Arizona Dominates, Rising Stars Emerge: Unpacking the Latest AP Top 25 Men's Basketball Rankings
Arizona sits at #1 for the second straight week in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll. This ranking comes after another dominant performance winning 98-73 against Wisconsin.
Associated Press Top 25 Poll
Arizona
Kansas
Purdue
Houston
UConn
Baylor
Marquette
Creighton
North Carolina
Gonzaga
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Clemson
Kentucky
Florida Atlantic
Illinois
Colorado State
BYU
Texas
James Madison
Duke
Virginia
Wisconsin
Miami
Northwestern
All five Wildcat starters ended in double figures as the team shot an impressive 58.3 percent from the floor. Arizona continues to cement itself as the championship favorite while other teams who have held spots in the top 5 have failed to remain there week after week. The top 5 barely looked different than the week before as Purdue moved up one pushing Houston down one spot to 4th in the poll. Purdue's win the past week against Iowa and an Alabama team that was on the verge of being in the top 25 proved that the Boilermakers are a serious contender. While Houston also won both of their two games this week by a large margin, they were against smaller programs they were expected to beat easily.
UConn’s win against North Carolina in the Jimmy V classic was another ranked win for UConn with their only loss being to Kansas. UConn is scheduled to play Gonzaga on December 15th which will be another chance for them to show what they are capable of. Kansas was able to pull away with a victory against Missouri remaining at number 2 and they look to stay atop the standings as they take on Indiana this Saturday.
Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Clemson were significant movers this week. Oklahoma moved 8 spots from 19th to 11th with Tennessee being ranked behind them moving 5 spots and Clemson ranking behind the Vols moving 11 spots. Clemson had the biggest improvement for any team in the poll this week. Clemson has won their last 3 games being played over 6 days. If Clemson can secure a win against a strong Memphis team this week they will continue to rise. Oklahoma's Javian McCollum had an impressive week, scoring 20 points against Arkansas and 19 against Providence. These performances contributed to Oklahoma's rise to 12th in the rankings.
Some teams to watch that could potentially find themselves in the top 25 next week are Colorado, Ole Miss, and Memphis. Colorado comes off a crushing 90-63 win against previously ranked 15th Miami. The Buffaloes were led by KJ Simpson and Tristan Da Silva with Simpson scoring 20 and Da Silva being one assist shy of a trouble double tallying 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists. Memphis has played well since their disappointing losses against Villanova and Ole Miss winning their past two games against VCU and Texas A&M. Memphis’ 6”6 guard David Jones has averaged 24.6 points over his last three games and looks to continue to lead the Tigers against Clemson this Saturday. Ole Miss is currently on a 9-game winning streak to start the season with their biggest wins being against Memphis and UCF. Senior guard Allen Flanigan is averaging 18 points per game along with just under 7 rebounds a game for the Rebels.
Arizona's commanding performance, highlighted by a 98-73 victory over Wisconsin, solidifies their position as the top team in the latest AP poll. Their consistent showing and balanced team effort set them apart as championship favorites. Purdue's rise to the third spot, following significant wins, signals their status as serious contenders. Meanwhile, UConn's impressive record, including a victory over North Carolina, positions them as a team to watch, especially with their upcoming game against Gonzaga. Significant movements by Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Clemson in the rankings reflect the dynamic nature of the season, with teams like Colorado, Ole Miss, and Memphis showing potential for breaking into the top 25.