Wildcats earn best AP ranking since 2014-15 after sweep in Washington

Feb 20, 2017, 10:46 AM

Arizona's Allonzo Trier (35) is congratulated by Parker Jackson-Cartwright after scoring against Washington during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Seattle. Arizona won 76-68. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

BY ARIZONA SPORTS

The Arizona Wildcats’ game against Washington on Saturday came down to the wire, but great play from Lauri Markkanen cemented their win and weekend sweep in the northwest.

The 2-0 week earned the Wildcats a bump in the Associated Press rankings to No. 4.

Arizona, who found themselves ranked No. 5 last week, was one of five teams to move past Baylor. The Bears finished the week winless after dropping a six-point game in Lubbock to Texas Tech on Monday and a close one against No. 3 Kansas on Saturday.

This marks the highest ranking of the season for the Wildcats, and the closest they’ve been to the top team in basketball since they were named third-best in the nation after beginning the 2014-15 season 12-0.

The Wildcats beat the Huskies 76-68 thanks to Markkanen and his 26-point, 13-rebound double-double. That followed their 78-59 drubbing of Washington State on Thursday, a game in which Parker Jackson-Cartwright scored a career-high 20 points and head coach Sean Miller almost lost his mind in a 19-point affair.

Arizona is atop the Pac-12 Conference at 14-1 with a 25-3 overall record. The Wildcats have won four games in a row and 19 of their last 20 games.

Two Pac-12 teams are directly behind the Wildcats in the AP Poll, as UCLA (No. 5) earned just 40 fewer points than Arizona and Oregon (No. 6) also got a one-spot bump.

The Wildcats will host USC on Thursday and welcome ESPN College GameDay Basketball for their Saturday matchup against UCLA.

Undefeated Gonzaga still reigns as the best team in basketball, according to the AP poll.

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Washington's Markelle Fultz (20) tries to get past Arizona's Rawle Alkins during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Washington's Noah Dickerson (15) shoots over Arizona's Lauri Markkanen during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Arizona's Allonzo Trier (35) shoots as Washington's Markelle Fultz defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Arizona's Lauri Markkanen leaps at the half-court line to prevent a call of over and back during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Washington on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Washington's Markelle Fultz (20) jumps to hit a 3-point shot against Arizona in the final seconds of the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Washington's Noah Dickerson, center, battles Arizona's Keanu Pinder, left, and Lauri Markkanen for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Arizona's Lauri Markkanen (10) and Washington's Noah Dickerson reach for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Washington's David Crisp, front, drives past Arizona's Parker Jackson-Cartwright during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Arizona's Parker Jackson-Cartwright, right, drives past Washington's Matisse Thybulle during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Arizona's Chance Comanche, right, fights for the ball with Washington's David Crisp, left, and Matisse Thybulle during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Seattle. Arizona won 76-68. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Washington's Markelle Fultz (20) takes an elbow to the jaw from Arizona's Rawle Alkins (1) as they wait with Chance Comanche for a rebound during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Seattle. Arizona won 76-68. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Washington's Noah Dickerson, right, loses a rebound in front of Arizona's Lauri Markkanen during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Seattle. Arizona won 76-68. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Players on the Arizona bench cheer a dunk against Washington late in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Seattle. Arizona won 76-68. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Arizona's Lauri Markkanen dunks against Washington during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Seattle. Arizona won 76-68. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Arizona's Lauri Markkanen (10) shoots over Washington's Matisse Thybulle during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Seattle. Markkanen led Arizona with 26 points and 13 rebounds. Arizona won 76-68. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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