Kristian Ferrell
The AP Top 25 is a ranking of the top 25 teams in college basketball in the United States, as determined by the Associated Press (AP). The rankings are based on a poll of sportswriters and broadcasters, who vote on the best teams in the country. The AP Top 25 is updated regularly throughout the season, and the rankings can have a significant impact on the perception of a team's performance and its chances of making the NCAA Tournament. In addition to the AP Top 25, the AP also recognizes players and coaches with annual awards, such as the AP Player of the Year and the AP Coach of the Year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| AP Top 25 | Texas A&M, Oregon, Colorado, Brigham Young, Texas, James Madison, Seton Hall, Grand Canyon, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Texas Tech, Indiana State, Miami (Fla.), Michigan St., Duquesne, Yale, Arkansas, New Mexico, Maryland, Colorado State, Florida, Rutgers, Oakland, Nevada |
| Others receiving votes | Drake, Oregon, Illinois, UConn, Creighton, Colorado State, UCLA, McNeese, Missouri, New Mexico, UC San Diego, Kansas, Marquette |
| Dropped from rankings | Memphis, Missouri, Marquette, Missouri, Oregon |
| AP Player of the Year | Caitlin Clark |
| AP Coach of the Year | Dawn Staley |
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What You'll Learn
Caitlin Clark named AP Player of the Year
Caitlin Clark, a junior at the University of Iowa, has been named the 2023 Associated Press Women's College Basketball Player of the Year. Clark received 20 votes from the 28-member national media panel that votes on the AP Top 25 each week. The Iowa superstar is the first Division I women's basketball player to record more than 900 points and 300 assists in the same season. Her 984 points are the sixth most in Division I history and the second most in a single season in Big Ten history.
Clark has captivated audiences with her style of play, posting unprecedented numbers of 984 points, 311 assists, 262 rebounds, 127 three-pointers, 56 steals, and 20 blocks. She leads Division I in several statistical categories, including assists per game (8.6), three-pointers made (127), and triple-doubles (5). In Iowa's four NCAA Tournament games this March, Clark averaged 30 points, 11 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 4.8 three-pointers, and 2.5 steals.
Clark, a native of West Des Moines, Iowa, has registered +25 points, +5 rebounds, and +5 assists in 18 games this year, the most in Division I. She is the second Hawkeye and Big Ten student-athlete to earn the distinction since the award was established in 1995. Iowa's Megan Gustafson won the award after her historic season in 2019.
Clark has been recognized as the 2023 Naismith Trophy winner and The Athletic National Player of the Year, as well as being voted the Big Ten Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. She is also a unanimous first-team Associated Press and All-Big Ten honoree and was voted the 2023 Academic All-American of the Year.
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Unrivaled: A new women's 3x3 basketball league
Unrivaled is a new women's professional 3x3 basketball league that is taking women's basketball to the next level. The league is set to play in Miami during winter, featuring top talent from the WNBA like Brittney Griner and Angel Reese. The 3-on-3 league will have an 8-week season and tips off on a Friday, with Vinyl's Rae Burrell giving an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the new facilities.
Unrivaled is not the only exciting development in women's basketball. The success of the Puerto Rico women's professional basketball league is also worth noting, with reggaeton artists like Bad Bunny, Ozuna, and Anuel AA contributing to its renaissance by attracting a loyal fan base.
In other news, the University of South Carolina's women's basketball team was recently honoured by President Joe Biden at the White House, celebrating their 2024 NCAA women's basketball championship win. South Carolina women's basketball coach, Dawn Staley, was also recognised as the AP Coach of the Year.
Additionally, Iowa star Caitlin Clark was named the AP Player of the Year, and a Northwest Indiana corn maze paid tribute to WNBA star Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever. These recognitions highlight the incredible talent and achievements in women's basketball, showcasing the sport's growing prominence.
Unrivaled is set to further elevate the sport, providing a platform for the best players to showcase their skills and inspire a new generation of athletes and fans. The league promises to be an exciting and groundbreaking addition to the world of women's basketball.
