Gerry Broome/Associated Press

AP College Basketball Poll 2018: Complete Week 16 Rankings Released

Tyler Conway

If the past week of men's basketball is any indication, the championship picture is no clearer now than it was at the beginning of the season.

In fact, the field might be even more wide-open.

Top-ranked Virginia and second-ranked Michigan State maintained their spots atop the sport, but behind them was a trainwreck week of disappointing losses. Villanova lost to Providence but managed to stay third thanks to the upset-filled week. Xavier and Duke rounded out the Top Five.

Here's a look at how the entire poll played out:

1. Virginia

2. Michigan State

3. Villanova

4. Xavier

5. Duke

T-6. Texas Tech

T-6. Gonzaga

8. Kansas

9. Purdue

10. North Carolina

11. Cincinnati

12. Auburn

13. Wichita State

14. Arizona

15. Clemson

16. Ohio State

17. Michigan

18. Rhode Island

19. Tennessee

20. Nevada

21. West Virginia

22. Saint Mary's

23. Houston

24. Middle Tennessee

25. Florida State

Eight of the nation's top 11 teams from a week ago lost at least one game. Cincinnati, Ohio State and Clemson all lost two apiece.

The Bearcats moved back six spots to No. 11 after losing a pair of games by a combined nine points. Houston snapped Cincinnati's 16-game winning streak with a 67-62 triumph that furthered its tournament bid, while Wichita State took down Cincinnati in a road win that helped the Shockers move up to No. 13. Cincinnati went a combined 11-of-38 from three-point range in the two losses.

"As it gets later in the season, every team is better," Bearcats guard Jacob Evans told reporters following the loss against Wichita State. "It's not the beginning of conference or the season. Every team knows us well. We've got to be able to go to second options when they take away the first ones."

Ohio State dropped eight to No. 16 spots after being blown out in road trips to Penn State and Michigan. The Buckeyes went 1-3 this season against their two biggest traditional rivals, with Penn State, a bubble team, pulling off a sweep.

Clemson helped bolster Florida State's tournament resume by dropping an 81-79 overtime thriller to the Seminoles in Tallahassee. The Tigers then scored just 23 second-half points in their 66-57 home loss to Duke.

"To close out the win at the end was huge," Duke's Grayson Allen told reporters after the win over Clemson. "When they put together a run and came back, we stayed together and stayed poised and finished it out strong. Gary [Trent Jr.] hit those three huge free throws at the end, and it kind of sealed it for us after we got a few stops."

The Blue Devils, who also blew out Virginia Tech last week, were the biggest risers in the polls with a seven-spot leap to No. 5. They've won three straight games without leading scorer Marvin Bagley III.

"He's coming along, so hopefully it'll be soon," Krzyzewski said of Bagley's return. "But it has given opportunities for Marques [Bolden], Javin [DeLaurier], Jack [White]; Jack did a good job for us that normally he wouldn't have. Javin played 30 minutes in a game and starting in February, that's invaluable experience going forward."

Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Arizona State all dropped out of the Top 25. Trae Young's national player of the year chances have taken a significant hit with the Sooners losing five straight games. 

No. 23 Houston, No. 24 Middle Tennessee and No. 25 Florida State moved into the rankings. 

   

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