After an impressive double-overtime victory against No. 4 Arizona, Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has skyrocketed to the seventh spot in The Associated Press men's college basketball poll. This achievement marks the highest ranking in the program's history, surpassing their preseason ranking of No. 10.

FAU's exceptional performance has proven that their Cinderella run to the Final Four last season was no fluke. The team's head coach, Dusty May, expressed the importance of this challenging matchup, highlighting their desire to elevate the program even further.

Purdue University maintained its position as the top-ranked team for the second consecutive week, receiving 46 first-place votes out of the 60-person media panel. Following closely behind, No. 2 Kansas secured five first-place votes, while No. 3 Houston obtained nine. The top five was rounded out by Arizona and UConn.

FAU's remarkable journey last season included their first-ever ranking in the AP Top 25 during the regular season, followed by an enchanting run in the NCAA Tournament. Although falling short of the national championship game, the Owls displayed resilience and determination.

Despite experiencing an unexpected early home loss to Bryant and a defeat to then-No. 20 Illinois, the Owls have showcased their potential for another deep tournament run this season. Notably, FAU emerged as the champion of the ESPN Events Invitational, triumphing over then-No. 12 Texas A&M in the semifinals and Virginia Tech in the title game.

Their recent clash with Arizona in Las Vegas added to the team's impressive resume. Johnell Davis led the way for FAU with an outstanding 35-point performance, and the Owls managed to secure their fifth win over a ranked opponent in the past two seasons. This victory was particularly significant as the team held a 1-19 record against AP Top 25 teams prior to last season.

FAU's remarkable ascent in the AP poll has sparked attention, as they experienced the highest jump within the rankings this week. Additionally, No. 16 Duke climbed five places following their victory over No. 17 Baylor, while No. 19 Memphis moved up four places after notable wins against Virginia and Vanderbilt.

On the other hand, creighton experienced the largest drop of the week, falling 10 places after an overtime defeat to Villanova. No. 12 Oklahoma also slipped five spots following their loss to No. 9 North Carolina.

Providence made a re-entry into the AP poll, securing the 25th spot after their recent victories against No. 10 Marquette and Butler. However, Virginia's stint in the rankings was short-lived, as they dropped out this week after a loss to Memphis.

Among conferences, the Big 12 continues to boast the highest number of ranked teams with six, followed by the Big East with four. The ACC, Big Ten, and SEC each have three ranked teams, while the American Athletic Conference, Pac-12, West Coast Conference, Mountain West, and Sun Belt conferences each have one.

FAU's rise in the AP poll serves as a testament to their determination and potential for a strong season. With their eye-catching performances and wins against top-ranked opponents, the Owls have solidified their presence among the nation's elite college basketball programs.