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.
