Conference play is right around the corner, the best stretch of the college basketball season. This past week was chaotic, featuring a stunning collapse from the No. 1 team in the country. The Top 25 finally saw real movement, with 19 of our 25 teams shifting from last week. With that, here are the biggest risers and fallers of week six.
Top 25
- Arizona (8-0) (+1) – AP Top 25: 1
- Duke (10-0) (+1) – AP Top 25: 3
- Michigan (8-0) (+1) – AP Top 25: 4
- Purdue (8-1) (-3) – AP Top 25: 6
- Iowa State (9-0) (+5) – AP Top 25: 4
- UConn (8-1) (–) – AP Top 25: 5
- Houston (8-1) (–) – AP Top 25: 7
- BYU (7-1) (–) – AP Top 25: 10
- Louisville (8-1) (-4) – AP Top 25: 11
- Michigan State (8-1) (-1) – AP Top 25: 9
- Gonzaga (8-1) (+1) – AP Top 25: 8
- Alabama (6-2) (–) – AP Top 25: 12
- Illinois (7-2) (–) – AP Top 25: 13
- Texas Tech (6-2) (+1) – AP Top 25: 16
- Vanderbilt (9-0) (+4) – AP Top 25: 15
- North Carolina (7-1) (+5) – AP Top 25: 14
- Tennessee (7-3) (-3) – AP Top 25: 20
- Florida (5-3) (-1) – AP Top 25: 18
- Arkansas (7-2) (NR) – AP Top 25: 17
- Auburn (7-3) (–) – AP Top 25: 21
- St. John’s (5-3) (+2) – AP Top 25: 22
- Virginia (8-1) (NR) – AP Top 25: 24
- Kansas (7-3) (+1) – AP Top 25: 19
- UCLA (7-2) (+1) – AP Top 25: 25
- St. Mary’s (8-1) (NR) – AP Top 25: NR
Off Last Week’s Chart
- Iowa (8-1) – Last Week: No. 22
- Kentucky (5-4) – Last Week: No. 16
Highest Riser: Iowa State — +5
Iowa State has quietly become one of the toughest teams in the country. Just ask St. John’s, which fell in an ultra-physical matchup earlier this season. But the Cyclones made their biggest statement on the road against then-No. 1 Purdue, and it wasn’t close.
The Cyclones stunned the Boilermakers 81–58, tying the largest loss ever by an AP No. 1 team in poll history. The win also made Iowa State the first program since Boston College (2009–17) to record three straight victories over a team ranked No. 1.
Iowa State is powered by a dominant forward duo in Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic, both averaging over 16 points per game, with guard Tamin Lipsey also sitting at 16. With depth, physicality, and experience, the Cyclones look like a team built to make noise in March.
Falling Off the Charts: Kentucky — Down 10 Spots
Completely off the charts, that’s where Kentucky finds itself after a brutal stretch. The Wildcats have already reached the four-loss mark, falling to Gonzaga, North Carolina, Michigan State and Louisville, consistently failing to compete with the nation’s top programs.
Despite pouring $22 million into their basketball program, Kentucky’s biggest issue remains simple: cohesion. With a roster full of new faces, the Wildcats have struggled to connect offensively and defensively. They’re shooting just 31% from three, one of the worst rates in the country.
On defense, opponents have attacked the paint at will. Guards are getting downhill with ease, either finishing at the rim or kicking out to open shooters. More concerning, Kentucky has been labeled “soft” defensively, lacking the physicality needed to win high-level games.
With their season already in question, Kentucky now turns to two critical matchups against Indiana and No. 22 St. John’s before SEC play begins.
