Arizona moved up one spot to No. 4 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll after beating UCLA on Friday in Los Angeles, making for a certain Top 5 matchup on Wednesday at No. 3 UConn.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley, left, and forward Koa Peat celebrate as they defeat UCLA in a Hall of Fame Series college basketball game Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
It will be the first Top 5 matchup involving the Wildcats (4-0), since they were No. 1 heading into a 92-84 loss at No. 3 Purdue at Indianapolis on Dec. 16, 2023.
Purdue guard Braden Smith reacts after being fouled against Arizona in Indianapolis during the 2023-24 season.
Arizona was ranked No. 13 in the AP's preseason poll before this season, then shot up to No. 5 after beating then-No. 3 Florida 93-87 in its Nov. 3 season opener. Since then, the Wildcats have beaten Utah Tech, NAU and UCLA.
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Even after facing UConn in Storrs, Conn., on Wednesday, the Wildcats have plenty more high-level tests to come.
Their nonconference schedule also includes Auburn, which remained at No. 22; Alabama, which dropped from No. 8 to No. 11 after losing 73-72 to No. 2 Houston; and San Diego State, which picked up the most votes of any team outside the Top 25.
Among Arizona's Big 12 opponents, Houston dropped from No. 1 to No. 2 after its close call against Auburn 73-72, BYU dropped from No. 7 to No. 9 after losing to UConn 86-84 in Boston, Texas Tech dropped from 11 to 15 after losing 81-77 at Illinois, Iowa State remained at No. 16 and Kansas moved up a spot to No. 23.
