For the first time since 2013, the Michigan Wolverines are the No. 1-ranked team in the country. They supplanted Arizona, who lost twice last week after winning their first 23 games. Here's the Week 16 Associated Press top-25 poll, plus this week's schedule of games among ranked teams
Arizona's dreams of completing an unbeaten season came to a crashing halt last week when they lost twice after 23 straight victories. They fell to No. 9 Kansas on Monday in Lawrence, and then dropped a game at home on Saturday, losing in overtime to No. 15 Texas Tech.
When the Week 16 Associated Press poll came out on Monday, the Wildcats slipped all the way to No. 4, and now it's the Michigan Wolverines who are No. 1 in the country. It's Michigan's first time at the top of the college basketball hill since 2013.
Michigan, off to the best start (24-1) in school history through 25 games, claimed 60 of the 61 first-place votes, with Houston getting the other one. The Cougars are No. 2, Duke checks in at No. 3 and Connecticut rounds out the top five at No. 5.
Michigan is the fourth different team to be ranked No. 1 this season. Purdue was the preseason No. 1, but Houston took the top spot in Week 2. The Boilermakers were back on top in Week 3 though neither team had lost, and stayed there for three weeks before losing badly at home to Iowa State.
Arizona claimed the top spot in Week 6, and they've held on to it ever since. They certainly earned it, winning their first 23 games and beating six ranked teams along the way.
Here is the Week 16 Associated Press top-25 poll, with records through Monday morning.
1. Michigan Wolverines (24-1)
2. Houston Cougars (23-2)
3. Duke Blue Devils (23-2)
4. Arizona Wildcats (23-2)
5. Connecticut Huskies (24-2)
6. Iowa State Cyclones (22-3)
7. Purdue Boilermakers (21-4)
8. Kansas Jayhawks (19-6)
9. Nebraska Cornhuskers (22-3)
10. Illinois Fighting Illini (21-5)
11. Gonzaga Bulldogs (25-2)
12. Florida Gators (19-6)
13. Texas Tech Red Raiders (19-6)
14. Virginia Cavaliers (22-3)
15. Michigan State Spartans (20-5)
16. North Carolina Tar Heels (20-5)
17. St. John's Red Storm (20-5)
18. Saint Louis Billikens (24-1)
19. Vanderbilt Commodores (21-4)
20. Arkansas Razorbacks (19-6)
21. Louisville Cardinals (19-6)
22. Miami of Ohio (25-0)
23. BYU Cougars (19-6)
24. Wisconsin Badgers (18-7)
25. Alabama Crimson Tide (18-7)
Others receiving votes: Clemson 55, Utah State 45, Tennessee 36, Villanova 29, Kentucky 15, Miami 10, Saint Mary's 3, VCU 1.
This is a big week for high-level showdowns as conference season head down the final three-week stretch. Here are this week's top-25 showdowns:
Monday's game
No. 2 Houston Cougars at No. 6 Iowa State Cyclones, 9 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN.
Tuesday's game
No. 1 Michigan Wolverines at No. 7 Purdue Boilermakers, 6:30 p.m. ET. TV/Streaming: Peacock, NBC Sports Network.
Wednesday's games
No. 20 Arkansas Razorbacks at No. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide, 7 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN.
No. 23 BYU Cougars at No. 4 Arizona Wildcats, 9 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN.
Saturday's game
No. 4 Arizona Wildcats at No. 2 Houston Cougars, 3 p.m. ET. TV: ABC.
No. 1 Michigan Wolverines vs. No. 3 Duke Blue Devils in Washington, D.C., 6:30 p.m. ET. TV/Streaming: ESPN