Mandatory Credit: Photo by Kevin M Cox/AP/Shutterstock (13660490bm) Houston guard Tramon Mark (12) drives between Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) and forward Brandon Miller (24) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, in Houston Alabama Basketball, Houston, United States – 10 Dec 2022
Houston Cougars basketball falls to 5 in AP Poll following loss to Alabama
The Houston Cougars men’s basketball team’s run as the No. 1 team in the country in The Associated Press Poll has come to an end.
Houston fell to No. 5 in Monday’s AP Poll. The drop comes following the Cougars’ first loss of the season to the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday afternoon inside the Fertitta Center.
Alabama moved up to No. 4 in the AP Poll as it leapfrogged the Cougars. The new No. 1 team is Purdue. Houston will face off against the Virginia Cavaliers, the No. 2 in the country, on Saturday in Charlottesville, Virginia, at John Paul Jones Arena.
Houston also fell from No. 1 to No. 2 in the NCAA Evaluation Tool, or NET, rankings following their loss over the weekend.
The NET rankings factors game results, a team’s opponents, the location of games, net efficiency, winning percentage, and adjusted win percentage. Houston is 2-1 in Quad 1 games this season, which means the Cougars have a winning record against the top teams in college basketball based on the NET rankings.
Houston was ranked fourth in the USA Today Coaches Poll, which was also released on Monday. Houston was ranked No. 1 in last week’s poll.