Arizona basketball rises in AP, coaches rankings after win over Gonzaga

Dec 7, 2015, 12:42 PM | Updated: 12:45 pm

Arizona's Gabe York (1) looks to pass while defended by Gonzaga's Eric McClellan (23) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

(AP Photo/Young Kwak)

BY ARIZONA SPORTS

Following a gutsy 68-63 road victory at Gonzaga, the Arizona Wildcats have risen back up the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls this week.

Arizona basketball sits 12th in the USA Today Coaches poll and 13th in the AP rankings this week.

The Wildcats hadn’t fallen far in the eyes of coaches following a loss to Providence just more than a week ago and last week were ranked 14th. Meanwhile, Associated Press writers had Arizona ranked 19th before Sean Miller’s team moved to 7-1 on the season with the victory against the Zags.

With two solid victories in a row against Boise State and Gonzaga, Arizona moves forward with a series of five straight games in McKale Center before it heads to Tempe to face rival ASU on Jan. 3. And if Arizona wants to do itself more favors in the eyes of the pollsters, it has the opportunity with several strong opponents upcoming.

Fresno State (6-2) is up next on Wednesday, and while the Bulldogs are coming off a disappointing loss to Cal Poly, they played ranked Pac-12 foe Oregon well in a five-point loss earlier in the year.

Arizona also plays Missouri, Northern Arizona, a battle-tested Long Beach State team and a rising UNLV team before facing off against the Sun Devils, who themselves upset No. 18 Texas A&M this weekend.

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Gonzaga's Kyle Wiltjer (33) shoots against Arizona's Dusan Ristic (14) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Arizona head coach Sean Miller instructs his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Gonzaga, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Arizona's Allonzo Trier, left, drives against Gonzaga's Domantas Sabonis during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Gonzaga's Domantas Sabonis (11) shoots against Arizona's Dusan Ristic (14) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Arizona's Gabe York (1) shoots against Gonzaga's Domantas Sabonis (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Gonzaga's Domantas Sabonis (11) grabs a rebound in front of teammate Kyle Wiltjer during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Gonzaga's Eric McClellan shoots in front of Arizona's Ryan Anderson (12) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Arizona's Dusan Ristic (14) shoots in front of Gonzaga's Domantas Sabonis (11) and Kyle Wiltjer during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Gonzaga head coach Mark Few instructs his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Arizona's Mark Tollefsen (23) dunks in front of Gonzaga's Kyle Wiltjer, center, and Kyle Dranginis during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. Arizona won 68-63. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Gonzaga's Kyle Dranginis (3) goes after a rebound against Arizona's Kadeem Allen (5) and Dusan Ristic during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. Arizona won 68-63. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Arizona's Ryan Anderson, back, shoots against Gonzaga's Kyle Wiltjer (33) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. Arizona won 68-63. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Arizona's Elliott Pitts, front, goes after a rebound against Gonzaga's Domantas Sabonis during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. Arizona won 68-63. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Arizona's Allonzo Trier, left, shoots against Gonzaga's Domantas Sabonis, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. Arizona won 68-63. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Gonzaga's Kyle Wiltjer (33) shoots in front of Arizona's Gabe York (1) and Mark Tollefsen during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. Arizona won 68-63. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Arizona's Elliott Pitts, front, goes after a rebound against Gonzaga's Kyle Wiltjer, behind, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. Arizona won 68-63. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Arizona's Ryan Anderson (12) celebrates with teammates Justin Simon, center, and Paolo Cruz after an NCAA college basketball game against Gonzaga, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. Arizona won 68-63. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Arizona's Ryan Anderson (12) and Dusan Ristic celebrate after an NCAA college basketball game against Gonzaga, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. Arizona won 68-63. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Arizona's Parker Jackson-Cartwright (0) gestures after an NCAA college basketball game against Gonzaga, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Spokane, Wash. Arizona won 68-63. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

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