Arizona narrowly retained the No. 1 spot over Michigan in the latest AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll. The Wildcats led by just a single point, marking one of the closest races for the top ranking in the poll’s 78-year history.
Arizona secured 32 out of 61 first-place votes, accumulating 1,494 points. Michigan, gaining momentum, received the remaining 29 first-place votes, trailing by only one point and closing the gap significantly from the previous poll where they were 20 points behind.
Poll Highlights and Standings
The current standings show Arizona at 14-0 and Michigan at 13-0, both undefeated. Following them are Iowa State (14-0), UConn (14-1), Purdue (13-1), Duke (13-1), Houston (13-1), Gonzaga (16-1), BYU (13-1), and Nebraska (14-0) rounding out the top 10. Notably, Nebraska boasts an 18-game winning streak extending from last season and is inside the top 10 for the first time since 1966.
Michigan’s Surge and Historical Context
Michigan’s recent success is historic, as they became the first team in the poll era to win three consecutive games against ranked opponents by margins of at least 30 points each. Their dominant 96-66 victory over then-No. 24 USC kept them among the rare undefeated teams this season. Despite falling short of No. 1 this week, Michigan has not held the top spot since January of 2013.
Rising Teams and Conference Representation
Iowa made the largest leap, climbing six spots to No. 19 after defeating UCLA, while Georgia jumped five spots to No. 18. Kansas and North Carolina dropped five places but remain ranked. SMU and UCF joined the Top 25, replacing USC and Florida, with SMU making its first appearance since the 2016-17 season.
The Big 12 leads with seven ranked teams, including four in the top 10, followed by the Big Ten with six teams in the poll and three among the top 10. The ACC and SEC each field five teams in the rankings, while the West Coast Conference and Big East each contribute one team.
Notable Coaches and Team Milestones
Nebraska’s coach Fred Hoiberg received praise for leading the Huskers to a historic winning streak and top-10 status. Vanderbilt remains undefeated at No. 11, marking its highest ranking since the preseason poll of 2011-12, with coach Mark Byington acknowledging the challenges ahead in SEC play.
Michigan State slipped three spots to No. 12 after losing to Nebraska. Alabama, Texas Tech, Arkansas, Illinois, North Carolina, Georgia, Iowa, and Louisville make up the rest of the top 20. Tennessee, Kansas, Virginia, SMU, and UCF complete the Top 25.
Teams Just Outside the Top 25
Villanova sits just outside the rankings, trailing UCF by five points. Utah State and Miami (Ohio), both undefeated at 15-0, remain outside the poll but are closely watched. This cluster of teams signals intense competition just beyond the published rankings.
The slim one-point margin at the top emphasizes the fierce competition shaping the college basketball landscape in early January. Arizona’s ability to hold off a surging Michigan reflects the dynamic nature of this season’s race for supremacy.
Read more at: www.espn.com
