While the SEC took over five of the top seven spots in Monday's Associated Press Top 25 poll, the Arizona Wildcats will still be facing eight Big 12 teams that received votes.
Iowa State stayed at No. 3 and Kansas moved up two spots to No. 8, while Houston remained at No. 15 and Cincinnati moved up three spots to No. 19. Baylor, West Virginia, Oklahoma State and ASU also received votes.
Nine Big 12 teams, including Arizona, are also in the NCAA's early NET rankings.
Arizona will open Big 12 play on Dec. 30 against TCU and then play at Cincinnati on Jan. 4 and West Virginia on Jan. 7 in its first Big 12 road trip.
The Wildcats have at least had plenty of exposure to Top 25 teams, with all five of their losses coming to teams that received votes this week. Duke dropped one spot to No. 5, Oklahoma dropped from 13 to 14 and UCLA rose from 24 to 18. Wisconsin dropped out of the poll but still received votes, as has West Virginia.
UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau (34) and guard Kobe Johnson (0) put high pressure on Arizona forward Henri Veesaar (13) during the game at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
