Connecticut is new No. 1 as men’s basketball poll gets major overhaul

As one would expect, a plethora of upsets in men’s college basketball produced a whole lot of changes in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. It starts at the top, where Connecticut takes over at No. 1.

UConn was one of the few teams to avoid the upset bug, and as a result vaults from No. 4 to the top spot receiving 20 of 32 first-place votes. Though the Huskies are the defending champs, they take their first turn at the head of the poll this season. Other than post-championship rankings including last season, it is the first regular-season No. 1 ranking for the Huskies since March 2, 2009.

Purdue falls to No. 2 this week, though the Boilermakers retain 12 first-place votes after a loss to Nebraska and an impressive bounce-back win against Penn State this weekend . Surging North Carolina, alone atop the ACC standings, climbs four places to No. 3 ahead of No. 4 Kansas. Houston, which was the last unbeaten team in Division I before losing twice on the road this week in Big 12 play, slips to No. 5.

TOP 25: Complete USA TODAY Sports men’s college basketball poll

Three new teams join the top 10, headed by Duke at No. 6 up from 11th to edge past No. 7 Tennessee. Wisconsin makes another big move, vaulting seven places to No. 8. Baylor also gains five positions to No. 9. Kentucky slips four slots to No. 10.

The news was better farther down the rankings for the Big 12, as three of its members join the top 25. No. 20 Iowa State heads the group, along with No. 22 TCU and No. 25 Texas Tech. Dayton is the fourth newcomer to the poll at No. 23.

Gonzaga is out of the Top 25 for the first time since March 23, 2016. Colorado State, Clemson and Florida Atlantic are the week’s other dropouts.