Whereas there have been a number of shut requires the nation’s prime groups, this week’s Associated Press Top 25 males’s basketball ballot, launched on Monday, options the identical prime 5 and a few motion all through the remainder of the rankings.
Listed below are 5 takeaways from the ballot:
High 5 unchanged regardless of shut calls
It was a difficult week for the highest 5 groups though none of them misplaced.
No. 1 Auburn (18-1, 6-0 SEC) bought its star ahead Johni Broome again from a left ankle harm and have become the sixth AP No. 1 staff to win by two factors or much less in consecutive video games with a 53-51 win over then-No. 6 Tennessee.
No. 2 Duke blew a 35-22 halftime result in Wake Forest and used its protection to stay unbeaten in ACC play (17-2, 9-0 ACC). Freshman sensation Cooper Flagg grew to become the fifth Duke freshman within the final 20 seasons with a number of video games of 20 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
The fourth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (17-3, 6-1 SEC) had their tightest recreation of the season at house in an 80-73 win over LSU on Saturday.
Regardless of all of the adversity, The Tigers and Blue Devils discovered a option to win with protection whereas the Crimson Tide floor out a detailed house win regardless of sitting their leading scorer, senior Mark Sears, for your entire second half.
Michigan State’s profitable streak strikes it up one other spot
Presently on a 12-game profitable streak — its longest because the 2018-19 season — the Spartans (17-2, 8-0 Large Ten) are on prime of the convention and ranked No. 7.
According to TeamRankings, Michigan State makes 19.3 free throws per recreation, which is tied for sixth in Division I. The Spartans had 42 factors within the paint and made 22 of their 26 free-throw makes an attempt in an 81-74 win over Rutgers on Saturday. If Michigan State retains having its means underneath the basket and on the charity stripe, it’ll be arduous to decelerate.
One other comeback win vaults St. John’s up 5 spots
The Crimson Storm (17-3, 8-1 Large East) have received six straight and three video games by which they trailed by not less than 15 factors, which is tied with Princeton for probably the most in D-I.
A kind of cases was of their most up-to-date win over Xavier. The Crimson Storm rallied from 16 down and overcame 1-of-12 taking pictures from lengthy vary within the win. With a 48-24 benefit within the paint towards Xavier, an enchancment within the staff’s general three-point taking pictures (29.9%) may take this staff to a different stage.
Kentucky, Ole Miss fall after disappointing losses
Following a 74-69 loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday — its second straight loss — Kentucky (14-5, 3-3 SEC) falls three spots to No. 12.
Whereas the Wildcats have struggled on protection this season, they solely allowed 33 second-half factors and 74 for the sport. The larger concern on Saturday was Kentucky’s season-high 17 turnovers. With senior ahead Andrew Carr out with a again harm, Kentucky had some completely different lineups on the ground and couldn’t generate constant offense all through the sport. Higher ball management and Carr’s standing are going to be extraordinarily essential for a staff that has had problem getting defensive stops this season.
Ole Miss (15-5, 4-3 SEC) drops to No. 23 following a 3rd straight loss. The Rebels at the moment are 1-4 towards AP-ranked opponents this season. A significant motive for that has been their incapability to rebound. In these three losses, Ole Miss has been outrebounded 138-88. That could be a regarding pattern for a Rebels staff that upset fourth-ranked Alabama previous to the dropping streak.
Vanderbilt arrives after one other top-10 win at house
Very similar to the ladies’s staff, the Commodores picked up one other key win over the weekend and discover themselves at No. 24.
With back-to-back wins at house over prime 10 opponents, Vanderbilt (16-4, 4-3 SEC) is placing collectively a strong resume. Within the win over previously-No. 9 Kentucky, Vanderbilt made 12 threes and solely dedicated 5 turnovers within the recreation. If the Commodores proceed to excel in these areas, extra high quality wins could also be on the best way.
