Geno Auriemma Achieves Milestone
Geno Auriemma has matched Tara VanDerveer for the record number of appearances in the Associated Press women’s basketball Top 25 rankings, with the University of Connecticut retaining its No. 1 spot in this week’s poll. This milestone marks Auriemma’s 654th entry in the rankings over his illustrious 41-year career, coinciding with VanDerveer’s achievements before her retirement from Stanford in 2024.
Huskies’ Dominance
The Huskies have held a stunning 619 consecutive weeks in the rankings since the preseason of the 1993-94 season, and they received unanimous recognition from the national media panel, which consists of 31 voters. Notably, this week commemorates the 900th iteration of the AP Top 25 poll, which has been running for half a century.
Current Rankings Overview
In the rankings, UCLA and South Carolina continue to follow UConn, holding onto the second and third positions, respectively. Texas and Vanderbilt round out the top five, with no changes to the order since the previous week. Despite Vanderbilt upsetting Texas recently, they faced a setback against Georgia shortly after.
Following them are Michigan, LSU, and Louisville, with Duke re-entering the top ten at No. 9 after a significant win over their rival, North Carolina, extending their winning streak to 16 games. Conversely, Ohio State slipped to the 10th position after suffering a defeat against Maryland, while the Terrapins surged six spots up to No. 14.
New Entries and Conference Representation
Making a noteworthy entry this week, Minnesota climbed into the Top 25 at No. 23, marking their first appearance this season. Riding an eight-game winning streak, they face tough competition ahead with upcoming matches against Ohio State and No. 18 Michigan State. Last season, Minnesota was only ranked for two weeks.
Additionally, Georgia rejoined the rankings at No. 24 following their victory over Vanderbilt, while teams like Princeton and Washington dropped out.
In terms of conference representation, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) stands dominant with ten teams on the list, followed by the Big Ten with seven, the Big 12 with four, the Atlantic Coast Conference with three, and one from the Big East.
Upcoming Matchups
Looking ahead, there are compelling matchups on the horizon, such as Michigan taking on Iowa at No. 6 and No. 13, which is crucial for positioning in the Big Ten standings as both teams trail UCLA closely. Also, No. 7 LSU is set to compete against No. 17 Mississippi in an essential SEC clash, where LSU aims to bounce back following a loss to South Carolina. The Rebels are gearing up for a demanding week with games against strong contenders Tennessee, LSU, and South Carolina.
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