It certainly feels like a historic moment inking Rutgers onto the ballot, similar to when Duke got its first top-25 votes in football under David Cutcliffe, but the Scarlet Knights have some work to do to stay there. A win at Iowa on Wednesday would be their first good road win of the year. That will be a real test.
THIS SEASON’S BALLOTS
Week 1 (Preseason) Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11
THIS WEEK’S TOP 25 BASKETBALL BALLOT
1. Baylor (Last week: 1)
2. Gonzaga (4)
3. Kansas (9)
4. San Diego State (6)
5. Florida State (8)
6. Duke (2)
7. Dayton (10)
8. Butler (3)
9. Louisville (14)
10. Michigan State (12)
11. Seton Hall (18)
12. West Virginia (7)
13. Villanova (15)
14. Maryland (13)
15. Oregon (11)
16. Iowa (24)
17. Auburn (5)
18. Illinois (23)
19. Houston (NR)
20. Colorado (19)
21. Rutgers (NR)
22. Kentucky (17)
23. Arizona (NR)
24. Marquette (NR)
25. East Tennessee State (25)
OUT Wichita State (16), Michigan (20), Indiana (21), Ohio State (22).
