NCAA Top 5 Stays Put, SEC Schools Shine

0:00On March 15th, the final USA Today Sports Coaches poll is out just before Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament. The top five teams stayed put, with Duke holding first at 32 wins and two losses, followed by Arizona, Michigan, Florida, and Houston. Florida clung to fourth despite a semifinal loss to Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament, thanks to their 12-game winning streak and regular season. Conference title, which also locked in the number one seed. All teams shuffled around below the top five in this postseason shake-up. Iowa stayed climbed to sixth, while Yukon slipped to seventh, and Virginia jumped to eighth. Purdue made a big move up to 13th, and Nebraska dropped to 14th. Overall, 19 of the 20 teams from sixth to 25th saw changes, but the poll felt pretty predictable after conference play wrapped up. SEC schools showed strong depth, landing five teams in the top 25. Florida leased the way at fourth, with Arkansas at 15th, Vanderbilt at 16th after a five-spot

1:01rise, Alabama at 18th, and Tennessee, sneaking back in at 25th. That gives the conference solid momentum heading into the big dance. Notable climbers included St. John's to Knife and Gonzaga to 10th, while Michigan state and Illinois both fell three spots. Miami of Ohio dropped out of the rankings entirely, but schools like UCLA and Utah State picked up some boats just outside. Vanderbilt's surge highlights how tournament runs, can boost a team standing. As brackets get revealed in the madness begins, this coach's poll sets the tone for season matchups with Duke and the top pack looking dominant. Early on.