UCLA makes big jump as top 13 remain unchanged

Field Level Media|published: Mon 30th December, 15:22 2024

Syndication: The Knoxville News-Sentinel

Tennessee guard Jordan Gainey (11) moves between Middle Tennessee defenders during a college basketball game between Tennessee and MTSU held at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024.

The top 13 teams remained unchanged while UCLA made a big jump and Gonzaga and Ole Miss took major tumbles in the latest Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll, released Monday.

With 41 first-place votes, Tennessee (12-0) stayed on top thanks to an 82-64 win over Middle Tennessee, while the next three in line -- Auburn (11-1, 20 first-place votes), Iowa State (10-1) and Duke (10-2) -- were idle during the holiday week.

The biggest jump saw the Bruins (11-2) vault seven spots to No. 15 on the strength of a 65-62 win over Gonzaga (9-4). In the process, the Bulldogs dropped five spots to No. 19.

Ole Miss (11-2) plummeted eight spots, barely staying in the poll at No. 24 after then-unranked Memphis handed the Rebels a 17-point loss. Memphis (10-3) re-entered the poll this week at No. 21

San Diego State (8-3) dropped out of the rankings after a last-minute loss to unranked Utah State.

The rest of the Associated Press Top 25:

5. Alabama (11-2)

6. Florida (13-0)

7. Kansas (9-2)

8. Marquette (11-2)

9. Oregon (12-1)

10. Kentucky (10-2)

11. UConn (10-3)

12. Oklahoma (13-0)

13. Texas A&M (11-2)

14. Houston (8-3)