College basketball is back in full swing after the holiday break, and Monday’s slate marks the first full day of action since Dec. 22. That also means it’s our first look at the updated Coaches Poll since teams went on pause - and while there wasn’t a ton of movement, the latest rankings still offer plenty to talk about.
Let’s start at the top, where Michigan continues to look like a team on a mission. The Wolverines didn’t just hold onto the No. 1 spot - they made another statement in the process.
Their 102-50 dismantling of La Salle on Dec. 21 was their eighth straight win by at least 18 points. That’s not just dominance - it’s a full-on blitz.
Since Nov. 19, Michigan is outscoring opponents by an average of 34.3 points per game.
That’s the kind of stretch that turns heads and builds serious momentum heading into conference play.
Michigan gets one more non-conference tune-up Monday night against McNeese State before Big Ten action picks back up on Jan. 2, when they host USC in a matchup that could tell us a lot about how the Wolverines stack up against top-tier competition.
But don’t sleep on Arizona. The Wildcats are right there at No. 2, and they’ve built one of the strongest résumés in the country.
Wins over No. 22 Florida - the reigning national champs - No.
4 UConn, and No. 15 Alabama have Arizona looking every bit like a team that could challenge for the top spot.
They’ll open Pac-12 play on Jan. 3 against Utah, and if they keep stacking quality wins, the pressure on Michigan will only grow.
Duke, meanwhile, is back in the top five at No. 5, despite a recent 82-81 loss to Texas Tech. That close defeat didn’t do much damage in the eyes of voters, and the Blue Devils actually leapfrogged Purdue, which slides to No.
- It’s a sign of how volatile the top tier can be - and how much weight is placed on strength of schedule and quality of play, even in losses.
Here’s how the full top 25 shakes out:
Coaches Poll (First-place votes in parentheses)
1.
Michigan (20)
2.
Arizona (11)
3.
Iowa State
4.
UConn
5.
Duke
6.
Purdue
7.
Gonzaga
8.
Houston
9.
Michigan State
10.
BYU
11.
Vanderbilt
12.
North Carolina
13.
Nebraska
13.
Louisville
15.
Alabama
16.
Texas Tech
17.
Kansas
18.
Arkansas
19.
Illinois
20.
Tennessee
21.
Virginia
22.
Florida
23.
Iowa
24.
Georgia
25.
St. John's
Others receiving votes:
Kentucky (35), USC (25), Utah State (14), Auburn (7), Saint Louis (6), Clemson (6), Seton Hall (5), Oklahoma State (5), Yale (4), UCLA (4), Saint Mary's (4), LSU (3), California (2), Villanova (1), Miami (OH) (1), Indiana (1)
It’s worth keeping an eye on some of the teams just outside the top 25, too. Kentucky leads the “others receiving votes” category and could break back into the rankings with a strong showing this week. USC, Utah State, and Auburn are also lurking - all capable of making noise as we head into the heart of conference play.
Bottom line: the next few weeks are where things start to get real. Conference schedules bring tougher matchups, hostile road environments, and the kind of pressure that separates contenders from pretenders. Michigan and Arizona have set the bar high, but the rest of the field is coming - and the race for March is officially on.