By ROB ROSE
After another wild week of games, a new team is atop the AP Top 25 rankings.
Houston returned to the No. 1 spot for the second time this season. The Cougars’ only loss this season was to No. 4 Alabama. Houston also beat No. 13 Virginia, which was ranked second at the time.
Within the top 25 men’s basketball teams in the NCAA, the Big East Conference holds four spots. UCONN, Xavier, Providence and Marquette made it into the rankings.
UCONN dropped down for another week to No. 6 after consecutive losses to Xavier and Providence before beating Creighton. Xavier is No. 12, Providence No. 19 and Marquette claimed the final spot at No. 25.
Kansas jumped up to the No. 2 spot after Purdue lost its first game of the season to Rutgers and fell to No. 3. Tennessee moved up to No. 5 just behind SEC rival Alabama.
UCLA climbed to No. 7 in the midst of an 11-game win streak, while Gonzaga also rose one spot to No. 8.
No. 9 Arizona and No. 10 Texas dropped after both teams lost to unranked teams.
With three straight wins over ranked teams, Kansas State claimed the No. 11 spot after being unranked a week ago.
TCU and Missouri entered the rankings with both teams beating ranked teams and losing games last week.
No. 24 Duke dropped down the rankings after a blowout loss to NC State and a 1-point win vs. Boston College.
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