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Oregon dropped from rankings
The Oregon Ducks men's basketball team has experienced a recent drop in the AP Top 25 rankings, falling out of the top 25 list. As of the 2024-25 season, Oregon failed to maintain its position in the rankings and suffered a decline in performance. This drop comes despite the team's impressive winning streak, with five consecutive victories under their belt and an overall record of 21-8.
The Ducks' absence from the rankings signifies a setback in the eyes of basketball pundits and highlights a need for improvement to reclaim their standing among the nation's top collegiate basketball programs. Oregon's fall from the AP Top 25 is a notable development, given the team's previous success and consistent performance. The Ducks have traditionally been a competitive force in collegiate basketball, with a strong winning culture.
However, the 2024-25 season presented challenges that led to their exclusion from the prestigious rankings. Several factors may have contributed to Oregon's drop, including tough competition, injuries, or a lack of consistency on the court. The Ducks found themselves in a highly competitive landscape, battling against formidable opponents week after week.
While Oregon demonstrated resilience and fighting spirit, the team was unable to secure the crucial wins necessary to maintain their ranking. Close losses and narrow margins may have played a role in their decline, as every game carries significant weight in the tightly contested world of collegiate basketball. The Ducks' drop from the rankings serves as a wake-up call and an opportunity for reflection and strategic adjustments.
The team's coaching staff and players will undoubtedly analyze their performance, identify areas for improvement, and devise new tactics to reclaim their position among the nation's elite basketball programs. Oregon's response to this setback will be crucial, and their ability to bounce back will shape their future success and standing in the highly competitive world of collegiate basketball.
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Drake receiving votes
Drake University's men's basketball team has been receiving votes in the AP Top 25 poll. In the 29 December 2024 poll, Drake was third among unranked teams receiving votes. After a win against Belmont, the team received a handful of extra votes in the 30 December poll, moving them up to second among unranked teams with 100 votes, just 39 votes behind No. 25 Baylor.
As of 24 February 2025, Drake had received two votes in the USA TODAY Sports Top 25 men's basketball poll. They were one of 12 teams to receive votes but not make the rankings.
In the 2024-25 Men's College Basketball Rankings, Drake received 52 votes, placing them between Memphis with 63 votes and Illinois with 49.
In the AP Top 25 poll for 8 April 2025, Drake received 122 votes, the most of any unranked team.
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UConn coach Dan Hurley's team went 37-3
Dan Hurley, born on January 16, 1973, in Jersey City, New Jersey, is an American men's college basketball coach and the head coach of the UConn Huskies. He was named head coach of UConn on March 22, 2018, and has since led the team to significant success.
In his first season at UConn in 2018-19, the Huskies went 16-17. However, Hurley steadily improved the team's performance, and in his sixth season in 2023-24, the Huskies achieved a remarkable 37-3 record. This included winning streaks of 14 and 13 games and a BIG EAST regular-season title with an 18-2 conference record. The Huskies also won championships at the Empire Classic, BIG EAST Tournament, NCAA East Regional, and NCAA Final Four.
Hurley's leadership resulted in the Huskies winning back-to-back NCAA Division I national championships in 2023 and 2024, making him one of only 15 coaches in NCAA history to achieve multiple championships. The 2023-24 season was historic, as the Huskies became the first team to repeat as national champions since Florida in 2006-2007.
Hurley's success has not gone unnoticed, and he received lucrative offers from Kentucky and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024. However, he declined these offers, choosing to remain at UConn to pursue a third consecutive championship. His contract with UConn has been extended until 2030, reflecting the university's confidence in his coaching abilities.
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Frequently asked questions
The AP Top 25 refers to the top 25 teams in the NCAA College Basketball Rankings, as determined by the Associated Press.
The rankings are based on a poll of sportswriters and media members who vote on the top teams in the nation.
The AP Top 25 rankings are typically updated weekly during the college basketball season, taking into account the teams' performance and any significant changes.
The Associated Press (AP) is responsible for compiling the rankings based on the votes and input from the sports media and writers who follow college basketball closely.
