Thoughts on the AP Poll Week 16

The Top-Five Stays as Sturdy as It Has in Weeks

For the first time in seven weeks, the top ranked team did not drop a game. No. 1 Indiana looked dominant in two wins over Nebraska and Purdue—winning by an average of 28.5 points. Looking like a traditional Tom Izzo team by rounding into postseason form, Michigan State moved up four spots to No. 4. This sets up the biggest matchup of the next week in an enormous Big 10 game in East Lansing on Tuesday against the Hoosiers. Miami survived an ugly game against Clemson on Sunday and moved to No. 2 as a result. The Hurricanes are still undefeated in conference play, becoming the first team since Duke in 1998-99 to start 12-0 in the ACC. Gonzaga picked up two first place votes and moved into the No. 3 slot after an undefeated week. They don't play another ranked opponent the rest of the season, setting themselves up well for a potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Florida rounds out the top-five this week after two impressive SEC victories.

Top-10 Losses

Continuing the crazy trend of this season, five Top-10 teams were defeated this week in conference road games. The Blue Devils fell to Maryland in a heart-breaker, suffering their third conference road loss of the season. Michigan looked inferior to Michigan State and was blown out 75-52. These losses dropped Duke and the Wolverines four slots each to No. 6 and No. 7, respectively. Syracuse lost a tough game to Connecticut and dropped to No. 8. Arizona and Kansas State fell out of the top-10 with losses early in the week to Colorado and Kansas.

Movements Lower in the Polls

VCU was the only newcomer to the poll coming in at No. 24, its first appearance in the polls in three weeks. Kentucky, previously No. 25, continued to struggle in the absence of Nerlens Noels, and lost to both Florida and Tennessee this week. Ohio State had the worst fall in the poll, plunging five spots to No. 17 after a shellacking at the hands of Wisconsin on Sunday. Butler and Pittsburgh each tumbled four spots, to No. 15 and No. 20 respectively after losses this week. Kansas was the biggest positive mover this week, jumping all the way to No. 9 after two landslide victories over Kansas State and Texas.