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The 2024-25 men’s college basketball season is officially underway, and the top of the sport is still going strong, starting with top-ranked Kansas after its big win over North Carolina on Friday night.
Here’s everything you missed in the first week of the season and the latest Associated Press men’s basketball poll.
Kansas survives UNC to remain number one
The Jayhawks nearly blew a 20-point home lead in a rare battle against North Carolina, but have lived up to their second straight No. 1 ranking to start the season.
Kansas held on late at Allen Fieldhouse to beat the Tar Heels 92-89 and improve to 2-0 on the year Friday night. The Jayhawks went up 20 points in the first half and lived up to their ranking as the best team in the country. They shot over 55% from the field in the first 20 minutes, and both Hunter Dickinson and KJ Adams dominated the interior from the start.
While the Tar Heels rallied in the second half and took the lead on a Jalen Washington layup with just over two minutes left in the game, Kansas finished the job. Dickinson responded with a go-ahead shot after transfer Zeke Mayo tied it with a jumper to lead Kansas to a three-point victory in what was only the 13th meeting between the two programs. The win was also Bill Self’s 590th in his career, tying Phog Allen for the most in program history.
The win naturally kept Kansas at No. 1 in this week’s poll, helping keep the top three spots in the rankings unchanged. North Carolina fell one spot to No. 10.
The Jayhawks will face Michigan State next Tuesday, and will get Cooper Flagg and No. 6 Duke and No. 14 Creighton next month before Big 12 play begins. North Carolina’s schedule is easier, but will host No. 2 Alabama next month.
Although it’s still early and North Carolina looks more than ready to hold its own with Duke in the ACC, the Jayhawks have established themselves as the first team to beat.
Auburn surprises Houston after aerial incident
After struggling to even get to Houston, Bruce Pearl and Auburn earned their first big win of the season on Saturday.
The Tigers beat Houston 74-69 in a battle Saturday night at the Toyota Center behind 21 points from Tahaad Pettiford. Johni Broome added 20 points, 16 of which came in the second half, as well as nine rebounds in the Tigers’ victory.
However, the most important news of that unexpected victory came one day before the game was played. The plane taking the team from Auburn to Houston had to turn around and return to Alabama after an incident between the players on board. Pearl did not discuss the incident after the game, but Jahki Howard and Ja’Heim Hudson, who were The two players reportedly involved. — didn’t end up making the trip. There were reportedly screams and players punched each other in the face, but no punches were thrown in the air. The team then took a second flight to Houston later that night and arrived with plenty of time to spare before the game ended.
But despite the chaotic trip, Auburn pulled out the win and jumped to No. 5 in this week’s poll. Houston fell four spots to eighth.
Gonzaga was the other program initially ranked in the top 10 that came out of the first week of the season with a pair of big wins. The Bulldogs absolutely routed Baylor 101-63 in their season opener last week before holding on Sunday night to beat Arizona State 88-80. Gonzaga moved to No. 4 in the latest poll, while Baylor fell four spots to No. 12.
Purdue’s Jacobsen out for season
Purdue big man Daniel Jacobsen’s season is over.
Jacobsen was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a broken leg on Sunday, head coach Matt Painter announced. The freshman gave up its win over Northern Kentucky on Friday after colliding with a Norse defender in the lane in the first minute of the game. He will now undergo surgery in the next few days.
Jacobsen, a 7-foot-4 center, was a Rivals.com three-star recruit out of high school. He will now wear a medical redshirt this season.
Purdue, after beating Northern Kentucky and Texas A&M Corpus-Cristi last week, rose to No. 13 in this week’s poll. They will face Yale on Monday night before hosting No. 2 Alabama on Friday.
Todd Golden continues training for Florida
Although he is the subject of an investigation following a Title IX complaint against him, Florida coach Todd Golden will continue to lead the Gators.
Golden was accused of sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, stalking and cyberbullying by several women, including Florida students, earlier this fall. The allegations were first reported Friday by Florida student newspaper The Alligator.
Florida confirmed in a statement Sunday that Golden’s “status as UF men’s basketball coach has not changed” and he will lead the team in the Gators’ game against Grambling State on Monday night. Florida, after two solid wins to open the year, is ranked 20th this week.
Games to watch this week
* neutral site game
Tuesday, November 12
Michigan State at #1 Kansas | 6:30 pm ET | ESPN*
No. 6 Duke at No. 19 Kentucky | 9 pm ET | ESPN*
Friday, November 15
No. 2 Alabama at No. 13 Purdue | 7 pm ET | Peacock
No. 15 Marquette in Maryland | 8 pm ET | FS1
No. 9 Arizona at Wisconsin | 9 pm ET | Peacock
Saturday November 16
South Carolina at No. 16 Indiana | 3 pm ET | Peacock
AP Top 25
The complete Associated Press men’s basketball poll for Nov. 11, 2024.
1. Kansas (2-0)
2.Alabama (2-0)
3. University of Connecticut (2-0)
4. Gonzaga (2-0)
5. Chestnut (2-0)
6. Duke (2-0)
7. Iowa State (2-0)
8. Houston (1-1)
9.Arizona (2-0)
10. North Carolina (1-1)
11.Tennessee (2-0)
12. Baylor (1-1)
13. Purdue (2-0)
14. Creighton (2-0)
15. Marquette (2-0)
16.Indiana (2-0)
17. Cincinnati (2-0)
18.Arkansas (1-1)
19.Kentucky (2-0)
20. Florida (2-0)
21. Ohio State (1-0)
22. San Juan (2-0)
23. Texas A&M University (1-1)
24. Rutgers (1-0)
25. Old Miss (2-0)
Others receiving votes: Illinois 144, Texas Tech 102, Wake Forest 84, Xavier 78, Texas 51, Michigan St. 41, BYU 26, Kansas St 24, UCF 20, Mississippi St. 15, New Mexico 15, Oregon 14, North Florida 14, Miami 14, Clemson 13, VCU 12, Memphis 8, Wisconsin 6, Grand Canyon 6, Providence 4, Maryland 3, Austin Peay 2, Arizona St 2, South Dakota St. 1, Michigan 1, Columbia 1, Dayton 1
