BYU Basketball Holds Steady In AP Top 25 Entering NCAA Tournament

PROVO, Utah – The NCAA Tournament is here, but that doesn’t stop the AP Top 25 polls from coming out.

BYU basketball held steady in the AP Top 25 poll this week at No. 17, which is the same ranking they held in last week’s poll.

BYU stays at No. 17 in the AP Top 25 entering the NCAA Tournament. pic.twitter.com/pxh9n8LVKz

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 17, 2025

BYU had an eventful week before the NCAA Tournament as they knocked off nationally-ranked Iowa State in the Quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament. Then they lost to No. 2 Houston in the Big 12 Semifinals.

BYU is one of five teams from the Big 12 that is ranked in this week’s AP Top 25. The Cougars are the fourth-highest-ranked team.

BYU enters the NCAA Tournament with a 24-9 record. They received a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament and will face No. 11 seed VCU Rams on Thursday in the first round.

The Rams, who won the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament, are receiving votes in this week’s poll. If the poll extended into the receiving votes territory, the Rams would be ranked No. 30 entering the NCAA Tournament.

It’s the fourth consecutive week that BYU has appeared in the AP Top 25. Since joining the Big 12 Conference last year, it’s the 20th week BYU has appeared in the national rankings.

AP Top 25: College Basketball Poll

Week 20 – Released on March 17, 2025

1. Duke (31-3) | ACC

2. Houston (30-4) | Big 12

3. Florida (30-4) | SEC

4. Auburn (28-5) | SEC

5. St. John’s (30-4) | Big East

6. Tennessee (27-7) | SEC

7. Alabama (25-8) | SEC

8. Michigan State (27-6) | Big Ten

9. Texas Tech (25-8) | Big 12

10. Louisville (27-7) | ACC

11. Maryland (25-8) | Big Ten

12. Clemson (27-6) | ACC

13. Wisconsin (26-9) | Big Ten

14. Michigan (25-9) | Big Ten

15. Iowa State (24-9) | Big 12

16. Memphis (29-5) | AAC

17. BYU (24-9) | Big 12

18. Kentucky (22-11) | SEC

19. Texas A&M (22-10) | SEC

20. Saint Mary’s (28-5) | WCC

21. Arizona (22-12) | Big 12

22. Purdue (22-11) | Big Ten

23. Missouri (22-11) | SEC

24. Gonzaga (25-8) | WCC

25. Oregon (24-9) | Big Ten

Others receiving votes: Drake 107, Marquette 69, UC San Diego 57, Illinois 55, VCU 28, Creighton 28, Ole Miss 13, McNeese State 4, UConn 4, Colorado State 4, Kansas 3, High Point 3, UCLA 3, Akron 3.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.

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