UPDATE: Arizona has just claimed the No. 1 position in the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll, marking a significant milestone for the team. This development follows an undefeated start to the season, highlighted by impressive victories over ranked opponents, including a dominant win against Auburn last weekend.
In a dramatic shakeup, Purdue, previously at the top for three consecutive weeks, has plummeted to sixth after suffering a crushing 81-58 loss to Iowa State. Only two teams maintained their rankings from last week, underscoring the volatility in the current college basketball landscape.
The Wildcats garnered 33 of 60 first-place votes from a national media panel, securing the top spot for the first time since December 11, 2023, and only the third occasion since the 2013-14 season. They narrowly edged out No. 2 Michigan, which received 19 first-place votes thanks to recent victories over prominent teams like Florida, UConn, and UCLA.
“Obviously it’s nothing you shy away from,” said Arizona’s coach Tommy Lloyd. “You know, you’re at Arizona. The big stage. It’s part of being at a program like this. But we have bigger things on our mind.”
Michigan’s rise to No. 2 represents its highest ranking since March 2021. Duke, with six first-place votes, moved up to No. 3, while Iowa State’s remarkable performance has propelled them to No. 4, marking their best ranking ever in the AP poll era, which began in the 1948-49 season.
After Iowa State’s stunning victory over Purdue, coach Matt Painter expressed his frustration, stating, “They stole our spirit. Our reason for having a high frustration level was them. They’re damn good. They took us to the woodshed.”
UConn remains at No. 5 after a solid win against Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse. Houston sits at seventh, while Gonzaga climbed three spots to No. 8. Michigan State and BYU complete the top ten, with BYU being the only unbeaten team left in the SEC and one of just eight remaining in Division I men’s basketball.
In contrast, Louisville dropped five spots to No. 11 after a defeat to Arkansas. Alabama holds steady at No. 12, followed by Illinois, North Carolina, and Vanderbilt. Texas Tech and Arkansas follow closely behind, with Arkansas making a notable eight-spot leap after recent victories.
Florida has fallen to No. 18 after a narrow loss to Duke, while Kansas climbed to No. 19, with Tennessee rounding out the top 20. The last five teams in the poll include Auburn, St. John’s, Nebraska, Virginia, and UCLA.
Remarkably, the No. 23 Huskers are now 9-0 for only the third time in school history, boasting a current winning streak of 13 games, the third-longest in the program’s history. This is their best ranking since being 21st in the second week of the 2014-15 season.
On the other hand, Nebraska and Virginia made their poll debuts, replacing Indiana and USC. The Cavaliers, who did not receive a single vote last week, earned enough recognition to join the rankings at No. 24.
The current rankings reflect a competitive season, with the Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC each boasting six ranked teams. However, the Big 12 has the distinction of hosting the nation’s No. 1 team and four in the top ten.
As the season progresses, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how these rankings will evolve and which teams will rise to the challenge of maintaining their positions as the college basketball landscape continues to shift.