When three top-five teams lose on the same night in men’s college basketball, the next poll is bound to look considerably different. Such is the case this week in the new USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, which features a new No. 1 team.
Tennessee takes over the top spot, largely by getting through the week unscathed. The Volunteers received 26 of 31 first-place votes cast this week and hold the top spot for the first time since Feb. 11, 2019. Tennessee replaces Kansas, which held the top spot since the preseason poll before tumbling to No. 10 this week after defeats to Creighton and Missouri.
Auburn remains No. 2, bouncing back from a midweek loss at Duke with a decisive win against Richmond. The Tigers, who still have that tournament title in Maui on their resume, retained five No. 1 votes.
Iowa State vaults two places to No. 3 after taking down Marquette, which stays put at No. 4. Kentucky moves up to fifth after rebounding from a loss at Clemson with Saturday night’s comeback win against Gonzaga in Seattle.
TOP 25: Complete USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball poll
Duke climbs three spots to No. 6, following the Auburn victory with a win at Louisville in its ACC opener. Unbeaten Florida leaps six places to No. 7, its first top-10 appearance since the preseason poll in 2019. Alabama and Gonzaga check in at No. 8 and 9, respectively.
Michigan makes the biggest jump of the week, a nine-spot move to No. 14. Clemson heads a group of four newcomers to the poll, entering at No. 16 thanks to the Kentucky win.
Memphis, Illinois, Pittsburgh and North Carolina the dropouts after losses.
