The College Basketball Landscape Shifts: Arizona Surges, Kansas Stumbles, and Indiana Enters the Fray
The latest Associated Press men’s basketball Top 25 poll is out, and it’s a tale of rising stars, surprising falls, and intense competition. But here’s where it gets controversial: Purdue, the preseason No. 1, solidified its top spot with a commanding 46 out of 61 first-place votes after a 30-point thrashing of No. 20 Texas Tech. Yet, some argue that Arizona, now at No. 2, deserves the top spot. The Wildcats boast an impressive resume, including a road win at UConn and neutral-site victories over Florida and UCLA. However, Purdue’s wins at Alabama and the blowout against Texas Tech on a neutral court make a strong case for their reign. What do you think? Should Arizona leapfrog Purdue for No. 1?
Arizona’s ascent to No. 2 marks a season-high for the Wildcats, earning them 11 first-place votes. Rounding out the top five are No. 3 Houston (four first-place votes), No. 4 Duke, and No. 5 UConn. Michigan State made the biggest leap, jumping from No. 17 to No. 11 after a standout win over No. 19 Kentucky in the Champions Classic. Conversely, the Wildcats plummeted seven spots, the steepest fall in the poll.
And this is the part most people miss: Wisconsin and Kansas both dropped out of the rankings after losses to BYU and Duke, respectively. Taking their places are No. 24 Vanderbilt and No. 25 Indiana, marking the Hoosiers’ entry into the poll this season.
Here’s the full poll, alongside The Athletic’s C.J. Moore’s ballot (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6829485/2025/11/24/mens-college-basketball-top-25-purdue-arizona-duke/):
| Rank | Team | Record | Prev | CJ's Vote |
|------|---------------------|---------|-------|-----------|
| 1 | Purdue | 6-0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Arizona | 5-0 | 4 | 2 |
| 3 | Houston | 5-0 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | Duke | 7-0 | 5 | 8 |
| 5 | UConn | 5-1 | 3 | 6 |
| 6 | Louisville | 5-0 | 6 | 4 |
| 7 | Michigan | 4-0 | 7 | 7 |
| 8 | Alabama | 3-1 | 11 | 9 |
| 9 | BYU | 4-1 | 9 | 11 |
| 10 | Florida | 4-1 | 10 | 12 |
| 11 | Michigan State | 5-0 | 17 | 16 |
| 12 | Gonzaga | 5-0 | 13 | 5 |
| 13 | Illinois | 5-1 | 8 | 10 |
| 14 | St. John's | 3-1 | 14 | 13 |
| 15 | Iowa State | 4-0 | 16 | 15 |
| 16 | North Carolina | 5-0 | 18 | 14 |
| 17 | Tennessee | 5-0 | 20 | 18 |
| 18 | UCLA | 5-1 | 19 | 17 |
| 19 | Kentucky | 4-2 | 12 | 22 |
| 20 | Texas Tech | 4-2 | 15 | 21 |
| 21 | Auburn | 4-1 | 22 | NR |
| 22 | Arkansas | 5-1 | 21 | NR |
| 23 | NC State | 4-0 | 25 | NR |
| 24 | Vanderbilt | 5-0 | NR | 23 |
| 25 | Indiana | 5-0 | NR | 19 |
Is the Poll Sleeping on Gonzaga?
Gonzaga, currently No. 12 in the AP poll, is ranked No. 3 by KenPom (https://kenpom.com/) and No. 1 by Bart Torvik (https://www.barttorvik.com/?year=2026&sort=&hteam=&t2value=&conlimit=All&state=All&begin=20251103&end=20260501&top=0&revquad=0&quad=5&venue=All&type=All&mingames=0#) when preseason bias is removed. With three wins over high-major teams and three more potential this week, starting with Alabama, the Zags’ ranking feels unjustifiably low. Are pollsters undervaluing Gonzaga’s potential this season?
Arkansas’ Underwhelming Start
Arkansas, despite just one loss to Michigan State, has struggled to impress. Narrow wins over lesser opponents like Winthrop and Samford, coupled with a drop to No. 37 on KenPom and No. 46 on Torvik’s adjusted rankings, raise questions about their ranking. However, their Thanksgiving Day matchup against Duke could be a turning point. Can Arkansas prove their worth, or is their ranking undeserved?
As the season heats up, these shifts and controversies keep college basketball fans on the edge of their seats. What’s your take on the rankings? Let us know in the comments!
