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Nearly two years since last appearing in the AP Top 25, the Florida Gators returned to the college basketball rankings in late November, making their first appearance in the poll under head coach Mike White.
At 18-5 and coming off four straight wins by 22 points or more, including a bludgeoning of No. 8 Kentucky on Saturday, Florida has jumped to a season-best No. 17 in the rankings with 530 votes.
The Gators will face the Wildcats and South Carolina again before the month of February is out, giving them seven games against top 25 opponents entering March (currently 1-4).
The latest Coaches’ Poll has not yet been released.
1. Gonzaga (59)
2. Villanova (6)
3. Kansas
4. Louisville
5. Oregon
6. Baylor
7. Wisconsin
8. North Carolina
9. Arizona
10. UCLA
11. Cincinnati
12. Virginia
13. West Virginia
14. Florida State
15. Kentucky
16. Purdue
17. Florida
18. Duke
19. South Carolina
20. Saint Mary’s
21. Maryland
22. Butler
23. Creighton
24. Xavier
25. SMU
Style key: Red = loss, italics = team remaining on the schedule