The Associated Press men’s Top 25 poll for Week 3 sets the stage for Feast Week with few surprises at the top but plenty of movement.
At No. 1 is Purdue Boilermakers (6-0), fresh off its program-record 30-point win over a ranked team. However, the Arizona Wildcats moved to No. 2, becoming just the third team in poll history to record multiple wins over top-three opponents within its first five games.
The Houston Cougars slipped one spot to No. 3 despite starting 5-0 under coach Kelvin Sampson, as the focus shifts to the emerging contenders. The top four teams all remain undefeated, with the Duke Blue Devils (7-0) at No. 4 and the UConn Huskies (5-1) at No. 5 rounding out the rankings.
Notable risers include Michigan State Spartans, climbing six places to No. 11 after earning their first Champions Classic victory at Madison Square Garden. As for the Kentucky Wildcats, they tumbled seven spots to No. 19 after an uncharacteristic 4-2 start.
Two programs entered the Top 25 for the first time this season. The Vanderbilt Commodores and the Indiana Hoosiers, both at 5-0. Vanderbilt’s offense averages 103 points per game, while Indiana’s early surge marks its best 5-0 start since 2022-23.
As the season accelerates, all eyes are on Feast Week for better outcomes. Early rankings can shift fast and the race for positioning will get better as conference play approaches.
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