Gonzaga (26-0) received all 60 first-place votes to stay atop Monday’s final poll, becoming the first team since Kentucky in 2014-15 to be No. 1 in every poll and the 14th overall. Gonzaga, named the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, will try to become the first unbeaten national champion since Indiana in 1976.
Illinois jumped to No. 2 after winning the Big Ten Tournament, swapping spots with Baylor — which fell one spot after spending 15 of 17 polls sitting in second place. Michigan was next at No. 4, with all three of those teams joining Gonzaga in earning No. 1 seeds for the NCAA Tournament.
The NCAA selection committee had Baylor as its overall No. 2 seed and Illinois at No. 3.
Alabama was No. 5, with the Crimson Tide reaching their highest ranking since December 2006 after winning the Southeastern Conference Tournament for the first time since 1991. Houston, Ohio State, Iowa, Texas and Arkansas rounded out the top 10.
Shaka Smart’s Longhorns had the biggest jump in the final poll, rising four spots from No. 13 after winning the program’s first Big 12 Tournament title.
No. 16 San Diego State jumped three spots, while Ohio State rose two after reaching the Big Ten title game. In all, 12 teams climbed from last week’s poll.
The Coaches Poll released on Monday returned Gonzaga (26-0) to the unanimous No. 1 spot in the rankings as the NCAA Tournament rapidly approaches. The Bulldogs garnered all 32 first-place votes.
After winning the Big Ten Tournament on Sunday, Illinois jumped to No. 2 with Baylor, Michigan and Alabama rounding out the top five.
In recent weeks, Michigan and Baylor's rise had pulled away from coaches reaching consensus.
This unanimous decision, however, gives Gonzaga its proper due as the clear favorite entering March Madness. In defeating Saint Mary's and BYU in the WCC Tournament, the Zags became just the 20th team in NCAA history to enter the NCAA Tournament with an undefeated record. On Sunday, they earned the No. 1 overall seed in the 68-team bracket.
Houston, Ohio State, Iowa, Texas and Arkansas comprise the 6-10 spots.
