TUCSON, Ariz. - For the second consecutive week, the Arizona men's basketball team sits atop the Associated Press Top 25 poll after defeating No. 12 Alabama on Saturday in Birmingham.
This is the 41st week since the AP poll started in January 1949 that Arizona has held the top spot. It is also the fourth week they have been No. 1 under head coach Tommy Lloyd.
Arizona is the only team in the country with five wins over AP Top 25 opponents this season and it is just the second time in program history that the Wildcats have five Top 25 wins in non-conference play in a season (1987-88).
Additionally, freshman guard Brayden Burries was named to the Big 12 Starting Five list on Monday. The list recognizes the conference's player of the week and newcomer of the week along with others around the conference that performed well. Burries is the second Wildcat freshman to be honored by the conference this season, joining Koa Peat, who was named Big 12 Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week on Nov. 10 and then Newcomer of the Week again on Nov. 24.
Burries scored 20 of his season-high 28 points in the second half against the Crimson Tide, including 15 straight for the Wildcats at one point. He was 11 of 19 from the floor overall and 5 of 10 from the 3-point line. He also added seven rebounds and two assists in 34 minutes of action.
The strong performance from Burries continues his string of strong performances. Over the last four games, he is averaging 19.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and shooting 56.9% from the floor and 39.1% from the 3-point line.
This week, Arizona hosts Abilene Christian on Tuesday in McKale (7:00 p.m.; ESPN+) and then travels to Phoenix to take on San Diego State this Saturday (8:30 p.m.; ESPN2). Tickets for both games are still available at ArizonaWildcats.com/MBK.
Big 12 Starting Five (Dec. 15, 2025):
Brayden Burries, Arizona
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Melvin Council Jr., Kansas (player and newcomer)
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Honor Huff, West Virginia
Associated Press Top 25 (Dec. 15, 2025)
| Rank |
Team |
Record |
Points |
1st Place Votes |
| 1 |
Arizona |
9-0 |
1500 |
42 |
| 2 |
Michigan |
10-0 |
1470 |
15 |
| 3 |
Duke |
10-0 |
1406 |
3 |
| 4 |
Iowa State |
11-0 |
1336 |
1 |
| 5 |
UConn |
10-1 |
1286 |
0 |
| 6 |
Purdue |
10-1 |
1195 |
0 |
| 7 |
Gonzaga |
10-1 |
1109 |
0 |
| 8 |
Houston |
10-1 |
1079 |
0 |
| 9 |
Michigan State |
9-1 |
1037 |
0 |
| 10 |
BYU |
9-1 |
1017 |
0 |
| 11 |
Louisville |
9-1 |
921 |
0 |
| 12 |
North Carolina |
9-1 |
794 |
0 |
| 13 |
Vanderbilt |
10-0 |
766 |
0 |
| 14 |
Arkansas |
8-2 |
726 |
0 |
| 15 |
Nebraska |
11-0 |
655 |
0 |
| 16 |
Alabama |
7-3 |
644 |
0 |
| 17 |
Kansas |
8-3 |
502 |
0 |
| 18 |
Illinois |
8-3 |
483 |
0 |
| 19 |
Texas Tech |
7-3 |
314 |
0 |
| 20 |
Tennessee |
7-3 |
286 |
0 |
| 21 |
Auburn |
8-3 |
283 |
0 |
| 22 |
St. John's |
6-3 |
250 |
0 |
| 23 |
Florida |
6-4 |
200 |
0 |
| 23 |
Virginia |
9-1 |
200 |
0 |
| 25 |
Georgia |
9-1 |
82 |
0 |
| Others Receiving Votes: USC 68; Iowa 47; Seton Hall 46; Kentucky 19; LSU 19; UCLA 16; Clemson 14; California 13; Saint Mary's 12; Arizona State 5; Villanova 5; Miami (OH) 4; Miami (FL) 4; Indiana 4; Notre Dame 4; Utah State 2; Saint Louis 1; Wisconsin 1. |
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