ESPN updates BPI Top 25 rankings after critical Saturday of college basketball

ESPN has updated their BPI Top 25 Rankings after a critical Saturday of college basketball, where we saw plenty of upsets and some interesting final scores.

In the biggest game of the day, Kansas used an insane second half comeback to send Baylor back to Waco unhappy, defeating the Bears by a score of 87-71. Meanwhile, Kentucky shocked Tennessee on the former’s way back into the ESPN BPI Top 25 Rankings, and things are looking up for the Wildcats moving forward.

Here’s the full rankings, as we move ever closer to the NCAA Tournament and the madness that will takeover March.

Updated ESPN BPI Top 25 Rankings:

1. Houston Cougars (24-2) (–)
2. Alabama Crimson Tide (24-4) (+1)
3. Tennessee Volunteers (20-7) (–1)
4. UCLA Bruins (23-4) (–)
5. UConn Huskies (20-7) (+2)
6. Texas Longhorns (21-6) (-1)
7. Purdue Boilermakers (23-4) (-1)
8. Kansas Jayhawks (22-5) (+2)
9. Baylor Bears (20-7) (–1)
10. Arizona Wildcats (24-4) (+2)
11. Creighton Bluejays (18-9) (-2)
12. Gonzaga Bulldogs (23-5) (+3)
13. Indiana Hoosiers (19-8) (+1)
14. Arkansas Razorbacks (18-9) (+4)
15. Virginia Cavaliers (21-4) (-4)
16. Marquette Golden Eagles (21-6) (+1)
17. Maryland Terrapins (18-8) (+4)
18. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (17-10) (-5)
19. Saint Mary’s Gaels (24-5) (-3)
20. Iowa State Cyclones (17-9) (-1)
21. Auburn Tigers (18-9) (+5)
22. Texas A&M Aggies (20-7) (+2)
23. Kentucky Wildcats (18-9) (+8)
24. Illinois Fighting Illini (17-9) (+4)
25. TCU Horned Frogs (18-9) (-3)

Alas, a couple big programs just missed the cut, as Iowa, San Diego State and Xavier didn’t crack the Top 25. Following them were the Duke Blue Devils, West Virginia Mountaineers and Miami Hurricanes, along with the Oklahoma State Cowboys, who fell seven spots out of the rankings.

Meanwhile, not much changed at the top of the ESPN BPI Top 25 Rankings, as Houston remained unchanged as the top team in their list. However, Alabama jumped Tennessee for the second spot, one week after the Volunteers defeated the Crimson Tide, but couldn’t stay hot against Kentucky on Saturday.

As for the aforementioned Wildcats, they were the biggest movers of the bunch, jumping up eight spots to get into the ESPN BPI Top 25. In the midst of a rollercoaster season, it looks like John Calipari’s team is finally moving in the right direction.

Additionally, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights fell five spots, and it could’ve been more if they didn’t pull out a gutsy win over the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday. Injuries have piled up for one of the top teams in the Big Ten, but it looks like they’ve found their footing once again.

Each week March gets closer, and the picture of the NCAA Tournament becomes more and more clear. It’ll be fascinating to see how the rest of the ride plays out, and college basketball fans around the globe should enjoy it.