### Houston Takes the Top Spot in a Turbulent AP Top 25 Poll The latest AP Top 25 men's basketball poll has seen significant changes, with Houston rising to the No. 1 position after a competitive start to the season. This shift comes as Purdue, previously ranked first, drops to second place. The top five is rounded out by UConn, Duke, and Arizona, with Florida making its debut at No. 10 despite recent struggles. The rankings reflect a dynamic landscape in college basketball, with several teams experiencing notable fluctuations in their standings. ### Breakdown of the AP Top 25 Rankings 1. **Houston's Rise to No. 1** - Houston has overtaken Purdue for the top position, receiving 18 first-place votes compared to Purdue's 36, indicating a competitive voting landscape despite the swap in rankings [https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-25-basketball-224921a671065b080acce58f04bfa63c]. 2. **Major Movements in the Rankings** - Arizona made a significant leap, moving up eight spots after defeating Florida, while Alabama climbed seven positions. Conversely, Florida, St. John's, and Kansas experienced drops due to recent losses [https://wtop.com/ncaa-basketball/2025/11/houston-jumps-purdue-to-no-1-in-ap-top-25-mens-basketball-poll-arizona-alabama-into-top-10-florida-st-johns-fall]. 3. **Current Top 10 Overview** - The current top 10 teams in the AP poll are: 1. Houston 2. Purdue 3. UConn 4. Duke 5. Arizona 6. Alabama 7. Kentucky 8. Texas 9. Michigan 10. Florida [https://sportstalkflorida.com/featured/ap-top-25-mens-basketball-rankings-week-1-2025]. ### Supporting Data from the AP Poll - **First-Place Votes**: - Houston: 18 - Purdue: 36 - **Notable Rankings Changes**: - Arizona: +8 spots - Alabama: +7 spots - Florida: Dropped significantly after losses [https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/college-basketball-rankings-ap-top-25-houston-purdue-florida]. ### Summary of the AP Top 25 Developments 1. **Houston's Ascendancy**: Houston's rise to No. 1 reflects a strong start to the season, despite receiving fewer first-place votes than Purdue. 2. **Dynamic Changes**: The rankings have seen significant shifts, with teams like Arizona and Alabama making notable gains, while Florida and others have fallen. 3. **Top 10 Snapshot**: The current top 10 showcases a mix of expected powerhouses and emerging teams, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead. In conclusion, the AP Top 25 men's basketball poll illustrates a competitive and evolving landscape, with Houston currently leading the charge as teams jockey for position early in the season [https://espn.co.uk/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/46918594/no-1-houston-leapfrogs-purdue-ap-top-25-poll].