The Oregon men’s basketball team improved to 7-0 over the weekend after sweeping the Global Sports Hardwood Challenge, and the Ducks were rewarded with a small bump in the AP Top 25 poll — from No. 14 to No. 13.
The Ducks moved up due to a loss by Gonzaga, previously ranked No. 11. The Bulldogs, now ranked No. 19, fell to Dayton 84-79 on Nov. 25 in the first round of the Maui Invitational. Previously unranked Dayton snuck into the week five AP poll at No. 25.
The highest-ranked Pac-12 school is Arizona, who moved up from No. 4 to No. 2 this week. The Wildcats got a big 72-66 win over then-No. 6 Duke in the championship game of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Friday, Nov. 29. Neither of the two teams — Kansas and Kentucky — previously ahead of Arizona played this past week but both already had losses. Kentucky remained at No. 3 while Kansas moved down from No. 2 to No. 6.
The other Pac-12 team in the top 25 is UCLA, who also didn’t play this past week. The Bruins moved up one spot to No. 18.
Right behind Oregon is Villanova, who went from No. 37 to No. 14 after winning the Battle 4 Atlantis championship over the weekend.
Here is the AP top 10 for week five (Number of first place votes in parentheses):
1. Michigan State (63), Big Ten, Record: 7-0, Previous Ranking: 1
2. Arizona (2), Pac-12, 7-0, PV Rank: 4
3. Kentucky, SEC, 7-1, PV Rank: 3
4. Syracuse, ACC, 7-0, PV Rank: 8
5. Ohio State, Big Ten, 6-0, PV Rank: 7
6. Kansas, Big 12, 6-1, PV Rank: 2
7. Louisville, American Athletic Conference (AAC), 6-1, PV Rank: 9
8. Wisconsin, Big Ten, 8-0, PV Rank: 10
9. Oklahoma State, Big 12, 7-1, PV Rank: 5
10. Duke, ACC, 6-2, PV Rank: 6
The entire top 25 can be seen here.
Follow Victor Flores on Twitter @vflores415