Final Rankings Before NCAA Tournament
As conference tournaments conclude, the USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll has revealed its final rankings before the NCAA tournament kicks off, focusing all attention on March Madness.
Duke University Maintains Top Spot
Duke University has successfully held onto its position as the top-ranked team, an honor it has maintained for the past three weeks after clinching the ACC tournament title, even while dealing with a limited roster. The Blue Devils garnered 26 out of 31 first-place votes.
Close on their heels, the University of Arizona, champions of the Big 12, remains at No. 2 with the remaining five top votes.
Top Teams and Rankings
Despite a defeat in the Big Ten championship against Purdue, the University of Michigan is positioned at No. 3, and the University of Florida retains its No. 4 ranking following a semifinal exit in the SEC tournament.
In a strong showing for the Big 12, the University of Houston remains at No. 5, while Iowa State climbs to No. 6, bumping the University of Connecticut down to No. 7.
Additional Rankings and Notable Jumps
The rankings see additional shifts with Virginia, the ACC runner-up, improving its standing to No. 8, St. John’s, the Big East champions, leaping four spots to No. 9, and Gonzaga, representing the West Coast Conference, moving up two slots to complete the top ten.
While the latest tournament results influenced the rankings minimally, Purdue deserves mention for achieving the most significant jump, elevating five spots to No. 13 following its strong performance in the Big Ten tournament. The SEC champion Arkansas ascends slightly to No. 15.
Additionally, Tennessee is making a reappearance in the rankings at No. 25, taking the place of Miami (Ohio), which was previously unbeaten until recently.
Looking Ahead
This heads up the teams, setting the stage for an exciting NCAA tournament ahead. For complete details, refer to the full USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball poll. Also, readers can test their prediction skills by participating in USA TODAY’s Bracket Challenge.
