Big 12 & Big Ten Dominate: AP Top 25 Men’s Basketball Poll & Arizona’s Test

Big 12 and Big Ten Dominate Latest AP Men’s Basketball Poll

The battle for college basketball supremacy is increasingly focused on two conferences: the Big 12 and the Big Ten. This week’s Associated Press men’s basketball Top 25 poll reflects that dominance, with teams from those leagues occupying a significant portion of the top 10.

For the third consecutive week, Arizona holds the unanimous No. 1 ranking, maintaining a perfect 23-0 record. The Wildcats have been at the top for two full months, but the competition is heating up as they prepare for a challenging stretch of games against ranked opponents.

Close behind at No. 2 is Michigan, with a record of 22-1. The Wolverines flipped spots with UConn, who now sit at No. 6. The Big Ten’s strength is further underscored by the presence of Nebraska at No. 7, Illinois at No. 8, and Michigan State at No. 10.

The Big 12 isn’t far behind, boasting No. 3 Houston, No. 5 Iowa State, and No. 9 Kansas in the top 10. Only Duke, ranked No. 4 representing the ACC, and UConn of the Big East managed to break into the top 10 from other conferences.

Arizona’s path to remaining undefeated won’t be easy. Starting with a February 14th matchup against Kansas, the Wildcats face a demanding schedule with four games against ranked opponents over the next two weeks. They will also host No. 16 Texas Tech, and No. 22 BYU, before traveling to face Houston. Six of their final eight games are against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25.

Elsewhere in the poll, Kentucky has returned to the Top 25, securing a spot after falling out on December 1st. Tennessee, however, dropped out of the rankings this week.

Here’s a look at the complete AP Top 25 poll as of February 9, 2026:

Others receiving votes: Alabama 72, Iowa 69, NC State 31, Tennessee 26, Villanova 17, Utah State 15, Georgia 6, Santa Clara 2, Auburn 2, Saint Mary’s 1.