Teams realize we’re in the final stretch, right?
Fourteen of my top 25 lost at least one game last week. Gonzaga got rocked and knocked out of the top spot with its first loss of the season against BYU. Villanova could have moved back in the top spot, but nope. The Wildcats stumbled against Butler.
That means someone else gets a crack at the top spot now.
Here’s how I voted in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 (previous rank in parentheses):
1. Kansas 26-3 (3)
2. Villanova 27-3 (2)
3. UCLA 26-3 (4)
4. Gonzaga 29-1 (1)
5. North Carolina 25-5 (8)
6. Oregon 26-4 (6)
7. Louisville 23-6 (5)
8. Kentucky 24-5 (12)
9. Arizona 26-4 (9)
10. West Virginia 23-6 (11)
11. Baylor 23-6 (7)
12. Duke 22-7 (10)
13. Butler 23-6 (23)
14. Notre Dame 27-7 (22)
15. Florida State 23-6 (24)
16. SMU 25-4 (19)
17. Purdue 23-6 (13)
18. Florida 23-6 (17)
19. Wichita State 27-4 (NR)
20. Miami 20-8 (NR)
21. Saint Mary’s 26-3 (21)
22. Cincinnati 25-4 (14)
23. Wisconsin 22-7 (15)
24. Virginia 19-9 (16)
25. Oklahoma State 20-9 (NR)
Dropped out: (20) Maryland, (25) Northwestern
• Oklahoma State is new to the top 25 this week. The Cowboys started the Big 12 season 0-6. They are now on a five-game win streak and have won 10 of their last 11.
• Wisconsin and Virginia plummeted this week. The Badgers are cooling off at the wrong time, losing four of their past five games. Stumbling at Ohio State and at Michigan State this week? Just strange for the Badgers, who had won eight straight.
• Virginia is similarly struggling. The Cavaliers lost four of their past five before stopping their skid with a win at North Carolina State.
• Butler and Notre Dame took huge jumps. Much of that has to do with other teams faltering. The Bulldogs look especially impressive with road wins at Villanova and at Xavier this week as part of a four-game win streak. They swept the Wildcats this season. The Irish are on a five-game win streak. They’ll go for a season sweep of Louisville when they meet for the regular-season finale Saturday.
sryan@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @sryantribune
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