UCLA Rises, Tennessee Slips in AP Men’s Basketball Poll

The final Associated Press men’s basketball poll of the 2022-23 regular season saw more movement in the rankings than the past few weeks, including some shifting in the top four spots.

Houston remains No. 1 for the third consecutive week, while UCLA jumped up two spots to No. 2 after both Kansas and Alabama lost over the weekend. Alabama swapped spots with UCLA after its 67–61 loss to Texas A&M on Saturday. Texas A&M jumped up six spots, the biggest upward move of the week, to No. 18.

Tennessee suffered the biggest slide, down five spots to No. 17 after its 79–70 loss to unranked Auburn over the weekend. Additionally, Indiana fell four spots to No. 19 after losing to Iowa last week.

The bottom of the poll brings in five teams that weren’t on last week’s poll. Duke returns to the rankings at No. 21 after beating rival UNC on Saturday. The Blue Devils are followed by TCU, Kentucky, Creighton and Missouri to round out the top 25. Six teams dropped out of the rankings from last week.

Here’s the full Top 25 from Week 18’s AP poll.

1. Houston (29–2)
2. UCLA (27–4)
3. Kansas (25–6)
4. Alabama (26–5)
5. Purdue (26–5)
6. Marquette (25–6)
7. Texas (23–8)
8. Arizona (25–6)
9. Gonzaga (26–5)
10. Baylor (22–9)
11. UConn (24–7)
12. Kansas State (23–8)
13. Virginia (23–6)
14. Miami (24–6)
15. Xavier (23–8)
16. Saint Mary’s (25–6)
17. Tennessee (22–9)
18. Texas (23–8)
19. Indiana (21–10)
20. San Diego State (24–6)
21. Duke (23–8)
22. TCU (20–11)
23. Kentucky (21–10)
24. Creighton (20–11)
25. Missouri (23–8)