UNDATED (AP) — Houston returned to No. 1 in the AP men’s college basketball poll for the third time this season while Northwestern and Texas A&M barged into the rankings after each had a pair of impressive wins last week. The Cougars picked up 48 first-place votes from the 62-member national media panel with just two weeks left in the regular season. Alabama dropped one spot after losing to Tennessee and routing Georgia in its lone week at No. 1. The Crimson Tide held onto seven first-place votes, while Kansas also earned seven to climb two spots to No. 3. North Carolina State and Florida Atlantic dropped out after each lost games last week.
Record Pts Prv
1. Houston (48) 25-2 1534 2
2. Alabama (7) 23-4 1448 1
3. Kansas (7) 22-5 1409 5
4. UCLA 23-4 1363 4
5. Purdue 24-4 1294 3
6. Virginia 21-4 1228 7
7. Arizona 24-4 1213 8
8. Texas 21-6 1083 6
9. Baylor 20-7 1013 9
10. Marquette 21-6 968 11
11. Tennessee 20-7 887 10
12. Gonzaga 23-5 856 13
13. Miami 22-5 833 15
14. Kansas St 20-7 666 12
15. Saint Mary's 24-5 650 17
16. Xavier 20-7 563 16
17. Indiana 19-8 539 14
18. UConn 20-7 440 20
19. Creighton 18-9 361 18
20. Providence 20-7 350 24
21. Northwestern 20-7 349 -
22. San Diego St. 21-5 336 21
23. Iowa St. 17-9 309 19
24. TCU 18-9 162 22
25. Texas A&M 20-7 125 -
Others receiving votes: NC State 54, Pittsburgh 34, Oral Roberts 14, Maryland 14, Kentucky 12, Boise St. 12, FAU 6, Arkansas 6, Coll of Charleston 4, Missouri 3, Duke 3, Southern Miss 3, Illinois 2, Kent St. 2, Oklahoma St. 1, Nevada 1.