UPDATE: Arizona has officially claimed the top spot in the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll as of Monday, December 11, 2023. This monumental shift rewards the Wildcats for their perfect start to the season, including four wins against ranked opponents, highlighted by a decisive victory over Auburn.
In a stunning shakeup, Purdue, which had dominated the No. 1 position for the past three weeks, has plummeted to sixth place following an 81-58 loss to Iowa State. The new rankings reveal that only two teams maintained their positions from last week, emphasizing the dramatic changes in college basketball.
Arizona received 33 of 60 first-place votes from a national media panel, marking their first time at No. 1 since December 2023 and only the third occasion since the 2013-14 season. The Wildcats narrowly edged out No. 2 Michigan, which garnered 19 first-place votes after impressive wins over Florida, UConn, and UCLA. The Wolverines’ strong performance included a 97-68 romp over the then-No. 20 Tigers on Saturday night.
“Obviously it’s nothing you shy away from,” said 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.”
Duke has climbed to No. 3 after securing six first-place votes, while Iowa State’s remarkable victory in West Lafayette launched them to No. 4 in the rankings. This marks a significant achievement for the Cyclones, who have never held the top spot since the inception of the AP poll in the 1948-49 season.
Purdue’s coach, Matt Painter, expressed frustration over his team’s defeat, which tied a record for the largest margin of defeat at home for a No. 1 team. “They stole our spirit,” Painter said. “They’re damn good. They took us to the woodshed.”
UConn remains at No. 5 after defeating Kansas at the historic Allen Fieldhouse last week. Meanwhile, the rankings illustrate a competitive landscape with Houston at No. 7, Gonzaga rising to No. 8, and Michigan State at No. 9. BYU rounds out the top ten following a week filled with high-stakes matchups.
Louisville has dropped five spots to No. 11 after a loss to Arkansas, while Alabama maintains its position at No. 12. Illinois, North Carolina, and Vanderbilt—currently the only unbeaten team in the SEC—complete the top 15.
The final five spots in the poll feature Auburn, St. John’s, Nebraska, Virginia, and UCLA. Notably, Nebraska’s 9-0 record marks only the third time in school history they have achieved this feat, alongside a 13-game winning streak dating back to last season.
Arkansas, initially ranked No. 14 in the preseason poll, has rebounded to No. 17 after back-to-back victories. Iowa State’s rise to No. 4 has been steady since their preseason ranking of 16th. Conversely, Tennessee has tumbled to No. 20 following losses to Syracuse and Illinois.
In a notable shift, Nebraska and Virginia have made their poll debuts, replacing Indiana and USC. The Cavaliers, who did not receive a single vote last week, have surged to No. 24 in the rankings.
As the college basketball season heats up, the Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC each boast six ranked teams, with the Big 12 leading the pack by having the nation’s top team, Arizona.
Fans and analysts alike will be closely watching how these developments unfold in the coming weeks, as the competition intensifies and teams jockey for position in the polls. Stay tuned for more updates on this dynamic season!
