Tennessee is No. 1, Kansas rolls over

On By Littum

When three top-five teams lose on the same night in men’s college basketball, the next poll is sure to look significantly different. That’s how it is this week the new USA TODAY Sports Coaches Pollwhich offers a new no. 1 team.

Tennessee takes over first place, largely coming through the week unscathed. The Volunteers received 26 of 31 first-place votes cast this week and hold the top spot for the first time since Feb. 11, 2019. Tennessee replaces Kansas, which held the top spot since the preseason poll before falling to No. 10 this week after losses to Creighton and Missouri.

Auburn remains No. 2, and bounces back from a midweek loss at Duke with a decisive win against Richmond. The Tigers, who still have that tournament title in Maui on their resume, retained five No. 1 votes.

Iowa State jumps two spots to No. 3 after taking down Marquette, which remains at No. 4. Kentucky moves up to fifth after rebounding from a loss at Clemson with Saturday night’s comeback win against Gonzaga in Seattle.

TOP 25: Complete the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Poll

Duke climbs three spots to no. 6, following Auburn’s win at Louisville in its ACC opener. Undefeated Florida jumps six spots to no. 7, its first top-10 appearance since the 2019 preseason poll. Alabama and Gonzaga check in at No. 7, respectively. 8 and 9.

Michigan makes the biggest jump of the week, moving up nine spots to No. 14. Clemson leads a group of four newcomers to the poll and comes in at No. 16 thanks to the Kentucky win.

Memphis, Illinois, Pittsburgh and North Carolina dropped out after losses.