Men: AP poll Week 2 reaction: What you need to know about each Top 25 team
Another AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is out.
It’s clear teams are settling into the 2024-25 season and starting to prove — or disprove — the preseason hype.
Kansas remains No. 1 for a third consecutive poll, but Alabama fell all the way to No. 8 after losing to Purdue on Saturday. The Boilermakers, for their part, jumped up seven spots to No. 6. Ahead of them, rounding out the top-5, are UConn, Gonzaga, Auburn and Iowa State. Kentucky was another team that saw a massive jump, going from No. 19 to No. 9 after a major win against Duke in the Champions Classic.
The poll also saw two newcomers from the Big Ten: Wisconsin, after defeating Arizona 103-88, debuts at No. 19. Illinois, which is 3-0 to start the season, replaces Ole Miss at No. 25.
Let’s take a look at the top 25 teams of Week 2 of 2024-25, how they got there and what’s coming up next for each team.
Previous polls: Preseason | Week 1
Stats courtesy of ESPN Research and The Associated Press.
All times Eastern
Previous ranking: 1
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: Saturday’s 78-57 victory over Oakland was the Jayhawks’ 48th straight home win as an AP No. 1 team. All 48 wins have come by an average of 27.2 PPG. The last loss as an AP No. 1 team came against Kansas State in January of 1994.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. UNC Wilmington, 8 p.m., ESPN+
2:00
No. 1 Kansas improves to 4-0
AJ Storr scores 16 points off the bench as Kansas defeats Oakland 78-57.
Previous ranking: 3
2024-25 record: 3-0
Stat to know: UConn is the first defending national champion in Division I history to start a season with three straight 35-point wins. Drop the margin a little lower, and the Huskies are the fifth defending champions to start a season with three consecutive 30-point wins, and the first since… themselves last year.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. East Texas A&M, 7 p.m., FS1
Previous ranking: 4
2024-25 record: 3-0
Stat to know: Gonzaga likes its big numbers: Saturday’s 113-54 victory over UMass Lowell was the Zags’ 47th game with 100-plus points in the past 10 seasons, the most in Division I — the team with the next highest amount of these games is The Citadel (34). The 59-point margin of victory was also tied for the Zags’ second-largest over a Division I opponent in program history (they also had a 59-point win over Santa Clara in 2019).
What’s next: Monday at San Diego State, 10 p.m., CBSSN
Previous ranking: 5
2024-25 record: 3-0
Stat to know: Johni Broome is once again showing out. On Wednesday, Johni Broome recorded his 60th career game with 3 or more blocks — he had 31 such games at Morehead State, 29 (so far) at Auburn. That’s the most by any active player in Division I. He also secured his first double-double of the season, with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Recall, last season Broome led the SEC with 14 double-doubles.
What’s next: Monday vs. North Alabama, 9 p.m., SEC Network
1:41
Auburn’s Johnson speaks on his versatility against Kent State
Chaney Johnson reflects on securing a career-high 18 points while also collecting five rebounds and four assists to help the Tigers defeat the Golden Flashes.
Previous ranking: 7
2024-25 record: 2-0
Stat to know: Iowa State is quietly racking up the wins thanks to some stellar statlines. Curtis Jones had 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in last Monday’s 82-56 victory over Kansas City. It was his first career game with at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. It was also his second 20-point game in three games (dating back to last season) and his 13th career 20-point game. Teammate Keshon Gilbert had 9 points and 10 assists against the Roos, his second career game with at least 10 assists, one shy of his career high (Dec. 31, 2023 vs New Hampshire).
What’s next: Monday vs. IU Indy, 8 p.m., ESPN+
0:15
Curtis Jones buries trey against UM Kansas City Roos
Curtis Jones buries trey against UM Kansas City Roos
Previous ranking: 13
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: Purdue made history when it took down No. 2 Alabama at home on Saturday. Along with continuing some win streaks, Braden Smith stood out from the night. He had 17 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds, becoming the third D-I player in the past 25 seasons with 15 points, 10 assists and 5 rebounds in a win over an AP Top-2 team — joining Gerry McNamara vs UConn in the 2006 Big East Tournament and Dwyane Wade vs Kentucky in 2003 Elite 8. He also now has 483 career assists, passing Tony Jones and Everette Stephens (481 each) for third-most in Purdue history, behind Bruce Parkinson (690) and Brian Walker (572).
What’s next: Tuesday at Marquette, 9 p.m., FS1
Previous ranking: 8
2024-25 record: 2-1
Stat to know: Houston’s bounced back after the losing against Auburn on Nov. 9. With Wednesday’s 91-45 defeat over Louisiana, the Cougars have now won 14 straight games against unranked opponents dating back to last season. What’s more, all 14 wins have come by an average of 18.9 PPG.
What’s next: Friday vs. Hofstra, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Previous ranking: 2
2024-25 record: 3-1
Stat to know: Mark Sears is on a tear. In the Tide’s 87-78 loss to Purdue on Saturday, he had 15 points and 6 assists, with 5-of-15 shooting from the field, 1-of-6 from the 3-point line. He has now scored 15-plus points in each of his last 9 games against AP-ranked opponents.
What’s next: Wednesday vs. Illinois, 9 p.m., SEC Network
1:33
No. 2 Alabama falls against No. 13 Purdue
The Tide fail to overcome the Boilermakers’ second-half 13-0 run as they lose 87-78 and fall for the first time this season.
Previous ranking: 19
2024-25 record: 3-0
Stat to know: Mark Pope has a statement win just three games into his tenure in Lexington. The Wildcats finally snapped a four-game losing streak in the Champions Classic when they defeated Duke 77-72. It was their first time victory over the Blue Devils since the 2015 Champions Classic. Pope, for his part, now has his third win against an AP Top-10 team — his first at Kentucky. He was 2-12 in such games entering the matchup against Duke.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Lipscomb, 7 p.m., SEC Network/ESPN+
Previous ranking: 10
2024-25 record: 2-1
Stat to know: North Carolina has made at least one 3-pointer in 954 consecutive games after defeating American University 107-55. The last time the Tar Heels failed to make one was against Princeton on Dec. 13, 1997, going 0-4 from 3-point range in the 50-42 win.
What’s next: Saturday at Hawai’i, 12:30 a.m., ESPN2
Previous ranking: 11
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: In the Vols’ 92-57 win against Montana last Wednesday, Igor Milicic Jr. became the first Tennessee player with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in a game since Grant Williams against Gonzaga on Dec. 9, 2018.
What’s next: Thursday vs. Virginia, 9:30 p.m., CBSSN
Previous ranking: 6
2024-25 record: 3-1
Stat to know: Cooper Flagg keeps making history. Through his first three college games, he has 57 points, 30 rebounds and 10 assists, making him the first the first Duke player in the past 40 years to accumulate 50 points, 25 rebounds, and 10 assists in that span. In his fourth, against Wofford, he recorded 8 points, 9 rebounds and a season-high 6 assists, making him the first Duke freshman with 8 or more rebounds and 6 or more assists in a game since Paolo Banchero in the 2022 ACC tournament quarterfinal against Syracuse.
What’s next: Friday at Arizona, 10:30 p.m., ESPN2
Previous ranking: 12
2024-25 record: 3-1
Stat to know: VJ Edgecombe is the first Baylor freshman with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in a game since Isaiah Austin against South Carolina Upstate in Dec. 2012. He scored this statline in the Bears’ 104-67 win against Sam Houston last Tuesday.
What’s next: Thursday at St. John’s, 7 p.m., CBSSN
1:33
No. 2 Alabama falls against No. 13 Purdue
The Tide fail to overcome the Boilermakers’ second-half 13-0 run as they lose 87-78 and fall for the first time this season.
Previous ranking: 14
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: Ryan Kalkbrenner is the first Division I player over the last 25 years to average 25 points per game on 85% FG shooting over any four-game span.
