LAWRENCE, Canada – On Monday, Kansas dropped out of the Associated Press men’s college basketball poll for the first time in 12 years, ending the Jayhawks ’record streak of 231 consecutive weeks ranked in the top 25.
Gonzaga and Baylor maintained the top two spots, as they have done all season, with the Bulldogs getting 55 of the top 63 votes and the Bears the other eight. Michigan took advantage of the loss of Villanova to St. John’s to jump into the top three, Ohio State’s rival climbed three places to No. 4 and the Wildcats completed the top five.
Illinois gave the Big Ten three teams in the top six after beating Indiana in overtime and beating Wisconsin’s No. 21 over the weekend. The Illini were followed by Texas Tech, Houston, Virginia and Missouri, who beat Kentucky and Alabama No. 11 to reach the top 10 for the first time since December 24, 2012.
The real drama didn’t get to the top of the poll, but it did get to the bottom.
The Jayhawks began their Top 25 streak on February 2, 2009, when freshman guard Bryce Thompson was 6 years old. His more decade of dominance, which began the season after winning the national championship, included 10 consecutive Big 12 regular season titles, five conference tournament titles, two more trips to the Final Four and a second-place finish in 2012. .
His game against Oklahoma State No. 23 Monday night was to be the Jayhawks’ No. 1 pick in 434 games.
“It’s basketball and we have another game to focus on,” Jayhawks guard Jalen Wilson said after a 91-79 loss to No. 14 West Virginia on Saturday, his sixth in the last 10 games . “In basketball sometimes you have to focus on what you have in front of you and not think about the past and what you couldn’t do. Another day, another game that we just have to focus on.”
The Jayhawks started 8-1 and climbed to No. 3 on Dec. 28, with their only loss to Gonzaga and wins against teams ranked Kentucky, West Virginia, Creighton and Texas Tech on the road. But they have been fighting since the start of the Big 12 game, losing Thompson to injury and not getting enough production from another veteran team.
“We have a lot of games to win and I know this team can do it,” Kansas goalie Christian Braun said. “Everyone’s head is in a good place, but we just have to do it on the track. We have to stop talking about it and actually be there.”
Just like the Bulldogs and Bears have been this season.
Gonzaga stayed in the Pacific at halftime last week, before finishing 25-8 to win the game easily, and then canceled out his game against Santa Clara over the weekend. The Bulldogs had a tough test against BYU Monday night.
“It’s really hard when everyone around them nationally and all of that just thinks you’re going to do well,” Bulldogs coach Mark Few said after his last win, “but it’s not reality.”
Baylor won then. 6 Texas on the road last week in the first showdown involving the top ten teams in the state of Texas, to announce another break for COVID-19 on Thursday. This led to postponements against TCU and No. 11 Oklahoma, so the Bears won’t be on the court again (as soon as possible) until they face Texas Tech on Saturday.
The Crimson Tide and Sooners were followed at No. 13 by the Longhorns, who fell seven places after their losses against Baylor and the state of Oklahoma last week. The Mountaineers were next, with Iowa falling seven places to No. 15, followed by Tennessee, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Creighton and Southern California.
They complete the top 25 ranked Wisconsin, Chicago Loyola, Oklahoma State, Purdue and Rutgers.
INSIDE AND OUT
Loyola entered the polls for the first time since the final vote of the 1984-85 season. This may surprise those who remember the Ramblers ’dramatic run to the Final Four in 2018, but never topped the Top 25 of that season.
The victory of the Trojans then did not. 21 UCLA on Saturday night pushed them to their first ranking since December 2017, while Oklahoma State and Rutgers also joined the Top 25. The Cowboys are ranked for the first time since February 2015.
The Bruins left, along with Kansas, Florida and Drake, whose output was 18-0 in a 74-57 loss to Valparaiso.
PLACING ON THE DOOR
Colorado, San Diego State and Xavier were the top three to reside outside the Top 25, while Belmont continued to garner votes after the Bruins improved to 20-1 with breaks over Eastern Illinois and Southern Illinois. -Edwardsville.