Arizona basketball ranked No. 19 in AP, USA Today polls
Dec 12, 2016, 3:30 PM
Missouri's Frankie Hughes, right, dribbles around Arizona's Rawle Alkins, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, in Columbia, Mo. Arizona won the game 79-60. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
(AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
The Arizona Wildcats moved up a spot from last week to 19th in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls following wins over UC Irvine and Missouri.
The short-handed Wildcats (8-2) beat the Anteaters 79-57 in McKale Center on Tuesday to rebound from a loss in Los Angeles to Gonzaga a game prior. Big men Lauri Markkanen and Dusan Ristic co-led the team with 18 points in that home game.
Freshman perimeter players Rawle Alkins and Kobi Simmons led Arizona with 19 points apiece Saturday in a 79-60 win against the Tigers in Columbia, Mo.
Arizona hosts Grand Canyon in Tucson this Wednesday and Texas A&M on Saturday.
The top-10 of the AP poll didn’t feature any changes this week, though No. 5 Baylor and No. 6 North Carolina swapped spots in the USA Today rankings.
Saint Mary’s fell to 20th — it was 11th and 12th last week — after losing to UT Arlington 65-51 Thursday before recovering against UC Irvine with an 84-53 win.
Florida State entered the top-25 to No. 23 in both rankings after a win against Florida, which fell out of the polls.
