Arizona strengthened its place atop The Associated Press Top 25 males’s faculty basketball ballot Monday, establishing a showdown this weekend towards Purdue, the previous No. 1 staff within the nation.
The Wildcats earned all however one first-place vote from a panel of 63 voters, little question impressing them with their 98-73 win over the No. 23 Badgers. They picked up three first-place votes to stay atop the ballot for the second straight week, whereas Kansas remained at No. 2 and Purdue — which Arizona had supplanted at No. 1 — moved up one spot to 3rd after wins over Iowa and Alabama.
The Wildcats (8-0) play the Boilermakers (9-1) on Saturday in Indianapolis.
“We spend a lot of time talking about Arizona basketball legacy,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd stated over the weekend, “and this group right now, we’re in the sun. The sun is shining on us right now.”
Houston obtained the one No. 1 vote that didn’t go to the Wildcats however nonetheless dropped one spot to fourth. UConn remained at No. 5 after beating ninth-ranked North Carolina and Arkansas-Pine Bluff final week.
Baylor once more gave the Big 12 half of the highest six groups within the nation. The Bears had been adopted at No. 6 by Marquette, Creighton, the Tar Heels and Gonzaga, which fell three spots to No. 10 after its 78-73 loss to Washington.
“We’ve got a long season. Big games coming up,” stated Bulldogs ahead Anton Watson, whose staff will play fifth-ranked UConn on Friday evening in Seattle. “I don’t think one loss, two losses, is going to determine a season. We all have that mindset.”
While there was little motion throughout the prime 10 this week, there have been some wild swings inside the remainder of the Top 25.
Oklahoma made one of many greatest jumps, climbing eight spots to No. 11 after wins over Providence and Arkansas. The unbeaten Sooners had been adopted by Tennessee, which climbed 5 spots, and undefeated Clemson, which moved up No. 11 after beating South Carolina and TCU to stay one of many seven groups with good data left in Division I basketball.
Kentucky moved up two spots to No. 14 whereas Florida Atlantic fell 4 spots to No. 15 after its loss to Illinois.
The Illini slotted in proper behind the Owls, whereas Colorado State, BYU, Texas and James Madison spherical out the highest 20. Duke was at No. 21, adopted by Virginia, Wisconsin, Miami and Northwestern at No. 25. The Wildcats (7-1) are ranked for the second straight season however solely the seventh time because the 1968-69 season.
“I hear about it at home. My daughter is probably the biggest one that was mad that we didn’t get ranked last week. She’s the one that has been yelling and screaming that we need to be in the Top 25,” stated Northwestern coach Chris Collins, whose staff is off to its finest eight-game begin because the 2015-16 season. “Those are all nice rewards for a team that is playing hard and working hard, but we’re not worried about that. Our whole focus right now is winning basketball games.”
RISING AND FALLING
The No. 11 Sooners play Green Bay this week earlier than a high-profile matchup with the ninth-ranked Tar Heels subsequent week. No. 13 Clemson additionally can have an opportunity to maintain climbing when it visits Memphis — which is receiving votes — on Saturday.
Miami fell 9 spots to No. 24 after its 90-63 loss to Colorado, which was nearly sufficient to get the Buffalos ranked; they had been the primary staff exterior the Top 25. Texas fell seven spots after shedding to Marquette and beating Houston Christian.
IN AND OUT
Virginia returned to the ballot at No. 22 after being ranked for every week final month. Northwestern made its Top 25 season debut.
Texas A&M dropped out of the ballot after shedding to Memphis on Sunday. San Diego State additionally fell out after shedding to Grand Canyon, which has by no means been ranked however obtained one vote for No. 25 this week.
CONFERENCE WATCH
The Big 12 not solely has three of the highest six groups however six within the Top 25, together with league newcomers Houston (No. 4) and BYU (No. 18) and soon-to-depart Oklahoma (No. 11) and Texas (No. 19). The ACC has 5 groups within the Top 25 and the Big East and Big Ten have 4 apiece, although the Big East has three of the highest eight in UConn (No. 5), Marquette (No. 7) and Creighton (No. 8).
