Arizona basketball ranked No. 19 in AP, USA Today polls
Dec 12, 2016, 3:30 PM
(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.