Auburn climbed past Gonzaga to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll released Monday. The Tigers beat Kentucky over the weekend for their 15th consecutive win, then scooped up 45 of 61 first-place votes to become the nation’s top-ranked team for the first time since the poll began with the 1948-49 season. The Bulldogs dropped to No. 2 with 15 first-place votes. Arizona remained third and earned the other No. 1 vote.

The Auburn Tigers (18-1, 7-0 SEC) spent most of the 1999-2000 season ranked in the top 10, including one week at No. 2. They also spent a week at No. 2 late in the 1988-99 campaign and another week at No. 2 in February 1959.

But being No. 1? That’s a whole new experience. The Tigers are the fifth team to reach that spot this season, following two stints by Gonzaga and runs by Duke, Purdue, and defending national champion Baylor.

AP Top 25 Men’s Basketball Poll

First-place votes in parentheses.

TEAM	RECORD
1. Auburn (45)	18-1
2. Gonzaga (15)	15-2
3. Arizona (1)	16-1
4. Baylor	17-2
5. Kansas	16-2
6. Purdue	16-3
7. Houston	17-2
7. UCLA	13-2
9. Duke	15-3
10. Michigan State	15-3
11. Wisconsin	15-3
12. Kentucky	15-4
13. Texas Tech	15-4
14. Villanova	14-5
15. Southern Cal	16-2
16. Ohio State	12-4
17. Providence	16-2
18. Tennessee	13-5
19. LSU	15-4
20. UConn	13-4
21. Xavier	14-4
22. Marquette	14-6
23. Iowa State	14-5
24. Illinois	13-5
25. Davidson	16-2