For the first time since 1993, the Florida State Seminoles are the sixth-ranked team in the Associated Press Top 25 men’s basketball poll. The Florida Gators managed to stay in the top 25 despite two losses last week.
Coach Leonard Hamilton’s 18-2 team vaulted four spots to claim the highest rank for any ACC team and their highest ranking in 24 years. Despite not losing, North Carolina remained in the ninth spot, watching the Seminoles leap over them.
The Tar Heels beat the Seminoles in Chapel Hill on January 14, Florida State’s only loss in their last 15 games.
The Gators, meanwhile, fell from No. 19 to No. 25 after losses to No. 23 South Carolina on the road and to unranked Vanderbilt at home. Many felt the Vanderbilt loss would take them out of the rankings, but they barely hung on.
Part of the reason for the FSU surge is the play within the strongest conference in college basketball. In addition to their 6-1 conference record, they have defeated five teams in the top 25 including No. 12 Virginia (on the road), No. 13 Louisville, No. 14 Notre Dame, No. 17 Duke and No. 25 Florida.
Defending Champion Villanova and Kansas remained at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Gonzaga, the last remaining major unbeaten came in at No. 3 while Kentucky and Baylor are fourth and fifth, respectively.
The ACC has six teams in the top 25, while the Big East has four. The SEC, Big 10, Big 12, and Pac 12 have three each while the West Coast has two and the American Athletic Conference one.
The full AP Top 25 poll is here.
