The new AP poll for college basketball was released Monday afternoon, significantly changing the top 10 as we enter a new week. Could the Spartans be there to stay? Are the Cards ready for the top 25 spotlight? It’s all right here for you.
New Poll Shakeup
A thrilling weekend of college basketball has ended, with four of the top ten teams suffering defeats during one of the sport’s most exciting weekends.
Shaking things up in the Week 12 AP Poll 💥 pic.twitter.com/33cYHWtvIs
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 20, 2025
Iowa State, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Marquette were all victims this weekend. Few of them remained in the Top 10 after winning games earlier in the week. This continues to show the parity in college basketball.
Michigan St Enters Top 10
Michigan State Spartans are ranked No. 8 in the poll this week, and no team is playing better right now than Tom Izzo’s squad. They are well-coached, especially from an in-depth standpoint, and are getting significant contributions from Jase Richardson and Coen Carr. They are undefeated at 7-0 in conference, which has greatly surprised many, including myself.
Michigan State CRACKS the top 10👀 #GoGreen
— Michigan State Content (@msucontent) January 20, 2025
It’s their highest ranking in week 12 SINCE 2019🚨 pic.twitter.com/Hc3rg5nM8B
Currently, the Spartans are playing for a top seed in the tournament, and to top it off, Tom Izzo has not lost his fastball, as many would suggest. He’s got a squad that is playing as well as any team in the country right now, and it’s an exciting time in East Lansing as they move forward in Big Ten play and beyond. The Spartans have also been seeking their first league crown since 2020.
Pat Kelsey Has Louisville Rolling
Louisville is back in the polls at No. 25, and they might be the second-best team in the ACC next to Duke when it’s all said and done. This is the first time Louisville has been ranked since the 2020-21 season, and all of that can be attributed to Pat Kelsey and the energy he’s brought to this Louisville basketball program.
Louisville is currently on an eight-game winning streak since starting the season at 6-5.
Louisville is back in the top 25. The Yum! Center is back to being the place to be on Saturday’s in the winter. Cue Revival. pic.twitter.com/zQWGPhAR8R
— Ty Spalding (@TySpalding) January 20, 2025
End Of My College Basketball Rant
Parity in college basketball is at an all-time high thanks to the transfer portal, players opting to stay for another year, and NIL opportunities. The days of winning solely with first-year players and dominating teams seem to be behind us. This is an exciting time for college basketball, and the sport is truly at its peak. This is reflected in the upsets we’ve witnessed, like the ones we just saw this past weekend.
The ebbs and flows of a college basketball season bring both good and bad moments. Some nights, you’ll feel like the villain, while on others, you’ll be the windshield. However, it’s clear that changes are happening within programs, even at the mid-major level, especially regarding talent. Teams can no longer come in and dominate like they used to; they have to be prepared and ready for battle every night.
This is just a preview of what’s to come for the conference tournaments and March Madness in a few months, and that’s exciting. In the past, teams like Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky dominated for many years, but that’s not the case anymore.
We’re seeing new teams, like Auburn, storming the country this year. It’s not just the bluebloods anymore. March Madness has also shown us 16 seeds, knocking off 1 seed in the last few seasons, proving that anything can happen in this tournament.
You can see teams like Florida Atlantic in 2023, along with San Diego State and Miami, making a run to the Final Four that same year. In some seasons, the top programs will still attract elite talent, but mid-majors also benefit from these changes as we saw in 2023.
Welcome to the new age of college basketball!
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