The college basketball world just got a massive wake-up call. If you’ve been coasting through the early winter thinking the hierarchy was set in stone, Monday’s release of the new AP basketball poll probably made you do a double-take. We finally have a nearly unanimous king at the top, but the real story isn't just who’s No. 1. It’s the absolute chaos happening right beneath the surface.
Arizona is the team everyone is chasing now. They aren't just winning; they are suffocating people. Tommy Lloyd has the Wildcats sitting at a perfect 16-0, and the voters noticed. They grabbed 60 out of 61 first-place votes this week. That’s about as close to a consensus as you’ll ever see in this sport. But honestly? The "perfect" season for some of the other giants just went up in flames, and that’s where the poll gets interesting.
Michigan Stumbles and the Big 12 Rises
For a minute there, Michigan looked like the best team in the country. They were destroying ranked opponents by 30 or 40 points. Then, Saturday happened. Wisconsin walked into Ann Arbor and handed the Wolverines their first loss of the season, an 89-73 shocker that felt like a glitch in the matrix. Because of that, Michigan slid down to No. 4. It’s a fair drop, but if you look at the advanced analytics from guys like KenPom or Evan Miyakawa, they still think Michigan might be the best team on a neutral floor. Poll voters, though, value the "L" more than the spreadsheets.
This opened the door for Iowa State. The Cyclones jumped to No. 2, their highest spot in ages. They’ve been playing a brand of "forget-you" defense that makes every possession feel like a root canal for the opponent. However, being No. 2 lasted all of 24 hours. In a classic "rankings curse" moment, Iowa State traveled to Lawrence on Tuesday night and got absolutely dismantled by an unranked Kansas team.
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That 84-63 blowout at Allen Fieldhouse won't show up in the poll until next week, but it’s a reminder of why these mid-January rankings are basically written in pencil.
The Surprise Guests in the Top 10
You’ve got to talk about Nebraska and Vanderbilt. Seriously. If you had "Nebraska and Vandy in the Top 10" on your season preview bingo card, you’re either a genius or a liar.
The Cornhuskers are 16-0. Let that sink in. This is a program that has never won an NCAA Tournament game. Ever. Yet here they are at No. 8, matching a program high that hasn't been touched since 1966. They aren't just lucky; they’re deep. On the other side, Vanderbilt cracked the Top 10 at No. 10. The Commodores haven't seen these heights since the 2011-12 season. It’s refreshing to see some new blood at the top of the new AP basketball poll instead of the usual rotation of blue bloods.
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Men’s AP Top 10 Highlights (Week 11)
- Arizona (16-0): The gold standard.
- Iowa State (16-0): Currently No. 2, but likely falling after the Kansas loss.
- UConn (16-1): The defending champs are lurking at No. 3.
- Michigan (14-1): Still dangerous, just bruised.
- Purdue (15-1): Death, taxes, and Matt Painter having a Top 5 team.
- Duke (15-1): Quietly efficient at No. 6.
- Houston (15-1): The defensive metrics are still terrifying.
- Nebraska (16-0): The best story in the Big Ten.
- Gonzaga (17-1): Mark Few just keeps reloading.
- Vanderbilt (16-0): The SEC’s biggest surprise.
Women’s Poll: UConn’s Unanimous Reign
While the men’s side is a blender, the women’s new AP basketball poll has a very clear Queen. UConn is the unanimous No. 1 for the first time this season. They received all 32 first-place votes. It makes sense—they’re winning Big East games by an average of 47 points. Sarah Strong and the Huskies are playing a different sport right now.
But look at the SEC. It is a gauntlet. South Carolina moved up to No. 2, and the conference has five teams in the top seven. LSU, TCU, and Kentucky are all hanging around the top 10. The schedule-making is actually causing some drama, too. Texas coach Vic Schaefer was pretty vocal this week about having to play LSU and South Carolina back-to-back on the road. He called it a "stench" in the scheduling. When coaches start complaining about the grind in January, you know the intensity is peaked.
What This Means for Your Bracket
Rankings are fun for debates, but they’re starting to dictate the seeding conversation for March. Virginia was the week's biggest riser, jumping seven spots to No. 16. Ryan Odom has the Cavaliers playing fast—yes, Virginia is playing fast—and it’s working.
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Meanwhile, teams like Florida (No. 19) and Seton Hall (No. 25) are finally getting the respect they earned after big upsets. If you're looking for value, keep an eye on teams that are under-ranked in the AP but high in the NET. Illinois (No. 13) and North Carolina (No. 14) are both trending up and look like teams that could easily be in the Elite Eight.
The reality of the new AP basketball poll is that it’s a snapshot of a moving train. By the time the next one drops, Iowa State will be down, Kansas will be back in, and we’ll probably have another undefeated team go down.
Actionable Insights for College Hoops Fans:
- Don't overvalue the "Zero": Teams like Nebraska and Vandy are great stories, but their strength of schedule is about to get much harder. Expect a "correction" in the rankings by February.
- Watch the "Big 12 Mid-Week": As we saw with Kansas over Iowa State, road games in this conference are a death trap for high rankings.
- Follow the NET, not just the AP: If you're betting or doing bracketology, the NET ratings (where Michigan is still No. 1) are a better predictor of tournament success than the human voters in the AP poll.
- Mark Thursday’s Calendar: No. 4 Texas at No. 3 South Carolina on the women's side is the game of the year so far. It will likely decide who challenges UConn for that top spot.
Keep your eyes on the mid-major risers like Utah State at No. 23. They’re 14-1 and playing the kind of efficient ball that ruins a high seed's weekend in March.