Arizona men’s basketball moves up in AP poll after win over UConn

Arizona men’s basketball might have the best resume in the sport through the first three weeks of the season, but the Wildcats aren’t ready to be anointed the No. 1 team, according to Associated Press poll voters.

Arizona comes in at No. 2 in this week’s AP poll behind Purdue. The Wildcats received 11 first-place votes to Purdue’s 46. No. 3 Houston received four first-place votes.

Arizona moved to 5-0 on the season with a 71-67 road win at UConn last Wednesday, giving the Wildcats three top-15 victories. UConn dropped from No. 3 to No. 6.

Arizona is the only team in the country with three ranked wins. That was not enough to surpass Purdue, who took care of business in the Bahamas with a close win over Memphis followed by a 86-56 walloping of then-No. 15 Texas Tech.

Arizona’s No. 2 ranking is the program’s highest since December 2023, when the UA was ranked No. 1.

Arizona could have a couple more opportunities to add wins over ranked opponents to its non-conference portfolio. The Wildcats host No. 21 Auburn on Dec. and face No. 8 Alabama in Birmingham on Dec. 13.

The UA is No. 3 in the USA Today Sports Coaches Poll behind Purdue and Houston. Arizona received five first-place votes in the poll.

The Wildcats return to action tonight when they host Denver at 8:30 p.m. MST on CBS Sports Network.