Despite the top two teams in the nation and six which were ranked all losing during a busy slate on Wednesday, CBS Sports’ Top-25 and 1 didn’t see many changes, especially towards the top, in its update on Thursday.
Gary Parrish shared the update this afternoon after last night in college basketball with the schedule highlighted by losses for No. 1 Kansas and No. 2 Auburn. That’s before getting to losses for No. 5 Marquette, No. 15 Baylor, No. 18 Pittsburgh, and No. 20 North Carolina. All of those took place through the second night of the SEC/ACC Challenge and within the Big 12-Big East Battle.
However, specific results, both last night and over this season, have also caused a log jam in how the ranking was listed today at CBS.
With that, here’s the latest rating from Parrish with the Top-25 & 1 for December 5th:
Previous Ranking: 5
Tennessee took the No. 1 spot after Wednesday’s results as they’re one of the few remaining undefeated teams in the nation at 8-0. That comes after another blowout for them in a 96-70 victory over Syracuse on Tuesday. The Vols are winning by an average margin of 26.8 ppg., including 21.3 points against their four major opponents of the season, and have since moved them up four slots because of that to be the top team in the nation now for CBS.
“Based on that resume, and while considering everything else that’s happened this season, Tennessee is the best option for No.1, right now, if you’re looking for a team that’s undefeated, in possession of good (and overwhelming) wins and strong computer numbers,” Parrish wrote. “In theory, they could be here for a while
Previous Ranking: 2
Despite their first loss of the season last night in Durham, Auburn remained at No. 2 for CBS. That’s with the Tigers coming off of a start at 7-1, including a win over Houston and then winning the Maui Invitational during Feast Week, before the 84-78 loss to Duke in what was their first true road game and a Top-10 matchup against the Blue Devils.
Losing to Duke took little away from what Auburn had already accomplished over the first month of the season. They’ll now look to make up for it, though, with five games left in their non-conference, including two at neutral sites against Ohio State and Purdue out of the Big Ten.
Previous Ranking: 3
Iowa State also held at No. 3 for CBS after winning their own Top-10 matchup last night in Ames.
After losing to Auburn in a top-five matchup in Maui, they got a chance at another top-five opponent with an 81-70 victory over Marquette behind a season-best outing so far from Keshon Gilbert. That has them still in the top-three with four games left in the non-conference ahead of the start of conference play in the Big 12.
Previous Ranking: 4
Although being on the losing end against the Cyclones, Marquette also maintained their own spot as well at No. 4 for CBS.
The Golden Eagles had already picked up three wins against power conferences with two in the Big Ten and one from the SEC. This quality one from the Big 12 now won’t hurt their standing too much, especially with two good matchups for them next on the schedule against Wisconsin and Dayton.
Previous Ranking: 6
Purdue positioned themselves in the top-five for CBS coming off of their championship win in the Rady Children’s Invitational during Feast Week.
The Boilermakers will now return to the court this evening with their conference opener at Penn State.
Previous Ranking: 1
Kansas fell from the No. 1 spot after their first loss of the season in a 76-63 outcome at Creighton. The Bluejays had a courtstorming in Omaha after knocking off the top-ranked team in the nation with a wire-to-wire win. Still, the Jayhawks finished just outside the top-five considering they still have had wins over three other blue bloods in North Carolina, Michigan State, and Duke.
“Kansas was the Preseason No. 1 and, in my opinion, a reasonable option to keep No. 1 as long as the Jayhawks kept a zero in the loss-column. But that’s over now. So KU can’t be No. 1,” Parrish wrote.
Previous Ranking: 7
Kentucky remained at No. 7 although losing their first game of the season this week at Clemson. The Wildcats came up a little short against the Tigers in the first real negative to take place since the hiring of Mark Pope.
UK will now have a chance to cancel it out with another matchup in the Top-10, except now on the opposite coast of the country, at Gonzaga on Saturday.
Previous Ranking: 8
Despite defeating the No. 2 team in the nation last night in Durham, Duke stayed at No. 8 for Parrish.
After losses in two of their other three top-rated matchups of the season, the Blue Devils had the best outing of their year so far with the six-point win over Auburn. That now sets them up to really get their season going with their conference opener coming up next in the ACC.
Previous Ranking: 9
Gonzaga also stayed in their spot at No. 9 after having not played since the end of their tournament in the Battle 4 Atlantis during Feast Week.
Now, after being upset in overtime in the Bahamas, the Bulldogs can get their third ranked win in three opportunities in the non-conference with Kentucky coming to Seattle on Saturday.
Previous Ranking: 10
Oregon was almost another ranked team to lose on Wednesday as they were down as much as 11 last night at USC. However, they tied it up with less than five to go in the second half and went on to win by eight over the Trojans in Los Angeles.
With that, the Ducks are now at 9-0 and remain one of the hotter teams in the country, especially with the five teams that they’ve beaten over the past two weeks, at No. 10 still for CBS.
11. Alabama Crimson Tide (-)
12. Memphis Tigers (+1)
13. Michigan State Spartans (+1)
14. Illinois Fighting Illini (+2)
15. Ole Miss Rebels (+2)
16. Maryland Terrapins (Previously Unranked)
17. Michigan Wolverines (+1)
18. Wisconsin Badgers (+1)
19. Florida Gators (+4)
20. Mississippi State Bulldogs (Previously Unranked)
21. Texas Longhorns (+1)
22. North Carolina Tar Heels (-7)
23. Dayton Flyers (+1)
24. San Diego State Aztecs (+1)
25. Houston Cougars (+1)
26. Oklahoma Sooners (Previously Unranked)
