Florida basketball inched closer to a top-5 ranking in the AP Top 25 Poll on Monday. Following wins over North Carolina and North Florida, the team is now No. 6 in the country, improving to 12-0 on the season.
The Gators staved off a second-half comeback from the Tar Heels on Tuesday, winning 90-84, and then trounced the Ospreys by 54 points on Saturday. Those wins compounded with a Kentucky loss to move Florida up a spot and that much closer to a top-five berth.
The AP Top 10 is almost identical to the Coaches Poll this week, aside from Alabama and Florida flipping spots. The Gators are ranked one spot higher by the coaches.
SEC Teams ranked inside the AP Top 25
Ten of the 16 programs in the Southeastern Conference finished inside the top 25 following Week 7, up from nine a week ago. The Auburn Tigers and Tennessee Volunteers remain on top of the college basketball world, with Alabama, Florida and the Kentucky Wildcats also inside the top 10.
The Oklahoma Sooners (No. 12) and Texas A&M Aggies (No. 13) are just outside the top 10. The Ole Miss Rebels (No. 16) and Mississippi State Bulldogs (No. 19) are also well inside the top 25. The Arkansas Razorbacks are the new SEC team in the fold at No. 23.
The Georgia Bulldogs (45) and Missouri Tigers (25) also earned votes in the poll this week.
Week 7 AP Top 25 Poll
| Ranking | Team | Record | Points | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee | 11-0 | 1,528 (41) | – |
| 2 | Auburn | 11-1 | 1,505 (21) | – |
| 3 | Iowa State | 10-1 | 1,415 | – |
| 4 | Duke | 10-2 | 1,344 | +1 |
| 5 | Alabama | 10-2 | 1,258 | +1 |
| 6 | Florida | 12-0 | 1,239 | +1 |
| 7 | Kansas | 9-2 | 1,097 | +1 |
| 8 | Marquette | 11-2 | 1,038 | +1 |
| 9 | Oregon | 11-1 | 970 | +1 |
| 10 | Kentucky | 10-2 | 959 | -6 |
| 11 | UConn | 10-3 | 903 | – |
| 12 | Oklahoma | 12-0 | 850 | +2 |
| 13 | Texas A&M | 10-2 | 811 | -1 |
| 14 | Gonzaga | 9-3 | 757 | -1 |
| 15 | Houston | 8-3 | 615 | – |
| 16 | Ole Miss | 11-1 | 506 | +1 |
| 17 | Cincinnati | 10-1 | 494 | +2 |
| 18 | Michigan State | 10-2 | 426 | +2 |
| 19 | Mississippi State | 11-1 | 423 | – |
| 20 | San Diego State | 8-2 | 319 | +3 |
| 21 | Purdue | 8-4 | 270 | -5 |
| 22 | UCLA | 10-2 | 246 | -4 |
| 23 | Arkansas | 10-2 | 158 | – |
| 24 | Illinois | 8-3 | 135 | – |
| 25 | Baylor | 7-3 | 123 | – |
Others receiving votes:
Maryland 119, Dayton 108, Drake 91, St. John’s 90, Memphis 65, Michigan 50, Georgia 45, Pittsburgh 27, West Virginia 26, Missouri 25, Ohio St. 23, North Carolina 20, Clemson 18, Arizona St 13, Utah St. 9, Wisconsin 9, Indiana 8, Texas Tech 8, St. Bonaventure 4, Penn St. 3.
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.