Auburn and Duke will be No. 1 and No. 2 in the AP Top 25 poll six consecutive weeks Monday when the latest college basketball rankings refresh. But the revolving door at No. 3 appears poised to once again give us a new team behind the two. With Florida’s mid-week loss at Georgia, the Gators’ stumble should pave the way for Houston — now back-to-back Big 12 title winners — to fill the void and assume its highest ranking of the season.
The Cougars’ rise to No. 3 would be the sixth team in a six-week span to be ranked right behind Auburn and Duke.
Houston’s rise will have been well-earned to boot. After starting the season ranked No. 4 in the AP poll, it opened the season with a 4-3 record — falling to Auburn, Alabama and San Diego State in the opening month. It has gone 21-1 since.
Bracketology: Tennessee joins No. 1 seeds, Alabama falls to a No. 2 after Volunteers’ victory vs. Crimson Tide
Jerry Palm
That stretch has powered the Cougars to a second consecutive outright Big 12 title and positioned them to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for a second consecutive year. As you can see below, it has also put them in a place to be ranked No. 3 behind the steady big two of Auburn and Duke.
So that’s how I project it will go Monday.
Below is how I project the AP Top 25 poll to shake out in our latest Tomorrow’s Top 25 Today.
Projected to drop out: Mississippi State
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