Analysts split on whether or not Auburn basketball will be #1 team in AP Poll
After yet another incredible comeback win/spread cover from Auburn basketball Saturday night against Ole Miss, the Tigers stand as one of the few top teams not to pick up a loss since last Saturday.
Baylor went down twice, to Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. Duke lost to the Miami Hurricanes on January 8th. USC lost twice as well, to Stanford and Oregon. UCLA also fell victim to Oregon.
Given that the Tigers are now 16-1 after a ranked win on the road against Alabama and a triumph over Ole Miss, it only seems appropriate that Bruce Pearl’s 2021-22 Tigers would be named the next #1 in the AP Poll.
But analysts aren’t sold on the Tigers being ranked ahead of the #2 Gonzaga Bulldogs, who defeated the likes of Pepperdine, BYU, and Santa Clara over the last ten days:
Auburn or Gonzaga: Tough call for who to put at No. 1. …
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) January 16, 2022
Will be interesting to see. It's either @AuburnMBB or @ZagMBB. Both can make a case. And they both looked like No. 1 seeds this week @CoachJimmyDykes. https://t.co/tgV3pNggqF
— Andy Katz (@TheAndyKatz) January 16, 2022
Not sure voters will do it but… @AuburnMBB should be #1 on Monday. Most complete team in country right now
— Jimmy Dykes (@CoachJimmyDykes) January 16, 2022
Monday’s AP Poll should be:
— Alec White (@Alec_White_22) January 16, 2022
1) Gonzaga
2) Auburn
3) Arizona
Auburn and Gonzaga will be No. 1 and No. 2 — in some order -- in the AP poll on Monday. The computers favor the Zags — but Bruce Pearl’s Tigers clearly have the better resume.
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) January 16, 2022
Auburn should be No. 1.
The key difference between Gonzaga and Auburn basketball is that the Tigers beat the Alabama Crimson Tide at Coleman Coliseum while the Zags lost to ‘Bama by nine on a neutral court in Seattle.
While they didn’t lose this past week and were already ranked higher than Bruce Pearl’s bunch, they didn’t make #1 team statements this past week. They simply couldn’t have against their competition.
Auburn did, and has been doing so all season. It’s time to give the Plains its due, AP voters.