Michigan Surges to No. 2 in AP Poll After Statement Wins; UConn Holds Strong at No. 3
There’s a new No. 2 in men’s college basketball this week, and it comes wearing maize and blue.
After a pair of convincing wins over top-10 Big Ten rivals, Michigan has leapfrogged UConn in the latest AP Top 25 poll. The Wolverines, now 20-1, took down then-No.
5 Nebraska and then-No. 7 Michigan State - two resume-defining victories that sent a clear message to voters: Michigan is for real, and they’re not just racking up wins - they’re doing it against elite competition.
UConn, meanwhile, slips just one spot to No. 3 despite staying perfect in Big East play. The Huskies handled their business last week with wins over Providence and Creighton, pushing their record to 21-1 overall and 11-0 in the conference. Their only blemish remains a November 19 loss to top-ranked Arizona, a 71-67 battle that now looks more like a Final Four preview than a stumble.
Speaking of Arizona, the Wildcats remain the gold standard. At 22-0, they’ve held the No. 1 spot with an iron grip, and there’s no sign of it loosening anytime soon.
But back to UConn - while they may have dropped a spot, there’s no cause for panic in Storrs. The Huskies are riding a 17-game win streak and have plenty of opportunities ahead to make a statement of their own.
This week, they’ll host Xavier and then face No. 22 St.
John’s at Madison Square Garden - a high-profile showdown that could have major implications for Big East supremacy. And yes, they’ll see the Red Storm again at the end of the month.
UConn Women Still Perfect, Still No. 1
On the women’s side, the defending national champions continue to set the pace. UConn’s women’s team remains undefeated at 23-0 and once again claimed all 31 first-place votes in the AP poll. It’s been their spot since the preseason, and they’re showing no signs of giving it up.
Their latest win? A commanding 96-66 victory over then-No.
15 Tennessee - a bit of poetic justice, considering the Lady Vols handed UConn its last loss nearly a year ago. Since that defeat in Knoxville, the Huskies haven’t lost a single game.
With eight Big East games left on the schedule, UConn will hit the road to face DePaul midweek before returning home for a Saturday matchup with Butler.
AP Men’s Top 10
- Arizona (22-0)
- Michigan (20-1)
- UConn (21-1)
- Duke (20-1)
- Illinois (19-3)
- Gonzaga (22-1)
- Iowa State (20-2)
- Houston (19-2)
- Nebraska (20-2)
- Michigan State (19-3)
AP Women’s Top 10
- UConn (23-0)
- UCLA (21-1)
- South Carolina (21-2)
- Texas (21-2)
- LSU (21-2)
- Louisville (21-3)
- Vanderbilt (21-2)
- Michigan (19-3)
- Ohio State (20-3)
- Iowa (18-4)
What’s Next
For Michigan, the challenge now is sustaining momentum. Climbing to No. 2 is one thing - staying there, especially in the grind of Big Ten play, is another. They’ve earned the spotlight, but the target on their back just got a little bigger.
UConn’s men, meanwhile, are in prime position to remind everyone why they’ve been a top-three team all season. With a chance to notch another ranked win at The Garden this week, the Huskies can make a strong case to reclaim the No. 2 spot - or at the very least, solidify themselves as a Final Four favorite.
And as for the UConn women? At this point, it’s not about rankings - it’s about legacy. Another undefeated season is within reach, and the Huskies are playing like a team that’s not just chasing a title, but history.
Strap in. February is here, and the road to March just got a lot more interesting.