Now it's Houston's turn at the top of The Associated Press poll of the top 25 men's college basketball.
The Cougars moved to No. 1 for the first time this season in Monday's latest poll, moving up one spot to end reigning national champion UConn's six-week stay.
Houston (24-3) became the fifth team to take the top spot this season.
Purdue moved up one spot to No. 2, while the Huskies' loss to Creighton dropped them to third in a poll that included South Florida topping the rankings for the first time in program history.
Kelvin Sampson's Cougars spent seven weeks at No. 1 last year, their first stint atop since the “Phi Slama Jama” days during the 1982-83 season with a team that included future NBA greats like Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Now they're back, playing in a new conference home (the Big 12) with the same defense-first formula that has Houston leading the country in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency (87.1 points allowed per 100 possessions).
“Our guys are tough,” Sampson said after an overtime win at Baylor. “We're not always pretty. But last time I checked, this isn't a beauty pageant.”
THE TOP LEVEL
The top 10 featured the same universe of teams, although in a rearranged order.
Tennessee moved up one spot to No. 4 for its highest ranking of the season, followed by Marquette. Arizona, Kansas, Iowa State and North Carolina. Duke rounded out the top 10.
RISE AND FALL
While there was plenty of movement, there were no major breakthroughs among the week's 12 rising teams. No. 11 Auburn and No. 12 Creighton had the biggest jumps of a modest three spots, while four other teams moved up two spots.
No. 21 Dayton suffered the biggest drop of the nine teams that fell, falling five spots after a loss at George Mason. No. 15 Baylor fell four spots after losing at BYU before falling to Houston.
No. 24 Florida was the only team to maintain its position from last week.
WELCOME ABOARD
South Florida has been a surprise in its first season under Amir Abdur-Rahim, who led a remarkable turnaround at Kennesaw State from a one-win season to an NCAA Tournament bid last year. Now he has helped the Bulls (21-5) go from being picked ninth in the American Athletic Conference to their first ranking of 25th.
The other two additions are familiar: No. 22 Utah State spent five straight weeks in the poll earlier this season, while No. 23 Gonzaga returns after missing six straight weeks to end that first streak. program among those not classified since 2015. -16 season.
GOODBYE FOR NOW)
Colorado State (No. 22), Texas Tech (No. 23) and BYU (No. 25) all missed out last week.
CONFERENCE MONITORING
The Southeastern Conference led the way with six ranked teams, including No. 14 Alabama, No. 16 Kentucky and No. 18 South Carolina. The Big 12 was next with four teams all in the top 15.
The Big East had three, followed by the Big Ten, Atlantic Coast, Pac-12, Mountain West and West Coast conferences with two. The Atlantic 10 joined the AAC with one.
