Georgia is ranked in AP Top 25 for 1st time since 2011

The Georgia basketball team celebrates with the University of Georgia students after a win against Kentucky at an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Saul Loeb/Eva Marie Uzcategui / Saul Loeb/Eva Marie Uzcategui

Auburn has climbed to No. 1 in The Associated Press men’s basketball poll for its second stint at the top in program history, while fellow Southeastern Conference program Georgia is in the rankings for the first time in 13 years.

Bruce Pearl’s Tigers (15-1) claimed 60 of 62 first-place votes to rise one spot Monday after previous No. 1 Tennessee suffered its first loss of the season, falling at Florida, to end a five-week reign at the top. Auburn has been No. 1 only once before in the AP Top 25, during a three-week stint in January and February of 2022, and is the third team to sit atop the poll this season.

Auburn’s only loss came at Duke in early December and the Tigers have won eight straight games, though there is no word on when star forward Johni Broome might be ready to play after suffering an ankle injury in Saturday’s win over South Carolina.