Luke DeCock’s AP Top 25 basketball poll ballot: Week 12
News & Observer sports columnist Luke DeCock is serving as an Associated Press Top 25 basketball poll voter for the 2021-22 NCAA basketball season. This is his AP ballot for January 31, 2022.
Back after a week off -- the ballot was duly filed, but this breakdown was absent -- with a flip in the No. 1 spot. It’s a little harsh on Gonzaga, which really has done everything under its control to hang on, but there’s also no question Auburn is the No. 1 team in the country at the moment.
The next three -- Baylor, Arizona, Kansas -- stay in place despite losses because we’ve reached the point in the season where those teams have proven themselves beyond a single loss. They still are who we thought they were, for the moment anyway. (In Kansas’ case, that game helps Kentucky more than it hurts the Jayhawks.) On the other hand, for teams with less to stand on -- like USC, which has lost three Pac-12 games to the weak end of the league -- one loss can provoke a total reevaluation.
BYU exits, Iowa State enters. Also under consideration: Boise State, Indiana, Miami, Murray State.
THIS SEASON’S BALLOTS
Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10
THIS WEEK’S TOP 25 BASKETBALL BALLOT
1. Auburn (Last week: 2)
2. Gonzaga (1)
3. Baylor (3)
4. Arizona (4)
5. Kansas (5)
6. Houston (6)
7. Purdue (10)
8. UCLA (8)
9. Villanova (9)
10. Kentucky (17)
11. Duke (11)
12. Texas Tech (16)
13. Wisconsin (14)
14. Michigan State (7)
15. Tennessee (13)
16. Illinois (22)
17. LSU (15)
18. Ohio State (18)
19. Xavier (19)
20. St. Mary’s (23)
21. Connecticut (24)
22. Alabama (20)
23. USC (12)
24. Providence (25)
25. Iowa State (NR)
OUT BYU (21)
This story was originally published January 31, 2022 at 7:00 AM.
