UCLA, USC, Arizona all land in top six of new AP hoops poll
Three of the top six teams in college basketball are from the Pac-12.
The new AP Top 25 dropped Monday and the Bruins, Trojans, and Wildcats all found themselves inside the top six. UCLA rose two spots up to No. 3. USC rose two spots as well, up to No. 5. And Arizona followed suit, rising up two spots to No. 6.
UCLA returned to the court last week after a lengthy pause due to COVID issues within the program. When it played Long Beach State on Thursday (Jan. 6), it was the team’s first action since Dec. 11. The Bruins blasted Long Beach State 96-78. Then on Saturday they beat Cal 60-52. The Bruins are 10-1 on the season, and will take the court next on Thursday against Oregon.
USC is 13-0, one of only two remaining unbeaten teams in the country. It too returned to the floor this past week after a COVID pause of its own, beating Cal on Thursday 77-63 in the first game back since Dec. 18. USC faces Stanford on Tuesday.
Arizona is 12-1, but has played only once since Dec. 22. It had marquee games against USC and UCLA postponed while those teams were paused, and then had its game against Arizona State this past weekend pushed as well. The Cats beat Washington 95-79 last Monday. They’re scheduled to play Colorado on Thursday.
Here’s the full poll:
- Baylor (15-0)
- Gonzaga (12-2)
- UCLA (10-1)
- Auburn (14-1)
- USC (13-0)
- Arizona (12-1)
- Purdue (13-2)
- Duke (12-2)
- Kansas (12-2)
- Michigan State (13-2)
- Houston (14-2)
- LSU (14-1)
- Wisconsin (13-2)
- Villanova (11-4)
- Iowa State (13-2)
- Ohio State (10-3)
- Xavier (12-2)
- Kentucky (12-3)
- Texas Tech (11-3)
- Seton Hall (11-3)
- Texas (12-3)
- Tennessee (10-4)
- Providence (14-2)
- Alabama (11-4)
- Illinois (11-3)
Others receiving votes: Oklahoma 122, Loyola Chicago 96, Miami (FL) 65, West Virginia 20, Connecticut 17, Indiana 12, Colorado State 10, San Diego State 9, Davidson 5, BYU 2, Iowa 2, San Francisco 2