Duke Out of Top 25 for First Time since 2007

This is one heck of a 2015-16 season in NCAA Men’s Basketball. After losing four of its last five games, the Duke Blue Devils have fallen out of the AP Top 25 rankings. They have really struggled and are now 15-6. This is the first time in more than eight years that Duke is not ranked in the Associated Press rankings. Their run ends at 167 consecutive poll appearances. Aside from Duke, another notable exit from the Top 25 is Notre Dame.

The Oklahoma Sooners are at 18-2 and keep the number one spot for the third straight week. Not too far behind the Sooners are the North Carolina Tar Heels, who are 19-2 and received 20 votes compared to Oklahoma’s 45. Up three spots this week and taking third place in the rankings are the Villanova Wildcats (18-3). Rounding out this week’s Top 4 is Maryland, which has has some solid wins last week over Iowa and OSU. They’re 19-3 and jumped up four spots. The Iowa Hawkeyes (17-4) fall to fifth place in the rankings after their loss to Maryland.

Following Iowa and completing the Top 10, are Xavier, Kansas, Texas A&M, Virginia, and Michigan State. Both Kansas and Texas A&M suffered losses last week and each school fell three places and out of the Top 5.

The biggest jump in the standings belongs to the Oregon Ducks (18-4). The leapfrog seven places to 16th in the rankings after key victories last week over Arizona and Arizona State. After their loss to Oregon, Arizona claims the biggest slide in the rankings this week at five spots. They are now 17-5 and fall to 23rd place.