BYU Rises To No. 17 In AP Top 25 Poll, Enters Coaches Poll

PROVO, Utah – You weren’t dreaming BYU fans, that win over No. 2 Gonzaga over the weekend was real. Now the accolades and recognition continue to pile up for the Cougars. On Monday, BYU found itself with a higher ranking in the latest AP Top 25 poll.

BYU is now ranked No. 17 in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 rankings, moving up from No. 23 a week ago.

#️⃣1️⃣7️⃣ Associated Press Top 25#BYUhoops #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/klBzFF9iX4

— BYU Basketball (@BYUbasketball) February 24, 2020

The No. 17 ranking is the Cougars highest since the 2010-2011 season where they moved up to as high as No. 3 in the country.

With a 23-7 record on the season and coming off of one of the biggest wins in program history, BYU is one of the rising teams that is rising up NCAA Tournament projections.

The team BYU defeated, Gonzaga, moved down one spot from No. 2 down to No. 3. Gonzaga is 27-2 on the season and remains a projected No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament next month.

BYU has played four teams in the current AP Top 25 and has posted a 2-2 record against those teams. The losses were against No. 1 Kansas in the Maui Invitational and to No. 5 San Diego State back on November 9th. Victories were against the Zags this past weekend and No.25 Houston during non-conference play early in the year.

BYU appears in Coaches Poll for the first time

Along with moving to No. 17 in the AP Top 25 poll, BYU enters the USA Today Coaches Poll for the first time this week. A poll comprised of votes from 32 Division I college basketball coaches. The coaches voted BYU at No. 18 after not ranking the Cougars a week ago.

#️⃣1️⃣8️⃣ USA Today Coaches Poll #BYUhoops #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/UKzc9vZCk3

— BYU Basketball (@BYUbasketball) February 24, 2020

Week 17 AP College Basketball Top 25 Poll

1. Kansas

2. Baylor

3. Gonzaga

4. Dayton

5. San Diego State

6. Florida State

7. Duke

8. Kentucky

9. Maryland

10. Creighton

11. Louisville

12. Villanova

13. Seton Hall

14. Oregon

15. Auburn

16. Penn State

17. BYU

18. Iowa

19. Michigan

20. West Virginia

21. Colorado

22. Texas Tech

23. Ohio State

24. Michigan State

25. Houston

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.