College Basketball AP Poll Shakeup: Arizona Seizes the Throne as Michigan Crashes Back to Earth
If you love chaos, broken parlays, and the sweet sound of a heavy favorite crumbling at home, then Week 10 of the college basketball season was your personal holiday. We are deep in the January grind now, folks. The “new year, new me” energy has worn off, conference play is getting nasty, and the pretenders are starting to get separated from the contenders.
The headline this week? The Michigan Wolverines forgot to check the rearview mirror. After sitting pretty near the top, they took a stumble that shook up the entire AP Top 25, opening the door for a new king in the West. Let’s dive into the madness of the latest rankings in college basketball.
Arizona Wildcats: The New Kings of the Court
Let’s give credit where it’s due. While everyone else was sweating out close games or tripping over their own shoelaces, the Arizona Wildcats handled business. They are sitting at a pristine 16-0, and they didn’t just slide into the No. 1 spot by default—they earned it.
They went into the weekend and dismantled TCU, 86-73. Koa Peat was an absolute monster, dropping 20 points and reminding NBA scouts why they park in the front row. The Wildcats are currently playing with a swagger that screams “Final Four or Bust.” They’ve got a 16-game winning streak, which is the kind of momentum that usually terrifies the rest of the Big 12. Right now, Tucson is the capital of the college basketball world.
Michigan’s Reality Check
Oh, Michigan. You hate to see it (unless you’re a Wisconsin fan, in which case, you loved every second of it). The Wolverines entered the weekend feeling good, but the Badgers came into Ann Arbor and played spoiler in spectacular fashion.
Losing as a 19.5-point favorite isn’t just a loss; it’s a tragic comedy. The 91-88 defeat proved that in conference play, spreads are just imaginary numbers. Michigan drops to No. 4, and honestly, they’re lucky they didn’t fall further. They survived a buzzer-beater scare against Penn State earlier in the week, so the warning signs were there. This is a wake-up call for Juwan Howard’s squad: talent wins games, but defense wins championships, and giving up 91 points at home is a recipe for an early exit in March of college basketball.
The Cyclones are Brewing a Storm
Quietly, almost politely, Iowa State has climbed to No. 2. They are 16-0 and arguably playing the most complete basketball in the country. While the media loves to fawn over the blue bloods, the Cyclones just keep battering opponents into submission.
Their win over Oklahoma State wasn’t flashy, but it was efficient. Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic are creating a dynamic duo that is going to be a nightmare for opposing coaches to scheme against. They’ve tied the highest ranking in program history, but let’s be real—they have eyes on that No. 1 spot. With a massive showdown against Kansas looming at Allen Fieldhouse, we are about to find out if this team is made of iron or tin.
The “How Are They Still Undefeated?” College Basketball Club
We are down to just five unbeaten teams. Arizona and Iowa State we expected to be good. UConn (16-1, but effectively playing like a juggernaut) is always in the mix. But let’s talk about the surprises.
Nebraska is 16-0 and up to No. 8. Yes, football school Nebraska is up to number 8 in college basketball. They rallied to beat Indiana, proving this start isn’t a fluke. And then there is Vanderbilt. The Commodores are 16-0 and cracked the Top 10. If you had Vandy being a top-10 basketball team on your 2026 bingo card, you are lying. But here we are. They handled LSU by double digits, and the vibe in Nashville is electric.
Risers, Fallers, and the messy Middle
Elsewhere in the poll, we saw some significant movement. Virginia leaped seven spots to No. 16 because, apparently, reports of their demise were greatly exaggerated. They are 10-0 at home and scoring 70+ points consistently, which for a UVA team usually feels like breaking the sound barrier.
On the flip side, Alabama took a tumble, dropping five spots to No. 18. The Crimson Tide has a serious allergy to playing defense in the paint, giving up 30+ paint points in three straight games. You can’t outscore everyone forever, Bama.
The Week Ahead in College Basketball
If you aren’t glued to your TV this Tuesday night, check your pulse. We’ve got No. 2 Iowa State walking into the Phog to play Kansas. We’ve got No. 3 UConn heading to the Prudential Center to play a Seton Hall team that thrives on chaos and comebacks.
The rankings for college basketball are set for now, but in college basketball, paper rankings are about as durable as a wet napkin. Buckle up, folks. It’s only going to get crazier.
