Hold onto your hats, basketball fans, because the Arizona Wildcats are not just dominating the court—they're rewriting history! For the second week in a row, Arizona has clinched the top spot in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, solidifying their status as the team to beat this season. But here's where it gets even more impressive: this marks the 41st time since the AP poll began in 1949 that Arizona has sat atop the rankings, and it's the fourth time they've achieved this feat under the leadership of head coach Tommy Lloyd. And this is the part most people miss—Arizona is the only team in the nation with five wins over AP Top 25 opponents this season, a feat they've accomplished just once before in program history (back in 1987-88).
But let’s talk about the rising star who’s stealing the spotlight: freshman guard Brayden Burries. After a jaw-dropping performance against No. 12 Alabama, where he scored 20 of his season-high 28 points in the second half (including 15 straight for the Wildcats!), Burries was named to the Big 12 Starting Five list. This honor recognizes the conference’s top performers, and Burries is in good company—he’s the second Wildcat freshman this season to earn conference accolades, joining Koa Peat, who snagged Big 12 Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week honors earlier this season. Burries’ stats speak for themselves: 11-of-19 shooting overall, 5-of-10 from the 3-point line, and seven rebounds in just 34 minutes. Over the last four games, he’s averaging 19.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting a scorching 56.9% from the floor. Not bad for a freshman, right?
Now, here’s where it gets controversial: Is Arizona’s dominance sustainable, or are they peaking too early? With upcoming games against Abilene Christian and San Diego State, the Wildcats will face tough tests that could either solidify their reign or expose vulnerabilities. And let’s not forget the bigger question: Can a team led by freshmen like Burries and Peat maintain this level of excellence deep into March Madness? Only time will tell. Tickets for their next games are still available at ArizonaWildcats.com/MBK, so you won’t want to miss the action.
For the record, here’s how the AP Top 25 looks as of December 15, 2025:
- Arizona (9-0, 1500 points, 42 first-place votes)
- Michigan (10-0, 1470 points, 15 first-place votes)
- Duke (10-0, 1406 points, 3 first-place votes)
- Iowa State (11-0, 1336 points, 1 first-place vote)
- UConn (10-1, 1286 points)
- Purdue (10-1, 1195 points)
- Gonzaga (10-1, 1109 points)
- Houston (10-1, 1079 points)
- Michigan State (9-1, 1037 points)
- BYU (9-1, 1017 points)
- Louisville (9-1, 921 points)
- North Carolina (9-1, 794 points)
- Vanderbilt (10-0, 766 points)
- Arkansas (8-2, 726 points)
- Nebraska (11-0, 655 points)
- Alabama (7-3, 644 points)
- Kansas (8-3, 502 points)
- Illinois (8-3, 483 points)
- Texas Tech (7-3, 314 points)
- Tennessee (7-3, 286 points)
- Auburn (8-3, 283 points)
- St. John's (6-3, 250 points)
- Florida (6-4, 200 points)
- Virginia (9-1, 200 points)
- Georgia (9-1, 82 points)
Big 12 Starting Five (Dec. 15, 2025):
- Brayden Burries, Arizona
- AJ Dybantsa, BYU
- Melvin Council Jr., Kansas (Player and Newcomer)
- JT Toppin, Texas Tech
- Honor Huff, West Virginia
So, what do you think? Is Arizona’s reign at the top deserved, or is there another team out there ready to dethrone them? Let us know in the comments—we’re all ears! #BearDown
