Clemson earns highest AP Top 25 ranking in seven years after running win streak to six
The Clemson Tigers’ rise in the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll continued Monday after their double-digit wins over Notre Dame and Virginia last week.
Brad Brownell’s Tigers (24-5 overall, 16-2 ACC) jumped two spots to No. 11 in Monday’s new AP poll. Clemson is ranked one spot below No. 10 Iowa State (22-7) and one spot ahead of No. 12 Wisconsin (22-7) after their 83-68 victory over Notre Dame on Wednesday and their 71-58 win at Virginia on Saturday.
It’s the highest ranking Clemson has had in the AP poll since Feb. 19, 2018, when they were ranked No. 11 after starting the season 20-4 overall. The Tigers were also ranked No. 11 in Monday’s new USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
Ian Schieffelin led Clemson in its wins over Notre Dame and Virginia, posting a season-high 24 points against the Fighting Irish before following it up with 21 points and 13 rebounds in a second-half comeback against the Cavaliers. After falling behind by 10 points early in the second half in Charlottesville, the Tigers used a 20-2 run and led by as many as 15.
Clemson has won 12 of its last 13 games and six in a row. The Tigers will face Boston College in their final road game of the regular season Wednesday night at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ESPNU.
AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll sees reshuffle near the top
The Auburn Tigers (27-2) remained No. 1 in the AP poll for the eighth straight week, and the Duke Blue Devils (26-3) held at No. 2. Behind Auburn and Duke, the Houston Cougars (25-4) moved up one spot to No. 3 and the Tennessee Volunteers (24-5) rose one spot to No. 4. The Florida Gators (25-4) dropped two spots to No. 5 after an upset loss to the Georgia Bulldogs last Tuesday.
Full AP Top 25 rankings, March 3, 2025
| Rank | Team | Record | Points |
| 1 | Auburn(61) | 27-2 | 1525 |
| 2 | Duke | 26-3 | 1458 |
| 3 | Houston | 25-4 | 1396 |
| 4 | Tennessee | 24-5 | 1326 |
| 5 | Florida | 25-4 | 1247 |
| 6 | St. John’s | 26-4 | 1179 |
| 7 | Alabama | 23-6 | 1176 |
| 8 | Michigan State | 24-5 | 1165 |
| 9 | Texas Tech | 22-7 | 947 |
| 10 | Iowa State | 22-7 | 918 |
| 11 | Clemson | 24-5 | 905 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 22-7 | 815 |
| 13 | Maryland | 22-7 | 628 |
| 14 | Louisville | 23-6 | 606 |
| 15 | Missouri | 21-8 | 603 |
| 16 | Memphis | 24-5 | 560 |
| 17 | Michigan | 22-7 | 494 |
| 18 | Purdue | 20-9 | 454 |
| 19 | Kentucky | 19-10 | 417 |
| 20 | Marquette | 22-7 | 409 |
| 21 | Saint Mary’s | 27-4 | 399 |
| 22 | Texas A&M | 20-9 | 364 |
| 23 | BYU | 21-8 | 287 |
| 24 | Arizona | 19-10 | 162 |
| 25 | Mississippi State | 20-9 | 87 |
