The latest AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is out, and there’s a familiar feel to the top of the rankings - Michigan and Michigan State are holding strong in the top 10, continuing their impressive early-season runs.
Michigan Holds Steady at No. 2 Behind Arizona
Let’s start with Michigan, who stays locked in at No. 2 for the second straight week, trailing only Arizona. The Wolverines picked up 15 first-place votes, while the Wildcats claimed 42, keeping the two programs comfortably atop the poll. And it’s not hard to see why.
Michigan’s dominance hasn’t just been consistent - it’s been emphatic. Last week, they blew past Villanova with an 89-61 win, then followed that up by dropping 101 points on Maryland in a 101-83 rout.
That Maryland game actually marked the end of a six-game streak where Michigan had beaten opponents by at least 25 points. That’s not just winning - that’s steamrolling.
They’ll look to keep the momentum going this Sunday at home against LaSalle, and if recent form is any indication, Michigan fans should be feeling pretty confident.
Michigan State Bounces Back, Stays at No. 9
Meanwhile, Michigan State holds firm at No. 9 after bouncing back from its first loss of the season - a December 6 setback - with a gutsy 76-72 road win at Penn State. The Spartans are now 9-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play, and they’re showing the kind of resilience that’s going to matter come March.
It wasn’t a blowout, but it was the kind of gritty road win that builds character and keeps you in the top 10. That’s the hallmark of a Tom Izzo-coached team - they know how to respond when things get tough.
Top 10 Sees Minimal Movement
Elsewhere in the top 10, things were mostly quiet. The only change came with Gonzaga and Houston swapping spots - the Zags moving up to No.
7, Houston sliding back to No. 8.
Arizona, Michigan, Duke, and Iowa State continue to round out the top four, with Duke picking up three first-place votes and Iowa State snagging one.
UConn and Purdue remain steady at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, while BYU holds onto the No. 10 spot to complete the top tier.
Nebraska Makes a Statement, Illinois Slides
The biggest mover this week? Nebraska.
The Cornhuskers jumped eight spots to No. 15 after a dramatic buzzer-beater win at then-No. 13 Illinois.
That win not only kept Nebraska unbeaten at 11-0, but it also gave the program its highest ranking since March 1991 - when it finished the season at No. 11.
That’s a long time coming, and this team is starting to feel like more than just a feel-good story.
Illinois, on the other hand, took a hit, dropping five spots to No. 18. Florida also slid five spots to No. 23 after a rough week.
Georgia Joins the Party
The lone newcomer to the poll is Georgia, sneaking in at No. 25 with a 9-1 record. They replace UCLA, who falls out of the rankings after receiving just 16 votes this week.
Quick Look at the Full Top 25
Here’s how the rest of the Top 25 shakes out:
- 1. Arizona (9-0) - 42 first-place votes
- 2. Michigan (10-0) - 15 first-place votes
- 3. Duke (10-0) - 3 first-place votes
- 4. Iowa State (11-0) - 1 first-place vote
- 5. UConn (10-1)
- 6. Purdue (10-1)
- 7. Gonzaga (10-1)
- 8. Houston (10-1)
- 9. Michigan State (9-1)
- 10. BYU (9-1)
Rounding out the top 15: Louisville, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Nebraska.
Others Receiving Votes
Just outside the rankings, Southern Cal, Iowa, Seton Hall, and LSU are knocking on the door. Kentucky and UCLA are still getting some attention, but their early struggles have them on the outside looking in for now.
What’s Next?
With conference play heating up and big-time matchups looming, the next few weeks are going to tell us a lot more about who’s legit and who’s riding early-season momentum. But for now, Michigan and Michigan State are right where they want to be - in the top 10, winning games, and building toward something bigger.