College Basketball: Coaches Poll Top 25 revealed following Week 8

The calendar has officially flipped from 2021 to 2022. As Week 8 of college basketball season has wrapped up, the latest USA Today Coaches Poll Top 25 has been revealed. There is some serious movement throughout the top 25.

Coaches Poll Top 25 after Week 8

1. Baylor (13-0)
2. Duke (11-1)
3. Purdue (12-1)
4. Gonzaga (11-2)
5. UCLA (8-1)
6. Kansas (11-1)
7. Arizona (11-1)
8. USC (12-0)
9. Auburn (12-1)
10. Michigan State (12-2)
11. Iowa State (12-1)
12. Ohio State (9-2)
13. Kentucky (11-2)
14. Houston (12-2)
15. Villanova (9-4)
16. Texas (11-2)
17. Providence (13-1)
18. Tennessee (9-3)
19. Colorado State (10-0)
20. Alabama (10-3)
21. LSU (12-1)
22. Seton Hall (9-3)
23. Wisconsin (10-2)
24. Xavier (11-2)
25. Texas Tech (10-2)

Baylor remains on top after picking up a top ten win

This week was an important one for Baylor. The Bears entered the week ranked in the top spot, but a matchup with Iowa State, another top ten team, awaited. Baylor came away with a tight 77-72 victory over Iowa State, pickup up an impressive early season victory. With each of the previous three top ranked teams (Gonzaga, Duke, Purdue) suffering upset losses after taking over the top spot, Baylor has remained steady. The loss for Iowa State was the first of the season for the Cyclones, who were ranked No. 8 entering the week.

Duke and UCLA were idle in Week 8, while Gonzaga won the only game it played. Auburn and LSU took each other on during the week in another top 25 matchup. Auburn controlled the game throughout, coming away with an impressive 70-55 victory over the Tigers, resulting in a little bit of a leap in the post-Week 8 Coaches Poll.

Seton Hall entered the week ranked No. 15 in the Coaches Poll, but the Pirates lost both of their two games. Providence beat Seton Hall 70-65, while Villanova took down the Pirates by a score of 73-67. Both Providence (21) and Villanova (22) were also ranked in the top 25 entering the week. Tennessee (No. 14) and Alabama (No. 19) also faced each other in Week 8, with the Crimson Tide earning a 73-68 win.

There are multiple teams just on the outside of the Coaches Poll top 25. Illinois (37 votes), UConn (30), Oklahoma (29), Loyola-Chicago (16), Arkansas (15), and Minnesota (14) are among the teams that just fell short.

After the significant changes to the Coaches Poll after Week 8, there are some marquee matchups on the docket in Week 9. Another exciting week of college basketball awaits.