South Carolina remains the unanimous No. 1 team in the AP Poll, while UConn continues to slide, dropping four spots this week to No. 7. It’s the Huskies’ lowest ranking in 14 years after they lost to Georgia Tech last Thursday, the team’s first loss against an unranked team since 2012.
It was also UConn’s first game without star sophomore Paige Bueckers, who underwent successful surgery on her left knee on Monday and is expected to return in eight weeks.
The last time UConn was ranked this low was Jan. 22, 2007, when they were also No. 7 in the poll.
Meanwhile, Georgia Tech enters the poll at No. 18 after the win over UConn. Rounding out the top five after South Carolina are NC State, Stanford, Arizona and Baylor. Arizona’s No. 4 ranking is the best in program history after the Wildcats made a run to the national championship game last season.
Louisville moved up to No. 6 after a win over Kentucky and will play UConn on Sunday in the Hall of Fame Showcase. No. 5 Baylor will also meet No. 13 Michigan in a rematch of last season’s NCAA tournament Sweet 16 matchup that Baylor won in overtime.
Tennessee is tied with UConn at No. 7. Maryland and Indiana take ninth and tenth, respectively, to round out the top 10.