The Arizona Wildcats continue to distinguish themselves as the nation’s premier men's college basketball team, retaining the unanimous No. 1 position in the AP Top 25 poll conducted ahead of their Monday night clash with 13th-ranked BYU. This solidifies their status as the sole undefeated team nationally, boasting a 20-0 record entering the week — marking only the third time in program history they have achieved such a streak.
According to the national media panel comprising 60 voters, Arizona garnered all first-place votes, distancing itself comfortably from second-ranked Connecticut and third-ranked Michigan, both of which held their positions from the previous poll. The Wildcats’ current unbeaten start is their most successful since the 2013-14 basketball season.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, freshman standout Koa Peat emphasized the team’s focus and steady progression, stating, "We’re just trying to win one game every week, or however many games we have, and I think we’re doing a good job of it. Just keep doing what we’re doing, and keep getting better as a team."
Meanwhile, the Nebraska Cornhuskers also preserved their perfect record, moving up two slots to a historic high of fifth place in the poll. Sharing the 20-0 unbeaten status, Nebraska enters a challenging week in the Big Ten Conference with upcoming games against Michigan and 9th-ranked Illinois. Their 24-game winning streak, which extends into last season, stands as the longest for any Big Ten school since Ohio State's 24 consecutive wins at the start of the 2010-11 season.
Commenting on Nebraska’s recent form, Northwestern’s head coach Chris Collins acknowledged their impressive style of play after a recent defeat to the Huskers, applauding their purity, joy, and toughness on the court.
In the national rankings beyond the top five, Gonzaga advanced two spots to sixth place following a close call against San Francisco. They were succeeded by Michigan State, Iowa State, Illinois, and Houston, with Houston notably maintaining a 23rd consecutive week in the top 10 despite a recent loss to Texas Tech. Texas Tech secured the 11th spot after victories against Baylor and Houston.
Purdue experienced a significant decline, dropping eight places to 12th after consecutive defeats by UCLA and Illinois. BYU held steady at 13th, while Kansas and Arkansas each improved five spots to 14th and 15th respectively, with Kansas preparing to face BYU in a key upcoming game. St. John’s re-entered the poll following wins over Seton Hall and Xavier, marking coach Rick Pitino’s 900th victory. Conversely, Georgia exited the rankings following a heavy loss to Texas.
The biggest climber in the week was North Carolina, surging six places to 15th after wins against Notre Dame and then No. 14 Virginia. Kansas and Arkansas's five-spot improvements also positioned them just ahead of the Tar Heels.
Notably, Purdue’s drop out of the top 10 represents the first such occurrence this season. Alabama fell six spots to 23rd after losing to Tennessee, while Houston and Clemson each declined by four spots after last week’s setbacks.
The latest NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings, instrumental in tournament selections, broadly correspond with the AP poll but include a few variations: UConn ranks six spots lower at 8th, Texas Tech seven spots lower at 18th, and Arkansas five spots lower at 20th, whereas Illinois, Vanderbilt, and Florida are positioned higher than in the AP poll. Iowa appears at 21st in NET, ranked fourth among those receiving votes in the AP poll, and Miami of Ohio, despite its perfect record and 24th place in the AP rankings, is positioned 48th in NET.
The conference landscape remains dominated by the Big 12 and Big Ten, with Arizona leading three teams in the Big 12 top-10 and six in the top 25 overall. The Big Ten boasts four teams in the top 10 – Michigan, Nebraska, Michigan State, and Illinois – plus Purdue in the top 25. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has five teams in the ranking, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) four, the Big East two, and the West Coast, Atlantic 10, and Mid-American conferences each have one representative.
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