The college basketball landscape has undergone a significant shift in the opening weeks of the regular season, with the Kansas Jayhawks maintaining their grip on the top spot in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. Meanwhile, newcomers like Gonzaga and Auburn have cracked the top five, while St. John's, led by the return of Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, has made a notable comeback to the rankings.

Reshuffling the Ranks: Bluebloods and Newcomers Vie for Supremacy

Kansas Holds Firm at the Top

The Kansas Jayhawks have solidified their position as the top-ranked team in the nation, receiving 44 of 62 first-place votes after a thrilling home win against North Carolina. Despite blowing a 20-point lead, the Jayhawks held on for a 92-89 victory, showcasing their resilience and ability to withstand the pressure of a high-stakes matchup. This performance has kept them ahead of Alabama and two-time reigning national champion UConn in the 1-2-3 lineup of the poll, with the Crimson Tide and Huskies receiving six and seven first-place votes, respectively.

Gonzaga and Auburn Surge into the Top Five

Gonzaga and Auburn have made significant strides, cracking the top five in the latest rankings. Mark Few's Zags moved up two spots to No. 4 after impressive opening-week wins, including a blowout victory over then-No. 8 Baylor and a hard-fought triumph against Arizona State. Meanwhile, Bruce Pearl's Tigers jumped six spots to No. 5, marking the week's biggest leap, following a decisive win over then-No. 4 Houston.

St. John's and Rick Pitino's Triumphant Return

The return of St. John's to the Top 25 rankings is noteworthy for two reasons. First, it marks the Red Storm's first appearance since spending a week at No. 24 in January 2019. Secondly, it signifies the comeback of Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, who is making his first appearance in the Top 25 since the final poll of the 2016-17 season when he was at Louisville. Pitino's dismissal from Louisville amid a federal corruption investigation had kept him out of the national spotlight, but his successful tenure at Iona and his recent move to St. John's have paved the way for his return to the college basketball elite.

Newcomers and Fallers: Reshuffling the Top 10

The top 10 has undergone a significant reshuffling, with Ohio State joining St. John's as a new arrival, marking the Buckeyes' first appearance since January 2023. On the other hand, Texas and UCLA have fallen out of the preseason poll. Kentucky, Marquette, and Cincinnati have all made notable jumps, with the Wildcats rising four spots to No. 19 under new coach Mark Pope, and the Golden Eagles and Bearcats climbing three spots to No. 15 and No. 17, respectively.

Conference Dominance: SEC Leads the Way

The Southeastern Conference has emerged as the dominant force in college basketball, with eight ranked teams, including No. 11 Tennessee, No. 18 Arkansas under new coach John Calipari, No. 20 Florida, and No. 25 Mississippi. The Big 12 follows closely with six ranked teams, while the Big East and Big Ten each have four. The ACC and the West Coast Conference have two and one ranked teams, respectively.As the college basketball season unfolds, the landscape continues to evolve, with traditional powerhouses vying for supremacy and newcomers making their mark on the national stage. The Jayhawks' hold on the top spot, the rise of Gonzaga and Auburn, and the return of Rick Pitino and St. John's have all contributed to a captivating start to the 2023-24 campaign.