There are weeks when the AP Top 25 feels crowded at the top. This is not one of them. The Arizona Wildcats are the clear No. 1 in men’s college basketball, and on Monday, they were rewarded accordingly. Arizona swept all 61 first-place votes, becoming a unanimous top team after another steady road win and another week without a blemish.
The Wildcats sit at 18-0 and continue to look comfortable carrying the weight that comes with being everyone’s target. One week ago, Arizona was already first, but the gap between the Wildcats and the rest of the field widened after they handled business at UCF. Winning 84-77 in Orlando was not flashy, but it was telling. Arizona controlled the tempo, answered every push, and left with a road win that voters tend to remember.
Arizona Sets the Standard in the Big 12
Arizona’s move to the Big 12 was always going to come with weekly stress tests. That has not slowed them down. The Wildcats have now stacked quality league wins on top of a perfect nonconference run, and the consistency has separated them from the pack.
Next up is a home game against Cincinnati, another chance for Arizona to defend its ranking in front of a sold-out McKale Center. If the Wildcats keep winning these types of games, the unanimous No. 1 label is likely to stick for a while.
Familiar Names Right Behind the Wildcats
Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies remain second after surviving a tight road game at Georgetown. UConn has been here before and looks comfortable chasing rather than leading. The Huskies have now won several close games away from home, something that tends to matter in March.
Right behind them, Dusty May and the Michigan Wolverines continue to justify their spot. Michigan moved up again after an 81-71 road win at Oregon. One week ago, the Wolverines were still proving they belonged in the top five. Now, at 16-1, they look like one of the most complete teams in the Big Ten.
The Purdue Boilermakers and Duke Blue Devils round out the top five, each coming off road wins that reinforced their profiles. Purdue’s ability to grind out victories continues to show up, while Duke’s balance on both ends has kept the Blue Devils near the top all season.
Conference Races Are Starting to Take Shape
The Big 12 remains the deepest league in the country. Arizona leads the way, but the Houston Cougars, Iowa State, Texas Tech, BYU, and Kansas all remain ranked. Houston’s 103-73 win over Arizona State was one of the most dominant performances of the week, a reminder that the Cougars are still very much in the national title conversation. Iowa State had a rough week, but still remain one of the best in the country.
The Big Ten continues to pile up ranked teams as well. Michigan, Purdue, and Michigan State are all in the top 10, while Illinois and Nebraska are not far behind. The Nebraska Cornhuskers staying undefeated and climbing to No. 7 has been one of the season’s better stories, and a home game against Washington looms as their next test.
Out West, Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs remain the class of the West Coast Conference, while the SEC continues to mix and match. Florida jumped after a road win at Vanderbilt, while Arkansas slipped following a loss at Georgia.
Clemson and North Carolina highlight an ACC that is still searching for separation behind Duke.
What to Watch This Week
Several ranked teams face big-time challenges. Michigan hosts Indiana, Purdue heads to UCLA, and Vanderbilt travels to Arkansas in a game that could swing the SEC standings quickly. Arizona’s home date with Cincinnati headlines the midweek slate, while Gonzaga welcomes Pepperdine in Spokane.
With February closing in, wins are starting to mean more. For now, though, Arizona sits alone at the top, and no one is arguing.
AP Top 25 Men’s College Basketball Poll
Here is a clean, accessible re-listing of the AP Top 25 with overall records included for each team, formatted clearly for the end of the article.
AP Top 25 Men’s College Basketball Poll
- Arizona Wildcats (18-0)
- UConn Huskies (18-1)
- Michigan Wolverines (16-1)
- Purdue Boilermakers (17-1)
- Duke Blue Devils (17-1)
- Houston Cougars (17-1)
- Nebraska Cornhuskers (18-0)
- Gonzaga Bulldogs (19-1)
- Iowa State Cyclones (16-2)
- Michigan State Spartans (16-2)
- Illinois Fighting Illini (15-3)
- Texas Tech Red Raiders (14-4)
- BYU Cougars (16-2)
- Virginia Cavaliers (16-2)
- Vanderbilt Commodores (16-2)
- Florida Gators (13-5)
- Alabama Crimson Tide (13-5)
- Clemson Tigers (16-3)
- Kansas Jayhawks (13-5)
- Arkansas Razorbacks (13-5)
- Georgia Bulldogs (15-3)
- North Carolina Tar Heels (14-4)
- Louisville Cardinals (13-5)
- Saint Louis Billikens (17-1)
- Miami (OH) RedHawks (19-0)