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College Basketball AP Poll Week 15: Winners and losers

By Connor Muldowney

Feb 11, 2017; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Luke Kennard (5) reacts after scoring against the Clemson Tigers in the second half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2017; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Luke Kennard (5) reacts after scoring against the Clemson Tigers in the second half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 11, 2017; South Bend, IN, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Terance Mann (14) and forward Jonathan Isaac (1) pause in the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame won 84-72. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2017; South Bend, IN, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Terance Mann (14) and forward Jonathan Isaac (1) pause in the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame won 84-72. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

Loser: Florida State Seminoles (No. 14 down to No. 17)

One step forward, two steps back. That seems to be the theme with the Florida State Seminoles over the past month. After starting the year 16-1 and 4-0 in the ACC, the Seminoles lost to North Carolina on the road. They rebounded by winning two straight against ranked opponents but took a couple of steps back.

Florida State lost to Georgia Tech and Syracuse on the road, two games that should have been wins for an ACC regular season title hopeful. The Seminoles then won three straight and it looked like they were back on track and on par with the rest of the conference’s title contenders, but then they lost to Notre Dame on the road.

This team has gone from top 10 to No. 17 in a matter of weeks and the Seminoles need to make sure no more upset losses happen this season. They have a favorable remaining schedule with only one game against a ranked opponent  — Duke on the road.

If Florida State can find a way to win out or even go 4-1, the Seminoles will be on that No. 2 or No. 3 seed line in the NCAA Tournament with a much better matchup than if they were a No. 4 or No. 5 seed.

Continuing to drop in the rankings is doing this team no good in the long run.