After setting a program record for appearing atop the Associated Press Top 25 poll nine straight times, Arizona has dropped to No. 4 on Monday after losses to Kansas and Texas Tech.
Arizona forward Tobe Awaka looks for space to get a shot off between Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson, left, and forward JT Toppin (15) in their Big 12 game, Feb. 14, in Tucson.
Michigan (24-1) took over the No. 1 spot while receiving 60 of 61 first-place votes, while Houston (23-2) moved to No. 2 and took the other first-place vote. Duke (23-2) was third, followed by UA (23-2) and UConn (24-2).
The Wildcats are No. 3 behind Michigan and Duke in both the NET ratings and Kenpom's predictive rankings.
Iowa State (22-3), which will appear at McKale Center for UA's regular-season home finale on March 2, dropped from No. 5 to No. 6 in the AP poll after losing to TCU but beating Kansas.
The Jayhawks (19-6), who beat UA before the loss to Iowa State, moved up from No. 9 to No. 8 while Texas Tech (19-6) moved up from 13 to 16 after beating Colorado and UA.
Among other Arizona opponents this season, Florida (19-6) moved from 14 to 12, and BYU (19-6) dropped from 22 to 23 -- and won't have standout shooter Richie Saunders for its game Wednesday against Arizona or any other game this season after Saunders tore an ACL.
FWIW, I had Arizona also in the fourth spot, but had Duke over Houston in the No. 2 spot, on my AP ballot.
Not surprisingly, scoring 31 points to lead Texas Tech over Arizona helped Red Raiders center JT Toppin pick up the Big 12 Player of the Week award.
BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, meanwhile, picked up his fifth Big 12 Newcomers of the Week award heading into the Cougars' date with Arizona on Wednesday at McKale.
Arizona did not nominate anyone for either award.
