Lawrence, Kan. – In a thrilling showdown between two undefeated teams, Kansas Jayhawks managed to hold off the Auburn Tigers 87-80 to retain their No. 1 ranking in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll.
With the game tied at 65 with just over 10 minutes remaining, Kansas displayed their championship mettle. Jalen Wilson, the Jayhawks’ leading scorer, erupted for 10 points in a 13-2 run that put Kansas in control. Gradey Dick also made several crucial plays down the stretch, including a pair of three-pointers.
“We knew this was going to be a tough game, and it was,” said Kansas coach Bill Self. “But our guys showed a lot of resilience and made some big plays when we needed them.”
Despite their loss, Auburn remains a formidable force in college basketball. The Tigers have now won 11 straight games and are up to No. 2 in the rankings. Bruce Pearl’s squad is led by a balanced attack, with four players averaging double figures in scoring.
“I’m proud of my team for the effort they gave tonight,” said Pearl. “We had our chances, but Kansas made some plays that we didn’t. We’re going to learn from this and come back stronger.”
The loss by Auburn did not detract from the dominance of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in the latest rankings. Three SEC teams occupy spots in the Top 4, with Alabama moving up to No. 3 and Tennessee holding steady at No. 4.
“The SEC is the best conference in the country right now,” said analyst Fran Fraschilla. “They have depth, talent, and coaching. It’s going to be a lot of fun to watch the race for the SEC title this year.”
In a surprising development, the UConn Huskies have fallen to No. 25 in the rankings. The Huskies have lost two of their last three games, including a blowout loss to No. 23 Creighton.
“We’re still a young team, and we’re going through some growing pains,” said UConn coach Dan Hurley. “But we have a lot of talent, and I believe we can still be a contender in the Big East.”
The top teams in the country will face a series of tough challenges in the coming weeks. Kansas will host No. 16 West Virginia on Saturday, while Auburn will travel to face No. 12 Arkansas. Alabama will host No. 21 Missouri, while Tennessee will face No. 10 Texas on the road.
The AP Top 25 poll remains fluid, with several teams vying for the No. 1 spot. Kansas has shown their resilience, while Auburn and Alabama are waiting to capitalize on any slip-ups. The SEC continues to dominate, while UConn is looking to regain its footing. As the college basketball season progresses, the race to the Final Four is sure to be an exciting one.
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas | 14-1 |
| 2 | Auburn | 11-1 |
| 3 | Alabama | 11-2 |
| 4 | Tennessee | 10-3 |
| 25 | UConn | 9-4 |
