For the first time this season we have a new number 1 team in the country.
Here’s everything you missed from Week 5 of the college basketball season and the latest Associated Press men’s basketball poll.
Kansas cancels back-to-back games
Until last week, everything was going great for the Jayhawks. They started the season as the top-ranked team in the sport for the second year in a row, posting solid top-10 wins over both North Carolina and Duke early in the season.
But suddenly, Kansas has completely disappeared from the top 10 after dropping two straight games to unranked teams. The Jayhawks came in at No. 10 in this week’s poll, paving the way for Tennessee to take their spot at No. 1.
First it was Creighton, who rolled to an impressive 13-point victory over the Jayhawks on Wednesday night. Star center Ryan Kalkbrenner, who was questionable entering the game with an injury, finished with a double-double and limited Kansas Preseason All-American Hunter Dickinson to just six points and a pair of field goals all night.
That victory, which came quickly. Creighton has lost three straight and dropped out of the national rankings completely, sending the BlueJays back to TRUE this week. However, they will have to make do without star Pop Isaacs for the rest of the season. Isaacs, who scored 27 points in the win over Kansas, will undergo hip surgery.
On Sunday, Missouri held on after nearly blowing a 14-point halftime lead to earn a 76-67 victory over the Jayhawks in Columbia. The Jayhawks had 22 turnovers as a team.
“This past week, we haven’t been good at all the last five days,” Kansas coach Bill Self said, via 247Sports. “So I don’t know if we’re close to finding an identity yet. Because who are we? … I’ll be honest with you, I think we’re in kind of a situation right now where it’ll be for It is difficult for me to say from match to match what we are.”
Kansas’ loss was part of a massive shake-up at the top of the sport over the past week. Six of the top 10 teams lost at least one game last week. The Volunteers jumped to No. 1 after a 26-point win over Syracuse that moved them to 8-0 on the year. Although the Volunteers have only played a single ranked opponent, they posted a 15-point victory over then-No. 13 Baylor in the Baha Mar Hoops Bahama championship game. They will host Miami and then travel to take on Illinois this week.
Auburn remained at No. 2 despite a loss to Duke. Iowa State, fresh off a win over Marquette, jumped three spots to No. 3. Duke and Kentucky – who rallied in Seattle to beat Gonzaga on Sunday night – then rounded out the top five.
Kansas will close out its non-conference slate with games against NC State and Brown before hosting West Virginia on Dec. 31. If the Jayhawks continue their losing streak in Big 12 play, it could be a long year for the conference favorites.
Games to watch this week
*Neutral site game
Tuesday, December 10
No. 20 Wisconsin in Illinois | 9:00 PM ET | Peacock
Saturday December 14th
No. 17 Texas A&M at No. 11 Purdue | 12:00 PM ET | CBS*
No. 1 Tennessee in Illinois | 5:30 PM ET | FOX
No. 8 Gonzaga at No. 18 UConn | 8:00 PM ET | FOX*
Creighton at number 7 Alabama | 8:30 PM ET | SEC Network
AP Top 25
The complete December 9, 2024 Associated Press men’s basketball poll.
1. Tennessee (8-0)
2. Chestnut brown (8-1)
3. Iowa State (7-1)
4. Duke (7-2)
5. Kentucky (8-1)
6. Marquette (9-1)
7. Alabama (7-2)
8. Gonzaga (7-2)
9. Florida (9-0)
10. Kansas (7-2)
11.Purdue (8-2)
12. Oregon (9-1)
13.Oklahoma (9-0)
14. Michigan (8-1)
15. Houston (5-3)
16. Clemson (9-1)
17. Texas A&M (8-2)
18. UConn (7-3)
19. Ole Miss (8-1)
20. Wisconsin (8-2)
21. Michigan State (8-2)
22. Cincinnati (7-1)
23. San Diego State (6-2)
24.UCLA (8-1)
25. Mississippi State (8-1)
Others receiving votes: Baylor 150, Arizona State 143, Memphis 123, Missouri 119, Penn State 90, Arkansas 89, Drake 67, Pittsburgh 62, Utah State 57, Illinois 47, St. John’s 43, Maryland 39, Dayton 38, Creighton 32, Indiana 30, West Virginia 30, North Carolina 24, Georgia 21, Saint Mary’s 20, Texas 8, Rhode Island 3, Loyola Chicago 1
