COLOMBIA – It was a week of difficulties, but without defeats in the top four of the Associated Press women’s top 25.
Top-ranked Louisville escaped Wake Forest with a two-point win, while No. 2 NC State won a two-point win over Virginia Tech. Connecticut beat Tennessee by six after losing much of the game and South Carolina, which came in fourth, needed an explosion in the fourth period to beat LSU.
The Gamecocks (12-1, 7-0 SEC) are back on the road at number 21 in the state of Mississippi on Thursday and host Alabama on Sunday.
Women’s Top 25 AP
1. Louisville
2. NC state
3. Connecticut
4. South Carolina
5. UCLA
6. Stanford
7. Maryland
8. Texas A&M
9. Baylor
10. Arizona
11. Oregon
12. Michigan
13. USF
14. Ohio State
15. Kentucky
16. Indiana
17. DePaul
18. Gonzaga
19. Arkansas
20. Tennessee
21. State of Mississippi
22. Georgia
23. Northwest
24. West Virginia
25. State of South Dakota
Also receiving votes: Texas 52, Missouri State 49, Iowa State 29, Syracuse 27, Alabama 10, Rice 7, Milwaukee 4, Georgia Tech 3, South Dakota 2, TCU 2
David Cloninger’s female top 25
1. Louisville
2. South Carolina
3. NC state
4. Connecticut
5. UCLA
6. Stanford
7. Arizona
8. Baylor
9. Maryland
10. Texas A&M
11. Oregon
12. DePaul
13. Ohio State
14. Michigan
15. USF
16. Indiana
17. Arkansas
18. State of Mississippi
19. Kentucky
20. Gonzaga
21. Georgia
22. Syracuse
23. State of Missouri
24. Texas
25. State of South Dakota
Clemson falls
Clemson dropped from the AP men’s top 25 this week after his third straight loss.
Tigers (9-4, 3-4 ACC) were flying high after a 9-1 start, but stopped due to COVID on 8 January. Since returning, they have been attacked by Virginia, Georgia Tech and Florida State, the nearest a loss of 18 points.
Clemson receives No. 25 Louisville on Wednesday and is at Duke on Saturday.
Top 25 Male AP
1. Gonzaga
2. Baylor
3. Villanova
4. Michigan
5. Texas
6. Houston
7. Iowa
8. Virginia
9. Alabama
10. Texas Tech
11. West Virginia
12. Missouri
13. Ohio State
14. Wisconsin
15. Kansas
16. State of Florida
17. Creighton
18. Tennessee
19. Illinois
20. Virginia Tech
21. Minnesota
22. St. Louis
23. UCLA
24. Oklahoma
25. Louisville
Also receiving votes: Boise State 108, Drake 75, Colorado 59, Southern Cal 50, Oklahoma State 49, Oregon 49, Florida 37, Connecticut 20, Winthrop 16, Xavier 14, Loyola (Ill.) 12, BYU 11, Belmont 9, Clemson 8, St . Bonaventure 6, Toledo 4, Arizona 4
David Cloninger’s men’s top 25 AP
1. Gonzaga
2. Baylor
3. Villanova
4. Texas
5. Houston
6. Michigan
7. Iowa
8. West Virginia
9. Alabama
10. Kansas
11. Texas Tech
12. Missouri
13. Virginia
14. Ohio State
15. Wisconsin
16. Creighton
17. Minnesota
18. Virginia Tech
19. State of Florida
20. Tennessee
21. St. Louis
22. Illinois
23. Drake
24. Winthrop
25. Boise State
Follow David Cloninger on Twitter @DCPandC.