BYU basketball takes big tumble but still ranked in Top 25

BYU Basketball Coach Mark Pope frowns as a UVU victory against BYU is imminent at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

After their first loss of the season last Wednesday at the hands of the UVU Wolverines, the BYU Cougars took a big tumble in the Associated Press Top 25 poll released on Monday.

Ranked No. 12 in the country before the loss, the Cougars have dropped to No. 24, even as they got back on track with a win last Saturday on the road against the Missouri State Bears.

At least among teams that are still ranked, it was by far the biggest fall of any squad in the country compared to last week’s poll.

Purdue assumed the top spot in the rankings, replacing Duke, which is now No. 3. Defending national champion Baylor moved up from No. 4 to No. 2.

UCLA of the Pac-12 is No. 4 now, and BYU’s West Coast Conference foe Gonzaga is No. 5, down from No. 3 after it suffered its second loss of the season at the hands of Alabama.

Arizona at No. 11 and USC at No. 16 are the other representatives in the poll from the Pac-12. Among BYU’s future Big 12 opponents, after Baylor, Kansas is No. 8 and Iowa State is No. 17.

This story will be updated when the women’s weekly poll is released later Monday. BYU was ranked No. 21 in last week’s poll and is still undefeated.