Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd understands failed defensive assignments. The Wildcats slipped from fourth to 10th after the Cardinal defeated them 100-82 in the Pac-12.
Kentucky gained two positions to sixth, Marquette went three spots to seventh, North Carolina rose to eighth, and Illinois rose two spots to ninth after the Wildcats' second loss in three games.
Big 12 newcomer BYU followed Oklahoma in the following 10. Colorado State returned to No. 13 to equal its greatest ranking in school history, as Duke, Memphis, and Clemson followed.
Voters struggled with FAU's strange season, dropping it from a program-best seventh to No. 17. On Saturday night, they fell to Bryant and Florida Gulf Coast after beating Texas A&M and Arizona in double OT.
They outplayed us in every facet of the game,” Owls coach Dusty May said. “We haven't handled success well as a group. As we finish the 2023 preconference program, we're thrilled, but we discovered that our highs are really high and our lows are pretty low.”
James Madison and Texas rounded out the top 20 with Baylor at 18. Wisconsin, undefeated Mississippi, Providence, struggling Gonzaga, and Auburn, ranked for the first time this season, finished the first poll of 2024.
Memphis jumped four positions to No. 15 after beating Austin Peay, while Marquette rose three spots to seventh after defeating No. 22 Creighton on Saturday. Gonzaga slid 11, FAU 10, and Arizona six slots on a light holiday schedule.
After beating Chattanooga, Auburn entered the rankings for the first time since Jan. 30, 2023, at 10-2. Tigers moved into Top 25 from Bluejays, who lost 72-67 at Marquette, their third in four games. This week's poll included 10 conferences, headed by six from the Big 12, which featured four top-12 teams. SEC with four, followed by Big Ten, Big East, and ACC with three each.