The latest USA Today Coaches Poll has dropped, and there’s plenty to unpack-especially for hoops fans in the state of Michigan. Both Michigan and Michigan State held firm in this week’s rankings, and while the top of the poll didn’t budge, the rest of the board saw some serious movement after a chaotic week of college basketball.
Let’s start with the Wolverines. Michigan (22-1, 12-1 Big Ten) remains locked in at No. 2, and they’ve earned that spot.
Last week, they extended their winning streak to eight games, capped by a convincing 74-62 win on the road at Ohio State. That’s not just a rivalry win-it’s a statement.
Michigan continues to blend elite defense with efficient, balanced scoring, and the result is one of the most complete teams in the country. They even picked up a first-place vote this week, a sign that at least one coach sees them as the best team in the country right now.
Meanwhile, Michigan State (20-4, 10-3) stays steady at No. 10.
The Spartans snapped a brief two-game slide with a gritty 85-82 overtime win over Illinois on Saturday. That was a much-needed bounce-back for Tom Izzo’s squad, and it came against a top-tier opponent.
Illinois, which had been sitting higher in the rankings, slid to No. 7 after the loss. For Michigan State, it’s a win that could help stabilize things heading into a critical stretch of the Big Ten schedule.
At the top of the poll, Arizona remains No. 1, collecting 30 of 31 first-place votes. The Wildcats are still unbeaten, but that perfect record is about to be tested in a big way-they’re headed to Kansas for a marquee Big Monday matchup against a Jayhawks team that’s heating up at just the right time. Michigan may be waiting in the wings, but Arizona holds the top spot for now.
The rest of the top 10? That’s where things got interesting.
Houston made the biggest leap, jumping from No. 8 to No. 3 after taking down BYU. The Cougars are surging and look every bit like a team that could make a deep run in March.
Iowa State climbs to No. 4, continuing its strong season in the always-brutal Big 12. Connecticut, which had been riding an 18-game winning streak, took a stumble with a loss at No.
17 St. John’s and drops to No.
- Duke also slips a couple of spots to No. 6 after a heartbreaking last-second loss to North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
Nebraska continues its quiet climb, moving up to No. 8, while Kansas-fresh off a strong week-slides into the No. 9 spot. Gonzaga, after a midweek loss at Portland, drops to No. 11 but stays ahead of No. 12 Purdue.
There’s also some movement further down the poll worth noting. Defending national champion Florida is starting to look like itself again.
The Gators are back on top of the SEC standings and climb to No. 14 this week. And Iowa, after some time on the outside looking in, reenters the poll at No.
Bottom line: the top of the rankings may be holding steady, but beneath that surface, there’s a whole lot of volatility. With conference races tightening and March creeping closer, every game is starting to feel like it carries a little extra weight. Michigan and Michigan State are right in the thick of it-and if they keep playing the way they are, don’t be surprised if both are making noise deep into the postseason.