Both Arizona and Duke dropped in the Associated Press Top 25 poll Monday, four days before their showdown at McKale Center.
The Wildcats (2-1) slipped from No. 9 to No. 17 after losing at Wisconsin (4-0), which jumped into the poll at No. 19. Duke (3-1) dropped from No. 6 to No. 12 after losing to ninth-ranked Kentucky (3-0) in Atlanta.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis chases a loose ball against Duke guard Jeremy Roach during the first half of the Wildcats’ 78-73 win over the Blue Devils in Durham, North Carolina, on Nov. 10, 2023.
Kansas remained atop the poll, followed by UConn and Gonzaga while Alabama dropped from No. 2 to No. 8 after losing to Purdue, which moved up to No. 6.
Two of Arizona's other upcoming opponents this season dropped one spot each, Baylor to No. 13 and Cincinnati to 18. The Wildcats could also face either No. 16 Indiana or third-ranked Gonzaga in their final Battle 4 Atlantis game on Nov. 29.
FWIW this was the ballot I sent to the AP:
1 Auburn
2 Kansas
3 Gonzaga
4 UConn
5 Iowa State
6 Purdue
7 Houston
8 Alabama
9 North Carolina
10 Teneessee
11 Kentucky
12 Duke
13 Creighton
14 Indiana
15 Baylor
16 Cincinnati
17 Marquette
18 Wisconsin
19 Texas A&M
20 Arizona
21 Arkansas
22 Ole Miss
23 St. John's
24 Oregon
25 Florida
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Former Arizona commit Joson Sanon became the first ASU player to win a weekly Big 12 men's basketball award, earning co-newcomer of the week (along with BYU's Egor Demin) after averaging 19.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and shooting 60.9% in wins over GCU and St. Thomas.
Kansas' Hunter Dickinson was a repeat winner of Big 12 Player of the Week award after leading Kansas to a 77-69 win over Michigan State with a 28-point, 12-rebound effort.
