AP Top 25: Arizona Basketball moves up two while ASU only drops one after loss
By David Rosen
After a HUGE win against previously unbeaten and No.3 Arizona State Sun Devils, the Wildcats only moved up to No.14, and Sun Devils move down to No.4 in the AP Top 25. Let’s take a look closer why that doesn’t make any sense.
How? Probably the reaction from most Arizona Basketball fans after the AP Top 25 rankings came out today. After a spectacular home win to end 2017, to being Pac-12 conference play and for MAJOR bragging rights, all the Wildcats got for their 84-78 win over the Sun Devils was a No.14 ranking. Are you kidding me?!
To make matters worse, the Sun Devils only moved one spot down to No.4.
Arizona Wildcats Basketball
I demand a recount!
They were an unbeaten team that has impressive wins, including a win against the Kansas Jayhawks, but a loss against a No.17 team should have at least moved them to say No. 8 or No. 9. Also, one of the top 25 teams the Wildcats beat earlier this month in Phoenix, Texas A&M (who were No.5 at the time) remains ahead of the Cats at No.11.
Yes, the Wildcats did lose three games against top NCAA tournament quality teams in NC State, Purdue and SMU in the Bahamas. But they have won eight straight, including wins over Alabama, UCONN and a win over New Mexico on the road. Not only have they won, but they are playing like a top 10 team (in my opinion) and deserve a much higher ranking.
Maybe because the game was on the Pac-12 network and not on a major network? Perhaps because they didn’t win convincingly enough over the Sun Devils? Who the heck knows why the Wildcats didn’t move higher up in the rankings. What Wildcat fans do know is this team is for real, and opponents better be ready to go right from tipoff!
There are many polls out there besides the AP Top 25 (official rankings used for NCAA Division One college basketball), some are respectable and some just simply are ABSURD. Doug Doughtry, who is a sports writer for the Roanoke Times for 44 years, just released his own AP Poll and simply put, he lost his mind! He has the Wildcats at No.23. Say what?! Yes, let me repeat that he has the Wildcats at No.23. How in the world did Doughtry even come up with that (Maybe, deep down inside he is Sun Devils fan??)?
KenPom, which is a highly respected site and ranking site for college basketball has the Wildcats at No.14 and the Sun Devils at No.19. That is a little more realistic regarding the ranking for the team up north based on a lot of factors, including strength schedule.
According to CollegePollTracker.com, the Wildcats earned two No.3 place AP Votes courtesy of Dick Vitale and Seth Davis. Those are two smart guys! The major of the votes were for spots No.12 – No.17. Again, how?? Apparently, most of the associated press still does not believe this team is AP Top 10 worthy. But Wildcats fan do!
Must Read: Unbeaten no more, Arizona Basketball holds on to Defeat No. 3 ASU
As the Wildcats season continues and Pac-12 conference play gets underway, they will continue to move up the rankings. There is no doubt about that! What matters now is that the team does not worry about what their ranking is, but takes care of business on the court. As the saying goes, let the results speak for themselves.