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Shooting 29.6 percent from the floor is not an recipe for many things. Not for basketball wins, blueberry muffins or rising in the national rankings. On Sunday, the Cincinnati Bearcats hit that percentage and failed to collect a road win against the UCF Knights. They likely did not celebrate with a muffin-baking contest.
On Monday, that shooting percentage (and subsequent loss) set the Bearcats back three spots in the AP Top 25, as they are now ranked No. 18 following a rise to No. 15 a week ago. Even though they fell, the Bearcats have now been ranked for 14 weeks this season, eclipsing the total set by the 2012-13 squad and tying the total from the 2004-05 team, the last to play under Bob Huggins.
The full AP poll can be found below.
AP Top 25 Week 16
| RK | TEAM | RECORD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| RK | TEAM | RECORD | PTS |
| 1 | Kansas (58) | 26-3 | 1,618 |
| 2 | Villanova (2) | 27-3 | 1,487 |
| 3 | UCLA (3) | 26-3 | 1,474 |
| 4 | Gonzaga (2) | 29-1 | 1,419 |
| 5 | North Carolina | 25-5 | 1,381 |
| 6 | Oregon | 26-4 | 1,343 |
| 7 | Arizona | 26-4 | 1,223 |
| 8 | Louisville | 23-6 | 1,176 |
| 9 | Kentucky | 24-5 | 1,119 |
| 10 | West Virginia | 23-6 | 1,041 |
| 11 | Baylor | 23-6 | 923 |
| 12 | Florida | 23-6 | 807 |
| 13 | Butler | 23-6 | 795 |
| 14 | SMU | 25-4 | 738 |
| 15 | Florida State | 23-6 | 722 |
| 16 | Purdue | 23-6 | 651 |
| 17 | Duke | 22-7 | 622 |
| 18 | Cincinnati | 25-4 | 504 |
| 19 | Notre Dame | 22-7 | 482 |
| 20 | Saint Mary's | 26-3 | 445 |
| 21 | Wichita State | 27-4 | 250 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | 22-7 | 206 |
| 23 | Virginia | 19-9 | 194 |
| 24 | Iowa State | 19-9 | 168 |
| 25 | Miami | 20-8 | 123 |
In the USA Today Coaches poll, the Bearcats are even lower than the AP version, as they now sit at No. 20, just one spot from American Athletic Conference leader SMU, which is ranked No. 14 in the AP Top 25.
One bright spot from this week’s rankings is that Iowa State has made a return, sitting 24th in both polls. UC defeated the Cyclones 55-54 in overtime on the road earlier this season and a return to form from the Big 12 ballers will be helpful for the Bearcats come Selection Sunday.
As for the very top of the poll, Gonzaga’s first loss of the season sent it down to No. 4 in both rankings, with Kansas taking over the top seat. As you can see above, the AP’s top five is Kansas, Villanova, UCLA, Gonzaga and North Carolina, while the Coaches has the same top five, just with UCLA and Villanova swapped.
The full Coaches poll can be found below.
USA Today/Coaches Poll
| # | Team | Points | Prev |
|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | Points | Prev |
| 1 | Kansas Jayhawks (23) | 790 | 3 |
| 2 | UCLA Bruins (3) | 730 | 5 |
| 2 | Villanova Wildcats (5) | 730 | 2 |
| 4 | Gonzaga Bulldogs (1) | 686 | 1 |
| 5 | North Carolina Tar Heels | 663 | 8 |
| 6 | Oregon Ducks | 653 | 7 |
| 7 | Louisville Cardinals | 600 | 6 |
| 8 | Arizona Wildcats | 585 | 4 |
| 9 | Kentucky Wildcats | 578 | 10 |
| 10 | West Virginia Mountaineers | 478 | 13 |
| 11 | Baylor Bears | 461 | 9 |
| 12 | Florida Gators | 382 | 12 |
| 13 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | 334 | 17 |
| 14 | Duke Blue Devils | 315 | 11 |
| 15 | Butler Bulldogs | 314 | 22 |
| 16 | Purdue Boilermakers | 299 | 14 |
| 17 | Florida State Seminoles | 290 | 20 |
| 18 | St. Mary's Gaels | 273 | 18 |
| 19 | SMU Mustangs | 269 | 21 |
| 20 | Cincinnati Bearcats | 210 | 16 |
| 21 | Wisconsin Badgers | 185 | 15 |
| 22 | Wichita State Shockers | 140 | 25 |
| 23 | Virginia Cavaliers | 138 | 19 |
| 24 | Iowa State Cyclones | 57 | 29 |
| 25 | Miami Hurricanes | 48 | 30 |