Arizona reinforced its position at the top of The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll, setting the stage for a highly anticipated matchup against Purdue, the former No. 1 team in the nation.
The Wildcats secured all but one first-place vote from a panel of 63 voters, showcasing their dominance with a convincing 98-73 win over the No. 23 Wisconsin Badgers. With three additional first-place votes, Arizona maintained its top spot for the second consecutive week. Kansas held onto the No. 2 position, while Purdue, which Arizona had displaced from the No. 1 spot, moved up to third after victories over Iowa and Alabama.
Arizona, boasting an 8-0 record, is set to face Purdue (9-1) in a highly anticipated matchup on Saturday in Indianapolis.
Houston received the only No. 1 vote not given to Arizona but dropped one spot to fourth in the rankings. UConn retained its No. 5 position after defeating ninth-ranked North Carolina and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Baylor contributed to half of the top six teams, landing at No. 6, followed by Marquette, Creighton, North Carolina, and Gonzaga, which slipped three spots to No. 10 after a 78-73 loss to Washington.
While the top 10 remained relatively stable, there were notable shifts within the rest of the Top 25. Oklahoma made a significant jump, climbing eight spots to No. 11 after notable wins against Providence and Arkansas. Tennessee moved up five spots, and unbeaten Clemson rose to No. 13.
Kentucky ascended two spots to No. 14, while Florida Atlantic fell four places to No. 15 after a loss to Illinois.
Illinois secured the No. 16 spot, followed by Colorado State, BYU, Texas, and James Madison rounding out the top 20. Duke claimed the No. 21 position, with Virginia, Wisconsin, Miami, and Northwestern completing the Top 25.
Miami experienced a notable drop, falling nine spots to No. 24 after a 90-63 loss to Colorado. Texas also slipped seven places after a mixed performance against Marquette and Houston Christian.
In terms of teams entering and exiting the poll, Virginia returned at No. 22, while Northwestern made its debut in the Top 25. Texas A&M and San Diego State dropped out of the rankings.
Conference-wise, the Big 12 led with six teams in the Top 25, including newcomers Houston and BYU. The ACC had five teams, while the Big East and Big Ten had four each, with the Big East showcasing three teams in the top eight.