Louisville basketball picked up two big wins last week against #9 Michigan State and Seton Hall, yet they weren’t in this weeks top 25 poll.
Despite Louisville basketball’s wins against #9 Michigan State at home and a surging Seton Hall squad, on the road last week, they failed to appear ranked in this week’s AP college basketball “week 5” poll. Perhaps still marred by last week’s back to back losses at the Barclays Center against #6 Tennessee and Marquette, which left Louisville receiving no votes in either poll, Louisville was listed as the 12th team outside of the Top 25 receiving votes with 11.
The Cards appeared on the verge to emerge in both the AP and Coaches polls for the first time since falling out of both on December 4th of last year. After tough back to back losses to Purdue in West Lafayette and Seton Hall inside the Yum! Center, David Padgett’s team lost the early season love that had them as high as #16 in both polls.
Many thought Louisville might again be in the rankings after Tuesday’s win over Michigan State which was Louisville’s first win over a ranked opponent since a January 10th road win at #23 Florida State and their first over a Top 10 team since beating #7 Duke at home in January of 2017.
The Rest of The Best:
The Top 4 remained unchanged in both polls with Gonzaga leading the way, followed by #2-#4, Kansas , Duke and Virginia respectively. Michigan hurdled Nevada and Tennessee to #5.
In state rival Kentucky moved up one spot to #9
Without the addition of Louisville the ACC still has 5 teams in the AP poll.
Records: Kansas continues its record streak of appearances in the AP Top 25. Having last NOT been included on February 3rd….2009(yes almost a decade ago), Kansas has appeared in 184 consecutive AP Top 25 polls.
If they finish the season without falling out of the Top 25 they would achieve 198 consecutive weeks. The all time record is UCLA’s streak of 221 straight appearances from the 66’/67’ season to the 79’/80’ season.
Dropping Out of the Rankings: Oregon, Purdue
Newcomers: Arizona State(20), Nebraska(24), Furman(25)
Number of Mid Majors: 4
Biggest Rise: Wisconsin(Up 10 spots to 12)
Head Scratchers:
- Villanova remained in the poll at #21 despite narrowly escaping an upset against a winless Lasalle team.
- Mid-Major Furman entered the Top 25 at #25 despite having to go to overtime with an abysmal Western Carolina squad.
- Louisville two losses have been to a #6 Tennessee team and to Marquette who apparently is not considered a decent enough loss even though they are the 3rd team receiving votes just outside of the Top 25…?
Full Top 25 Polls:
1. Gonzaga
2. Kansas
3. Duke
4. Virginia
5. Michigan
6. Nevada
7. Tennessee
8. Auburn
9. Kentucky
10. Michigan State
11. Florida State
12. Wisconsin
13. Texas Tech
14. North Carolina
15. Virginia Tech
16.Kansas State
17.Buffalo
18.Iowa
19:Ohio State
20:Arizona State
21.Villanova
22.Mississippi State
23:Maryland
24:Nebraska
25.Furman
The Cards look to make their case next week in the rankings with games against an over matched Southland Conference opponent, Central Arkansas(3-4), at the Yum! and a Saturday game on the road ,in Assembly Hall, to face pseudo rival, Indiana(6-2).