Tennessee has returned to The Associated Press Top 25 at No. 19, ending the school’s longest drought in the 48-year history of the women’s basketball poll.

The Lady Vols (7-0) had not been ranked since Nov. 27, 2023, a span of 22 polls. Since the rankings began in 1976, Tennessee has been in the Top 25 in 779 of 870 total weeks (89.5%).

Tennessee, under first-year head coach Kim Caldwell, is off to an undefeated start with a pressing style that includes fresh players constantly coming in.

UCLA, UConn and South Carolina remained the top three teams in the poll released Monday. The Bruins received 24 first-place votes from the 32-member national media panel. UCLA beat Washington by 11 in its lone game last week. The Huskies garnered the other eight top votes after routing Louisville, 85-52, in the Women’s Champions Classic.

LSU and USC each moved up a spot after then-No. 4 Texas lost to Notre Dame in overtime, 80-70. The Longhorns fell to sixth and the Irish rose two spots to eighth. Maryland was seventh. Duke and Oklahoma rounded out the first 10, with the Sooners moving up a spot.

Climbing Spartans

Michigan State moved up seven spots to No. 17 as the Spartans (9-0) are off to the best start in school history. They routed DePaul in their lone game last week and next face No. 21 Iowa on Sunday. It’s the team’s best ranking since the Spartans were 15th in 2019. Robyn Fralick’s squad bettered the previous best 8-0 starts in 2012-13 and 2020-21.

Moving in and out

Georgia Tech (9-0) entered the poll for the first time since Feb. 28, 2022, coming in at No. 25 as the team is off to its best start since 1977-78. The Yellow Jackets host Louisiana-Monroe before visiting No. 14 North Carolina on Sunday. North Carolina State also returned to the poll at No. 22, while Illinois, Alabama and Louisville fell out. The Cardinals have four losses this season, all to ranked teams (UCLA, UConn, Kentucky and Oklahoma).

Conference breakdown

The Big Ten has eight teams in the poll this week, down one from the previous poll. The SEC has seven with the ACC and Big 12 having five and four, respectively. The Big East has one.

Game of the week

No. 2 UConn at No. 8 Notre Dame, Thursday. The two former Big East rivals tip off in one of the most highly anticipated games of the season. Both teams have All-American stars in UConn’s Paige Bueckers and Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo. The Huskies are at full strength while the Irish are still working through some injuries.

Here’s the full AP Top 25: 

1. UCLA 
2. UConn
3. South Carolina
4. LSU
5. USC
6. Texas 
7. Maryland 
8. Notre Dame
9. Duke
10. Oklahoma
11. Ohio State
12. TCU
13. Kansas State 
14. North Carolina
15. West Virginia
16. Kentucky
17. Michigan State 
18. Iowa State 
19. Tennessee
20. Michigan 
21. Iowa 
22. Ole Miss
23. North Carolina State 
24. Nebraska
25. Georgia Tech 

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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