UPDATE: Arizona has officially claimed the top spot in the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll as of Monday, November 20, 2023. This unprecedented achievement comes after a flawless start to the season, marked by four victories against ranked teams, including a commanding win over Auburn last weekend.
The Wildcats received 33 of 60 first-place votes from a national media panel, making this their first time at No. 1 since December 11, 2023, and only the third time since the 2013-14 season. Arizona edged out No. 2 Michigan, which garnered 19 first-place votes following impressive performances against teams like Florida and UConn.
“Obviously it’s nothing you shy away from,” remarked Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd. “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.”
The reshuffling of the poll saw Purdue descend from its three-week reign at No. 1 to sixth place after suffering a crushing 81-58 home loss to Iowa State. Purdue head coach Matt Painter expressed frustration, stating, “They stole our spirit. They’re damn good. They took us to the woodshed.”
Iowa State capitalized on its monumental win, climbing six spots to No. 4, marking the highest ranking in the program’s history. UConn held onto the fifth position after defeating Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse last week, while Duke moved up to third, securing six first-place votes.
The top ten rankings are rounded out by Houston at seventh, Gonzaga at eighth, Michigan State at ninth, and BYU at tenth. Meanwhile, Louisville faced a setback, dropping five spots to No. 11 after a loss to Arkansas.
Alabama remains steady at No. 12, with Illinois, North Carolina, and Vanderbilt following. Notably, Vanderbilt is the only unbeaten team left in the SEC and one of just eight unbeaten teams across Division I men’s basketball.
The latest poll also saw significant movement among other teams. Texas Tech, Arkansas, and Florida saw changes after mixed results, with Florida slipping to No. 18 following a narrow loss to Duke. Kansas climbed to No. 19, and Tennessee slid down to No. 20 after recent losses.
In an exciting twist, Nebraska and Virginia made their debuts in the poll, replacing Indiana and USC. The Huskers are now ranked No. 23, celebrating their best ranking since the 2014-15 season.
As college basketball heats up, the competition intensifies. The Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC each boast six ranked teams, but the Big 12 stands out with the nation’s No. 1 team and four teams in the top ten.
With the season still in its early stages, all eyes will be on the upcoming matchups as teams fight for dominance and rankings. Stay tuned for the latest developments as the excitement unfolds across college basketball.
