It’s All About the Cats No. 1

The University of Arizona Wildcat’s Basketball Team is Ranked Number 1 in the Latest Associated Press Poll

By Francisco Romero

Tucson, AZ – With a hard fought victory over UNLV (63-58) combined with a Michigan State Loss (79-65) to North Carolina over the weekend, the University of Arizona’s Men Basketball team rose to the top of the rankings this week.  The Associated Press ranked the Wildcats number one for the first time since 2003.  Michigan State was ranked the number one team in the country last week.  

Head Coach Sean Miller acknowledged that being number one does not win the team anything but embraces it’s meaning. “I think that is quite an honor to be ranked number one, I think that is says a lot about the respect that this year’s team has earned,” Miller said.  

The last time a Wildcat team was ranked number one was March10, 2003.  Arizona dropped to number two after losing to UCLA in the Pac-10 tournament. 

With the win over UNLV Arizona improved its record to 9-0.  So far the Wildcats have proven they deserve the top spot in the rankings by beating San Diego State, Drexel University and Duke.  All victories coming on the road, away from the friendly confines of McKale Center, including the championship game of the National Invitational Tournament played in New York City versus Duke.  

Arizona’s five starters along with its bench are as good as any starting lineup in college basketball and by season’s end it could finish as a very special Wildcat group.  The Cats are led by Junior point guard T.J. McConnell who is Averaging 9.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in Arizona’s last four games, he ranks seventh nationally at 6.8 assists per game.  Freshmen sensation Aaron Gordon Ranks second in the Pac-12 with four double-doubles.  Gordon leads Pac-12 freshmen in rebounds and blocks per game, averaging 2.9 offensive rebounds per game.   

Photo Credit to: Arizona Athletics

Arizona is the first Pac-12 school to ascend to No. 1 in the AP poll since Jan. 6, 2006, when UCLA was ranked first.

Associated Press NCAA Men’s Basketball Rankings, first place votes in parenthesis.