The Oregon men’s basketball team slipped to No. 15 in the latest Associated Press poll, despite picking up a win over Ole Miss on Sunday to maintain their undefeated record (8-0). The Ducks did need overtime to overcome Marshall Henderson and the Rebels, which might’ve caused voters to drop them below last week’s No. 13 spot (the Ducks did move up to No. 11 in the coaches’ poll).
One of the teams jumping ahead of Oregon was Baylor. The Bears jumped six spots to No. 14 after their upset victory over Kentucky, which was ranked third at the time (now No. 11).
The other team that surpassed Oregon in the polls this week was Villanova (from No. 14 to No. 10). The Wildcats, who rose 23 spots last week, were idle in week six but benefited from losses to Kentucky and previously sixth-ranked Kansas (now No. 13).
The Jayhawks lost on a buzzer-beating three to Colorado’s Askia Booker on Saturday. The miraculous shot catapulted Colorado into the top 25 from No. 35 to No. 21 — the biggest jump of any team in the top 25 this week.
Arizona might’ve made the biggest jump of any team, in terms of national attention. The Wildcats, who were idle last week, are now No. 1 in the AP poll after former-No. 1 Michigan State lost to North Carolina 79-65 on Wednesday, Dec. 4 (the Spartans are now ranked No. 5).
Here is the complete AP top 10 for week six (first-place vote in parentheses):
1. Arizona (63), Pac-12, Record: 9-0, Previous Ranking: 2
2. Syracuse (2), ACC, 9-0, PV RanK; 4
3. Ohio State, Big Ten, 8-0, PV Rank: 5
4. Wisconsin, Big Ten, 10-0, PV Rank: 8
5. Michigan State, Big Ten, 7-1, PV Rank: 1
6. Louisville, American Athletic Conference (AAC), 8-1, PV Rank: 7
7. Oklahoma State, Big 12, 8-1, PV Rank: 9
8. Duke, ACC, 7-2, PV Rank: 10,
9. Connecticut, AAC, 9-0, PV Rank: 12
10. Villanova, Big East, 9-0, PV Rank: 14
You can view the entire AP top 25 here.
Follow Victor Flores on Twitter @vflores415