Gonzaga, Baylor stay atop men’s basketball AP poll as Oklahoma leaps up to No. 9

Baylor has eclipsed almost everything in the Big 12 this season while trying to finish an undefeated season.

Oklahoma issued its own statement.

With Saturday’s win over then-No. 9 Alabama, the Sooners became the second team in 25 years to defeat three consecutive Top 10 opponents. Oklahoma is also the first team since 1974 to beat four top ten teams in the same month.

The Sooners made a big jump this week in the Associated Press review of men’s basketball. Oklahoma moved up 15 spots to ninth in Monday’s Top 25, its best ranking since fourth in the 2017-18 season.

When you can win a game like this, you win in terms of resume, confidence and momentum, Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said after the 66-61 win over the Crimson Tide. It always goes in the right direction. These victories should never be taken for granted.

Oklahoma had to replace top scorer and rebounder Christian Doolittle this season and finished sixth in the Big 12’s preseason poll.

The Big 12 got off to a fast start, going to 2 of 3 after losses against Baylor and Kansas.

Since then, Oklahoma (11-4, 6-3 Big 12) has had a great run of games, with wins over Kansas (9th), Texas (5th) and Alabama.

The Sooners, who beat No. 17 West Virginia earlier this month, defeated the Crimson Tide despite playing without Austin Reeves and starting guard Alondez Williams because of COVID-19 protocols.

I thought these guys (from Oklahoma), they play hard to start with and then when they get to two they really commit, Alabama coach Nate Oats said.

Overview of the top 25 countries in PA

TOP

Gonzaga and Baylor remained 11th. A week at the top of the polls.

The Zags (17-0, 8-0 West Coast) received 61 votes from a media panel that ranked them No. 1 after their wins over San Diego and Pepperdine last week. The Bears (16-0, 8-0 Big 12) earned three more top spots after beating Kansas State and Auburn.

Villanova and Michigan remain in third and fourth place, respectively, while Houston completes the Top 5. The Cougars have their highest ranking since the Phi Slam Jam team finished 2nd in 1983-84.

LOVE THE DRAGON

Drake won 24 games in its first season under coach Darian DeVries and played 20 games last year before the pandemic wiped out all seasons.

The Bulldogs have taken another step forward this year by remaining undefeated during the season.

With three wins last week, Drake is in 25th place this week for the first time since 2007-08.

The Bulldogs (16-0, 7-0 Missouri Valley to Sunday) came back from an 11-point deficit to beat Illinois State 78-76 in overtime and have their best start in 13 years.

RISING

Oklahoma made the biggest jump in the poll this week, but Ohio State (No. 7) also jumped six spots in the top 10. Last week, the Buckeyes beat Penn State and beat Michigan State.

Tennessee (11th) moved up seven spots by beating Kansas by 19 points. Illinois (12th) also moved up seven spots after a five-point victory over Iowa, which dropped three spots to eighth.

CAS

West Virginia (17th) dropped six spots after losing to Florida at home and winning by one point over Texas Tech (13th). … 14th-ranked Virginia also dropped six spots after a 14-point loss at Virginia Tech, as did 18th-ranked Missouri after losing to Auburn in a 1-1 draw at the University of California, Berkeley last week. The No. 19 seed from Wisconsin dropped five spots after being blown out by Michigan.

ENTRANCE AND EXIT

Florida is 22nd in the standings for the first time this season after beating West Virginia. … 24 Purdue also started the season this week with a win over Minnesota. The Gophers are in the 21st. … St. Louis dropped from 22nd place after losing against Dayton, and Louisville dropped from 25th place after losing against Clemson.