Gophers drop out of AP top-25 poll for first time since Dec. 28

With losses in four of their last four games, the Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball team dropped out of the latest Associated Press top-25 poll, released Monday.

Minnesota had been included in the poll every week since entering at No. 21 with a 10-2 record Dec. 28. Minnesota rose up to No. 16 on Jan. 4, the highest Richard Pitino’s squad has been ranked this season.

Since the Gophers were ranked 21st last week, they suffered an 81-62 loss on the road to Purdue.

Minnesota returns to the floor Thursday night for a road tilt against Rutgers.

Elsewhere in the poll, Gonzaga and Baylor have continued their season-long run at No. 1 and No. 2.

The Zags received 61 first-place votes from a media panel in the poll released on Monday, and Baylor had the other three.

Villanova and Michigan held at Nos. 3 and 4, with Houston moving up one spot to round out the top five. The Cougars have their highest ranking since the Phi Slama Jama team reached No. 2 in 1983-84.

No. 9 Oklahoma made a massive leap from No. 24 after becoming the second team in 25 years to beat three straight top-10 teams. The Sooners beat then-No. 9 Alabama last week after taking down No. 5 Texas and No. 9 Kansas.

No. 25 Drake is ranked for the first time since reaching No. 14 in 2007-08.

AP TOP 25 POLL — WEEK 11 (released Feb. 1)