UConn Takes the Top Spot in College Basketball Rankings, Gonzaga Falls Out of the Poll

In a surprising turn of events, the UConn Huskies have claimed the coveted No. 1 spot in the latest AP Top 25 poll. This is the first time the Huskies have held the top ranking since March 2, 2009, marking a significant milestone for the team.

With five out of the top six teams in last week's poll experiencing losses in the past week, the reigning national champions emerged as the only team in the top six to remain undefeated. This propelled them to the number one position by default. UConn surpassed Kansas, Houston, and Purdue, who had all held prominent spots in the rankings.

Out of a possible 63 first-place votes, 39 went to the Huskies, solidifying their position as a force to be reckoned with. Purdue managed to secure 20 first-place votes, with Kansas and North Carolina sharing the remaining votes. Despite their loss to Nebraska, Purdue retained a strong presence in the poll, coming in just one spot behind UConn.

Kansas maintained its position at No. 3, while North Carolina made an impressive leap of three spots to claim the No. 4 ranking. Houston, on the other hand, dropped three spots to No. 5. The volatility in the rankings was evident with nine teams from the previous week's top 10 undergoing changes in their rankings.

Interestingly, this week's poll witnessed a significant reshuffling, with 24 out of the 25 teams in different positions from the previous week's rankings. The bottom half of the poll saw a complete overhaul, as five previously unranked teams burst into the rankings. TCU secured the No. 19 spot, followed by Dayton at No. 21, Ole Miss at No. 22, and Iowa State and Texas Tech both tied at No. 25.

In a surprising turn of events, Gonzaga, who had been a dominant presence in the rankings for an impressive 143 consecutive polls, dropped out entirely. A road loss to Santa Clara brought their season record to 11-5, resulting in their exclusion from the AP poll. This marks the first time since the 2015-2016 season that Gonzaga has not been included in the rankings, signifying an end to their long-standing streak.

As the college basketball season continues to unfold, it is clear that the rankings are far from predictable. With the UConn Huskies claiming the top spot and Gonzaga's unexpected fall from grace, the college basketball landscape continues to surprise fans and experts alike.