The top three teams in the Associated Press Top 25 poll remained unchanged Monday, while Butler moved up to its highest ranking ever at No. 6.
Gonzaga (16-1) is No. 1 for the third consecutive week, receiving 54 of 65 first-place votes from a media panel after earning 63 first-place nods last week. Duke (13-1) is No. 2 with nine first-place votes, and third-ranked Kansas (11-2) was at the top spot on two ballots.
No. 4 Baylor (11-1) climbed two spots, while 13-0 Auburn — one of two unbeaten teams — is fifth.
Butler (14-1) moved up five spots from last week after winning at St. John’s and beating Creighton. The Bulldogs’ only loss was a one-point defeat at Baylor. Their other victories include Minnesota, Florida, Purdue, Missouri and Stanford.
Butler’s highest ranking had been No. 8 back in February of 2008.
#ButlerWay pic.twitter.com/6ouse5xhE1
— Butler Basketball (@ButlerMBB) January 6, 2020
The nation’s other unbeaten team, San Diego State (15-0), jumped six places and sits seventh. Michigan State (12-3) is eighth, with Oregon (12-3) and Florida State (13-2) rounding out the top 10.
Memphis took the biggest tumble within the poll, falling from ninth to 21st after a 65-62 home loss to Georgia on Saturday.
Only one team dropped out of the Top 25, that being Iowa, which was No. 23 when it lost 89-86 on Saturday to Penn State in Philadelphia. The Hawkeyes are first among “others receiving votes,” while Colorado — which upset visiting Oregon but lost Sunday night at home to Oregon State, rejoined the poll at No. 25.
AP TOP 25
1. Gonzaga (16-1)
2. Duke (13-1)
3. Kansas (11-2)
4. Oregon (12-3)
5. Ohio State (11-3)
6. Baylor (11-1)
7. Louisville (11-3)
8. Auburn (13-0)
9. Memphis (12-2)
10. Villanova (10-3)
11. Butler (14-1)
12. Michigan (10-4)
13. San Diego State (15-0)
14. Michigan State (12-3)
15. Maryland (12-2)
Zags keep the home win streak alive with a 75-70 win over Pepperdine! #UnitedWeZag pic.twitter.com/rbP61yZGKM
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) January 5, 2020
16. West Virginia (11-2)
17. Kentucky (10-3)
18. Florida State (13-2)
19. Virginia (11-2)
20. Dayton (13-2)
21. Penn State (12-2)
22. Texas Tech (10-3)
23. Iowa (10-4)
24. Wichita State (13-1)
25. Arizona (11-3)
–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)