What’s next: Friday vs. Nebraska, 8 p.m., FS1
Previous ranking: 15
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: Kam Jones averaged 20.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in a 2-0 week for the Golden Eagles. The senior led Marquette to a 78-74 win at Maryland by scoring a game-high 28 points, including 12 straight down the stretch. He had 12 points and eight assists before that in a 70-62 victory over Central Michigan. He currently ranks third in the Big East in scoring (24.0 PPG) this season.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Purdue, 9 p.m., FS1
Previous ranking: 16
2024-25 record: 3-0
Stat to know: Five Hoosiers scored in double figures against South Carolina on Saturday, led by Myles Rice (23). Overall, Indiana shot 51% from the field, made 8 of 17 3-pointers and held the Gamecocks to 38% shooting. Crucially, Kanaan Carlyle’s shooting slump in Indiana’s first two games is over. He had 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting.
What’s next: Thursday vs. UNC Greensboro, 6:30 p.m., FS1
Previous ranking: 9
2024-25 record: 2-1
Stat to know: Friday’s loss to Wisconsin was brutal for the Wildcats, who allowed 103 points: the most they’ve let an opponent score in a game since a 4-OT loss against USC in 2016, and the most in a non-overtime game since the 2009 Sweet 16, when they lost 103-64 to No. 1 Louisville. Those 103 points are almost as much as Arizona had allowed in its first two games combined this season (108).
What’s next: Friday vs. Duke, 10:30 p.m., ESPN2
Previous ranking: 17
2024-25 record: 3-0
Stat to know: Despite missing Dan Skillings Jr., last season’s leading scorer and rebounder, Cincinnati shot 54% and outrebounded Nicholls State 46-32 in Friday’s 86-49 win. The Bearcats held the Colonels to 26% shooting in the first half to build a 42-22 lead.
What’s next: Tuesday at Northern Kentucky, 7 p.m., ESPN+
Previous ranking: Unranked
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: The Badgers scored their most points in program history over an AP-ranked team in the 103-88 defeat of Arizona. The result was also the most points scored by a Big Ten team in a non-overtime game against an AP Top-10 opponent since the 1992 Elite 8, when AP No. 5 Indiana beat No. 4 UCLA, 106-79.
What’s next: Monday vs. UT Rio Grande Valley, 8 p.m., BTN
Previous ranking: 18
2024-25 record: 2-1
Stat to know: Through three games, Boogie Fland is averaging 15.3 PPG and 5.7 APG, joining Anthony Black (2022-23) and Courtney Fortson (2008-09) as the only Arkansas freshmen in the past 20 seasons to average 15 points and 5 assists in a three-game span.
What’s next: Monday vs. Pacific, 8 p.m., SEC Network/ESPN+
Previous ranking: 20
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: Florida shot 26% from 3-point range in its first three games of the season but was 7 of 15 (46.7%) from beyond the arc in the first half against Florida State, which helped the Gators enter the break 44-31.
What’s next: Tuesday vs. Florida A&M, 7 p.m., SEC Network/ESPN+
Previous ranking: 22
2024-25 record: 4-0
Stat to know: Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino is now 3-1 against his son, New Mexico head coach Richard Pitino, after St. John’s defeated the Lobos 85-71 on Sunday. (His lone loss came at Iona in 2022, when New Mexico defeated the Gaels 82-74 in Albuquerque.)
What’s next: Thursday vs. Baylor, 7 p.m., CBSSN
Previous ranking: 23
2024-25 record: 3-1
Stat to know: Forty is a number that stood out in their 78-64 defeat of Ohio State on Friday. Texas A&M had 40 free-throw attempts (making 80% of those shots) against the Buckeyes. The Aggies also saw 40 points from the bench, which averaged 40.3 points entering the game.
What’s next: Wednesday vs. Southern, 8 p.m., SEC Network/ESPN+
Previous ranking: 24
2024-25 record: 3-0
Stat to know: Dylan Harper has 20-plus points in each of his first three career games. That is the third-longest by a Big Ten player to begin a career in the last 25 seasons.
What’s next: Wednesday vs. Merrimack, 8 p.m., Peacock
Previous ranking: Unranked
2024-25 record: 3-0
Stat to know: Tomislav Ivisic led the Illini in scoring for a second-consecutive game, recording a career-high 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting. He also had six rebounds and a career-best four steals.
What’s next: Wednesday vs. Alabama, 9 p.m., SEC Network
