Arizona stayed on top of the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the third straight week Monday but lost four first place votes to Michigan.
The Wildcats, who are scheduled to face Bethune-Cookman on Monday, beat Abilene Christian 96-62 and San Diego State 68-45 while Michigan beat LaSalle 102-50 at home.
Arizona forward Koa Peat (10) dunks over San Diego State guard Elzie Harrington (3) during the second half Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Phoenix.Β
Both Arizona and Michigan are 11-0 and each have four Quad 1 wins but the Wildcats have a weaker overall schedule because they have played four Quad 4 games (and will play another Monday against B-CU, which has a NET rating of 268). The Wildcats won't play a team ranked in Kenpom's top 50 until they play at UCF (44) on Jan. 17.
After Texas Tech (9-3) beat third-ranked Duke (11-1), the Blue Devils dropped to No. 6 in the AP Top 25 and TTU moved up from No. 19 to No. 15, while Iowa State (12-0) moved into the third spot from No. 4 last week.
Among other UA opponents this season, UConn (12-1) moved from No. 5 to No. 4, Houston (11-1) stayed at No. 8, BYU (11-1) stayed at No. 10, Alabama (9-3) rose from No. 14 to No. 16, Kansas (9-3) stayed at No. 17, Florida (8-4) rose from No. 23 to No. 23 while Auburn, UCLA, ASU, Baylor, Oklahoma State and UCF also received votes.
FWIW, I didn't make any changes at the top ofΒ my ballot but also moved Duke to No. 6 but hopped Gonzaga over Purdue into the seventh spot while comparing teams again Sunday night.Β
Texas Tech swept the Big 12's major weekly honors, with Christian Anderson being named Player of the Week and LeJuan Watts being named Newcomer of the Week after both played key roles in the Red Raiders' win over Duke.
Anderson had 27 points while hitting 5 of 9 3-pointers and five assists in Texas Tech's comeback win against Duke while Watts had 10 points, six rebounds and three assists.
The Big 12 also put Baylor's Tounde Yessoufou, BYU's AJ Dybantsa, and Houston's Kingston Flemings on its "Starting Five" for the week.
Arizona had nominated Tobe Awaka for Player of the Week and Brayden Burries for Newcomer of the Week. Awaka had 15 rebounds against San Diego State and Burries averaged 15 points in UA's wins over Abilene Christian and SDSU.
