As the 2024/25 season enters its second week, the Big Ten is leading the way in college basketball, with several teams pulling off upsets to improve their positions in Monday’s AP Top 25 update.
One of the most significant jumps was made by Maryland, who rose seven spots to No. 11 after defeating the then-No. 16 Duke by a score of 85-80 on Sunday. With four players scoring in double digits, Maryland’s team effort was highlighted by junior guard Kaylene Smikle’s impressive 23-point performance.
Other Big Ten teams also made moves in the rankings, with No. 23 Illinois and No. 25 Oregon breaking into the standings after defeating then-No. 19 Florida State and then-No. 12 Baylor, respectively.
Oregon, led by former UNC standout Deja Kelly’s 20 points, held off a late surge from Baylor to secure a 76-74 victory, snapping a 13-game losing streak against ranked opponents in the process.
Outside of the Big Ten, Stanford made their poll debut at No. 24. The Cardinal took their omission from the preseason poll as a challenge and dominated their first three opponents of the season by an average of 41 points.
The preseason top eight teams held their positions this week, with defending champs No. 1 South Carolina extending their unbeaten streak to 40 games with a 71-57 win over now-No. 13 NC State. Junior forward Chloe Kitts was ruled out due to an academic issue, but South Carolina guards Te-Hina Paopao and MiLaysia Fulwiley stepped up, scoring 23 and 18 points, respectively.
The SEC continues to be the top basketball conference in the NCAA, with teams such as No. 4 Texas and No. 9 Oklahoma joining the conference from the Big 12. The SEC now boasts the most teams in the poll, tying with the Big Ten with seven representatives.
The AP Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Poll features a lineup of powerhouse teams, with South Carolina holding the top spot followed by UConn, USC, Texas, UCLA, and more.
