For the first time since Week 5, Villanova is not the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 rankings.
[divider]
COMPARE: CBB Teams | CBB Players
[divider]
The Wildcats held the top spot for three weeks but tumbled to No. 3 following an eight-point road loss to Butler. It was their first loss of the season and, along with losses by Arizona State and TCU, left zero undefeated teams in college basketball.
Let's break down all the movement in the Week 9 AP Top 25, but first, here are the full rankings:
| Rank | Team | Record | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan State | 14-1 | 2 |
| 2 | Duke | 13-1 | 4 |
| 3 | Villanova | 13-1 | 1 |
| 4 | Arizona State | 12-1 | 3 |
| 5 | Xavier | 14-1 | 6 |
| 6 | West Virginia | 12-1 | 7 |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 11-1 | 12 |
| 8 | Virginia | 12-1 | 9 |
| 9 | Wichita State | 11-2 | 8 |
| 10 | Kansas | 11-2 | 11 |
| 11 | Texas A&M | 11-2 | 5 |
| 12 | North Carolina | 12-2 | 13 |
| 13 | Purdue | 13-2 | 14 |
| 14 | Arizona | 11-3 | 17 |
| 15 | Miami (FL) | 12-1 | 15 |
| 16 | TCU | 12-1 | 10 |
| 17 | Kentucky | 11-2 | 16 |
| 18 | Texas Tech | 12-1 | 22 |
| 19 (T) | Cincinnati | 12-2 | 21 |
| 19 (T) | Gonzaga | 12-3 | 20 |
| 21 | Seton Hall | 13-2 | 23 |
| 22 | Arkansas | 11-2 | Unranked |
| 23 | Tennessee | 9-3 | 19 |
| 24 | Florida State | 11-2 | 24 |
| 25 | Clemson | 12-1 | Unranked |
[divider]
Good Weeks
Oklahoma made the biggest jump of any ranked team, leaping seven spots to No. 7 — just their second top-10 ranking since 2009 — following a one-point win at TCU. The Sooners — picked to finish sixth in the Big 12 by the league's coaches before the season — are 11-1 for the second time in three seasons.
Two new teams joined the Top 25, Arkansas and Tennessee, both of whom are ranked for the first time this season. The Tigers used a 16-point win over North Carolina State to earn their first ranking since January 2010.
Elsewhere, Duke moved up to No. 2 with a nice home win vs. Florida State and Texas Tech blasted Baylor to reach No. 18, their highest ranking in eight years. And while Michigan State didn't beat anyone, they're still No. 1.
[divider]
Bad Weeks
Baylor plummeted from No. 18 to out of the Top 25 (No. 26) after that shellacking in Lubbock. The Bears shot 37 percent, committed 34 combined turnovers and fouls and gave up 15 offensive rebounds in the 24-point loss.
Both Texas A&M and TCU dropped six spots, though it's hard to call a one-point loss to now-seventh-ranked Oklahoma a "bad week." Also, Tennessee's two-point loss to now-ranked Arkansas shoved them to the brink of exclusion.
[divider]
Opportunities to Enter Top 25
Baylor has a rebound opportunity on Tuesday vs. TCU and Week 8 No. 25 Creighton could re-enter the Top 25 (which they missed by 50 points) with a 2-0 week — even if it is against St. John's and Georgetown.
Butler's (No. 29) Big East gauntlet continues with Xavier and Seton Hall this week. The Bulldogs will be a top-20 team with two more wins. They could even make the cut with a 1-1 week.
[divider]
Opportunities to Fall From Top 25
Duke lost at Boston College last month, so Clemson needs to be wary of the Eagles on Wednesday. The Tigers' visit to Chestnut Hill is followed by a home game vs. Louisville.
Elsewhere, Florida State has a tough week with North Carolina and Miami (FL), and Tennessee gets Kentucky on Saturday.
