2. Arizona (9-0, 1-0)
+1 spot
Last week: Defeated Wyoming 94-65, Defeated Illinois 83-79
This week: Northern Colorado, California Baptist
You may have missed it, but at some point last week the country was finally able to recognize the Wildcats’ superb start to the season. At 9-0 and playing perhaps the most fun style of basketball in the country, the Wildcats are now well within the top 10 and have their sights on continuing their climb.
Benedict Mathurin and Azuolas Tubelis continue to be two of the best players in the conference, averaging 18.4 and 15.8 points respectively. Mathurin has been a nightmare matchup and a killer from outside. Head coach Tommy Lloyd has found his Domantas Sabonis clone in Tubelis, who is also averaging 2.3 assists passing out of the post.
Undoubtedly wherever you ranked Arizona coming into the season is now deemed too low. And as rough as the middle and bottom of the conference has looked, the top three teams remain to be unquestionably elite.
1. UCLA (8-1, 2-0)
Last week: Defeated Marquette 67-56
This week: Alabama State, North Carolina
Since losing to Gonzaga in Las Vegas, the Bruins have gone back to looking like themselves in the last three games. After suffering a head injury, Jaime Jaquez Jr. came back and unloaded on the Marquette Golden Eagles, scoring 24 points and nabbing 11 rebounds while Johnny Juzang was struggling to find his shot.
The Bruins remain one of the best teams in the country because of Jacquez’s versatility and ability to step up when the other options go quiet. This week could be the week that the Bruins get Cody Riley back, which would lessen the offensive burden for Juzang and Jacquez.