Not even Pat Knight expected to be in the top 25.
| Top 25 after Week 4 | |
| Team (record) | Previous ranking |
| 1. Kansas (7-0) | 1 |
| 2. Texas (6-0) | 2 |
| 3. Kentucky (8-0) | 3 |
| 4. Villanova (8-0) | 4 |
| 5. Purdue (7-0) | 5 |
| 6. West Virginia (5-0) | 6 |
| 7. Syracuse (8-0) | 7 |
| 8. Tennessee (6-1) | 10 |
| 9. Florida (8-0) | 11 |
| 10. Duke (7-1) | 8 |
| 11. North Carolina (7-2) | 13 |
| 12. Michigan State (6-2) | 12 |
| 13. Georgetown (6-0) | 14 |
| 14. UNLV (7-0) | 17 |
| 15. Ohio State (7-1) | 15 |
| 16. Connecticut (6-1) | 16 |
| 17. Texas A&M (7-1) | 18 |
| 18. Mississippi (7-1) | 21 |
| 19. Cincinnati (5-1) | 23 |
| 20. Kansas State (7-1) | 24 |
| 21. Texas Tech (8-0) | NR |
| 22. Vanderbilt (6-1) | NR |
| 23. Gonzaga (6-2) | 19 |
| 24. Wisconsin (6-1) | NR |
| T25. Washington (6-1) | 9 |
| T25. Missouri State (7-0) | NR |
Dropped out: Portland (20); Clemson (22); Florida State (25).
But after Texas Tech knocked off Pac-10 favorite Washington in Lubbock, the Red Raiders are deserving of inclusion.
Texas Tech wasn't the only newcomer to the poll.
Bo Ryan's Wisconsin Badgers, after delivering Duke its first-ever loss in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, also broke into the top 25 — as did a Missouri State team that is undefeated and has a win against Tulsa on its résumé.
Vanderbilt, which has just one loss to a ranked Cincinnati squad, returns to the poll, while Portland's stay was brief after losses to Portland State and Idaho.
Two ACC teams also got knocked off.
Clemson blew a 20-plus point lead at home to Illinois, and Florida State got beaten handily by Ohio State for its second setback of the season.
The first nine teams weren't all that difficult, but the last handful were extremely tough.
Teams like Dayton, Seton Hall, Memphis, Georgia Tech, New Mexico, Saint Mary's and Wake Forest were knocking on the door — but couldn't quite get in.
