Kansas holds off Auburn for No. 1 in the AP Top 25, while SEC takes three of the top four spots; UConn slides to No. 25

Kansas held off Auburn for the No. 1 ranking The Associated Press Top 25 Men’s Basketball Poll on Monday as Southeastern Conference teams took three of the top four spots and two-time reigning national champion UConn nearly bowed out after an 0-3 week at the Maui Invitational.

The Jayhawks received 35 of the 61 first-place votes in the poll, while the Tigers received the remaining 26 and climbed two spots to No. 2 after winning the Maui title. The Huskies fell all the way to No. 25, narrowly avoiding becoming only the second team to move from No. 2 to the rankings in a week in nearly four decades.

It was part of a turbulent week of holiday week tournaments, which saw six new teams enter the rankings.

Auburn was joined by fellow SEC schools No. 3 Tennessee and No. 4 Kentucky, with each team climbing four spots. Marquette was next at No. 5, followed by Iowa State, Gonzaga, Purdue, Duke and Alabama to round out the top 10.

No. No. 12 Oregon headlined the newcomers, followed by No. 16 Memphis, No. 18 Pittsburgh, No. 19 Illinois, No. 21 Oklahoma and No. 24 San Diego State.

Indiana, Arkansas, Creighton, Xavier, Arizona and Mississippi State dropped out of the poll.

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