The UConn men’s basketball team moved back into the top five at No. 5 after Monday’s shakeup of the AP Top 25 rankings.
Michigan was almost unanimously moved up to No. 1, receiving 60 of 61 first place votes after Arizona’s nine-week hold on the top spot came to an end with back-to-back losses at Kansas and at home against Texas Tech. The Wildcats, responsible for one of UConn’s two losses, came in just above the Huskies at No. 4. Houston received one first place vote as it moved up to No. 2, followed by Duke at No. 3.
UConn’s resumé remains No. 3 in the country, according to EvanMiya.com. It includes a 4-2 record against teams ranked in Monday’s poll with three top-15 wins over No. 8 Kansas, No. 10 Illinois and No. 12 Florida. BYU answered its four-game losing streak with back-to-back Big 12 wins to stay in the rankings at No. 23.
St. John’s, a half game behind the Huskies in the Big East standings with a 13-1 league record, held its spot at No. 17. Villanova, in third place in the league at 11-3, received AP votes.
Solo Ball became the third different Husky to win Big East Player of the Week after he reached the 1,000-point career milestone in Saturday’s 79-75 win over Georgetown. He began the week with 24 points and six made 3-pointers when UConn took down Butler on Wednesday, 80-70, and followed that performance with 20 points, six rebounds and four assists against the Hoyas.
Ball made 11 3-pointers on 27 attempts (40.7%) during the 2-0 week.
Still, the Huskies weren’t able to do themselves any favors as far as metrics go.
UConn moved down two spots in the NCAA’s NET rankings with a Quad Two win at Butler and a Quad Three win over the Hoyas. Kenpom has the Huskies at No. 9 with the No. 22 offense and No. 10 defense in the nation.
AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll: Week 15
Michigan (60 first place votes)
Houston (1)
Duke
Arizona
UConn
Iowa State
Purdue
Kansas
Nebraska
Illinois
Gonzaga
Florida
Texas Tech
Virginia
Michigan State
North Carolina
St. John’s
Saint Louis
Vanderbilt
Arkansas
Louisville
Miami (OH)
BYU
Wisconsin
Alabama
