Reigning national champion Connecticut continued its dominance in the college basketball world as they held on to the No. 1 spot in The Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll for the fourth consecutive week. The Huskies, who earned 45 of the 61 first-place votes, remained undefeated and showcased their prowess on the court.

Joining Connecticut at the top were Purdue and North Carolina, who held onto their respective positions at No. 2 and No. 3. The Boilermakers secured the top spot on the ballots of 16 voters, further solidifying their strong performance this season.

The latest poll maintained its rankings after an eventful week that featured four top-10 matchups, including Purdue's victory over Wisconsin and an impressive win by North Carolina against rival Duke. Kansas also made a significant jump, climbing four spots to No. 4 after defeating Houston, while the Cougars dropped one spot to No. 5.

Tennessee experienced a slight setback, falling one spot to No. 6 after losing at home to South Carolina, now ranked No. 15. However, the Volunteers rebounded with a victory over Kentucky in another top-10 showdown. The Wildcats, on the other hand, dropped seven spots to No. 17 following their defeats to Tennessee and Florida.

The top 10 also featured Marquette, Arizona, Duke, and Illinois, with Arizona and Illinois making a return after previously being ranked earlier this season.

The most significant development in the latest poll was the entry of South Carolina at No. 15, marking their first appearance in nearly seven years. The Gamecocks, under the guidance of coach Lamont Paris, have impressively won five consecutive games, already surpassing their previous season records. South Carolina's surprising run to the Final Four in 2017 remains a memorable chapter in their basketball history.

Alongside South Carolina, San Diego State made their way into the rankings at No. 24, replacing Oklahoma and TCU. Alabama made the biggest leap in the rankings, climbing eight spots to No. 16, thanks to their commendable performance and leading the Southeastern Conference standings with an 8-1 record. Baylor also experienced a positive climb, moving five spots up to No. 13 after a home victory against No. 14 Iowa State.

Texas Tech had a challenging week, dropping eight spots to No. 23 following their loss to TCU and a home defeat to Cincinnati. Creighton and New Mexico also witnessed notable slides, falling six spots each to No. 19 and No. 25, respectively.

Florida Atlantic joined the trio of UConn, Purdue, and North Carolina in maintaining their position at No. 20, standing out as the only other team to do so in the latest poll.

In terms of conference representation, the Big 12 led with six ranked teams, followed closely by the SEC with five. The Big Ten, Big East, and Mountain West conferences each had three teams in the rankings. The Atlantic Coast Conference boasted two teams, while the Pac-12, Atlantic 10, and American Athletic conferences each had one representative.

As the season progresses, the top teams will aim to maintain their momentum, while others will seek to make significant strides in the rankings. With the college basketball landscape filled with fierce competition, it is certain that the rankings will continue to witness fluctuations in the weeks to come.