AP Poll: Villanova jumps up to #10, Gonzaga #1 in newest rankings

The Villanova Wildcats (19-6, 12-3) have returned to the Top 10 in the newest AP Poll released on Monday. ‘Nova was the country’s biggest riser, going up five spots in a week that saw Jay Wright’s squad tally victories over St John’s and Seton Hall.

Gonzaga is the country’s newest #1 recording 56 of 60 first-place votes. Auburn, who tallied the balance of the first-place votes, dropped a spot to #2 and is followed by Arizona, Kentucky, and Purdue to round out the Top 5.

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The new poll also has fellow BIG EAST school, Providence, in the Top 10 with the Friars coming in at #8. Kansas, Baylor, and Duke are also ahead of Villanova.

UConn also represents the BIG EAST coming in the rankings at #24. Marquette and Xavier fell out of the Top 25, but are still receiving votes.

Villanova returns to the court on Tuesday in a Top 10 battle as they travel to the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence to take on the #8 Friars. Tipoff is slated for 8p ET and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network [watch on Fubo TV].