The Other Top 25: Saint Mary’s elevates to top spot as Memphis falls

For the first time this season Memphis is not in the top spot in the Other Top 25. The Tigers suffered an 85-72 loss to Arkansas St. on Sunday. Penny Hardaway’s squad came in at No. 4 this week. The new No. 1 is Saint Mary’s, who is 9-1.

The Gaels boast victories over Nebraska, USC (by 35) and Utah. They are 34^th overall in KenPom, 27^th in BartTorvik, and 33^rd in the NET. Randy Bennett’s club ranks 26^th nationally in scoring defense by yielding just 63 points per game. They sit eighth in the country in rebounding.

Thanks to the win over Memphis, Arkansas St. returns to the Other Top 25 after a one-week absence. The Red Wolves ranked No. 18 and are 7-3.

The 85-72 victory over the Tigers was the highest-ranked win in program history as Memphis was ranked 16 in the AP Top 25 last week. A-State’s last win over the Tigers came in 1991, and the 13-point margin was the largest in favor of the Wolves in the series since 1947. Joseph Pinion notched a career-high 22 points, tied a career best with eight rebounds and blocked three shots.

UC Irvine jumped into the top 10 and tied for seventh with San Francisco. The Anteaters are a perfect 9-0 this season. A pair of notable wins for them are Kennesaw St. and Kent St. Russell Turner’s team sits 52^nd in KenPom and 25^th in the NET.

Three teams joined the ranking after not being in it last week: Washington St. at 16, Arkansas St. at 18 and Furman in a tie for 23. They replaced South Dakota St., McNeese St. and Columbia.

Below is the full ranking for this week: