Men’s CBK AP Top 25: Arizona Holds, Houston Jumps to No. 3, Kentucky Returns

Arizona remained firmly atop The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for a ninth consecutive week Monday, while Houston jumped back into the top 5 and Kentucky returned to the rankings for the first time since December. Tommy Lloyd’s Wildcats (23-0) claimed all 59 first-place votes in the latest poll, making them the unanimous choice for a fourth consecutive week. That comes after Arizona — one of two unbeaten teams left in Division I — won at rival Arizona State, then returned home to beat Oklahoma State by 37 points. Michigan remained at No. 2, marking the sixth time in Arizona’s current reign that the Wolverines sat right behind them. Houston (21-2) moved up five spots to No. 3 after wins against UCF and at BYU, returning Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars inside the top 5 after a November stint that included a week at No. 1. [Casey Jacobsen’s Top 25: Purdue, Kansas, UNC Moving Up in Top 25] Duke, Iowa State, UConn, Nebraska, Illinois, Kansas and Michigan State rounded out the top 10. Kentucky was the week’s lone addition at No. 25, returning to the poll for the first time since early December in a season that started with a No. 9 preseason ranking. The Wildcats have won eight of nine, with Saturday’s home win against Tennessee knocking the Volunteers out of the poll. Here is the full top 25: 25. Kentucky, 17-7, SEC24. Louisville, 17-6, ACC23. Miami (OH), 24-0, MAC22. BYU, 17-6, Big 1221. Arkansas, 17-6, SEC20. Clemson, 20-4, ACC19. Vanderbilt, 19-4, SEC18. Saint Louis, 23-1, A-1017. St. John’s, 18-5, Big East16. Texas Tech, 17-6, Big 1215. Virginia, 20-3, ACC14. Florida, 17-6, SEC13. Purdue, 19-4, Big Ten12. Gonzaga, 23-2, WCC11. North Carolina, 19-4, ACC10. Michigan State, 20-4, Big Ten9. Kansas, 18-5, Big 128. Illinois, 20-4, Big Ten7. Nebraska, 21-2, Big Ten6. UConn, 22-2, Big East5. Iowa State, 21-2, Big 124. Duke, 21-2, ACC3. Houston, 21-2, Big 122. Michigan, 22-1, Big Ten1. Arizona, 23-0, Big 12 The Associated Press contributed to this report.​Arizona remained firmly atop The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for a ninth consecutive week, while Houston climbed up and Kentucky returned.