CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) – NCAA champion Villanova finally lost, Baylor positioned itself to reach No. 1 for the first time in program history and the winningest coach in men’s Division I history had to step away to have back surgery.
Clearly, it was an eventful week for teams in the AP Top 25.
Top-ranked Villanova’s loss at No. 18 Butler on Wednesday night opened the door for the second-ranked Bears to take the final step Monday in a remarkable climb through the first two months of the season.
“Big picture, we know no one is going to remember who is ranked No. 1 the first week of January,” coach Scott Drew said. “So we’re on to other things and trying to control what we can control.”
Baylor (15-0) went from getting zero votes in the first two polls to No. 20 after a win against a ranked Oregon team, then jumped to No. 9 after winning the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas.