Arizona No. 1 in AP College Basketball Poll

(AP) Arizona moves to No. 1 in AP poll; Syracuse No. 2
By The Associated Press
Arizona has moved up one spot to No. 1 in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll, the Wildcats’ first top ranking since 2003.

Arizona (9-0) was a runaway choice at No. 1, receiving 63 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel Monday. The Wildcats were sixth in the preseason Top 25, and their climb has been highlighted by wins over San Diego State and Duke.

Syracuse, which got the other first-place votes, and Ohio State moved up two places to second and third, while Wisconsin jumped four spots to fourth. Michigan State, which had been No. 1 for three weeks, dropped to fifth after losing 79-65 at home to North Carolina.

Louisville was No. 6, followed by Oklahoma State, Duke, Connecticut and Villanova.

North Carolina moved back into the poll at No. 18 after a one-week absence. Colorado and Missouri are in the Top 25 for the first time this season. UCLA, Michigan and Dayton fell out of the rankings.