Duke returns to familiar spot as No. 1 in AP poll

Field Level Media|published: Mon 23rd February, 14:02 2026

Feb 16, 2026; Durham, North Carolina, USA; The Duke Blue Devil during the game against the Syracuse Orange at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

After a pair of marquee games among the top five teams in the country on Saturday, it was Duke that came out on the other side as No. 1 in the latest Associated Press men's Top 25 poll.

Playing as the nation's No. 3 team, Duke knocked Michigan from the top spot with a 68-63 victory in Washington, D.C. The victory moved the Blue Devils to No. 1 for the 148th time to increase the poll's all-time record.

Duke (25-2) claimed 56 of the 61 first-place votes in Monday's poll, while No. 2 Arizona (25-2) got the other five.

Playing as the No. 4 team in the nation on Saturday, Arizona walked away with a 73-66 victory over Houston, which entered the game at No. 2.

While Michigan (25-2) dropped to the No. 3 spot, Iowa State (23-4) rose two spots to No. 4 despite a 79-69 loss at BYU on Saturday. Houston (25-2) fell to No. 5.

UConn (25-3) dropped one spot to No. 6 after a 91-84 loss to Creighton last week, while Florida (21-6) vaulted five spots to No. 7 after extending its winning streak to seven games. Purdue (22-5) is at No. 8, followed by Gonzaga (27-2), while Illinois (22-6) remained No. 10 despite Saturday's last-second overtime loss on the road against UCLA.

Alabama was the biggest climber in the Top 25, rising eight spots to No. 17 after victories over Arkansas and LSU to extend its winning streak to six games. BYU rose four places to No. 19.

This week's AP Top 25

1. Duke (25-2)

2. Arizona (25-2)

3. Michigan (25-2)

4. Iowa State (23-4)

5. Houston (23-4)

6. UConn (25-3)

7. Florida (21-6)

8. Purdue (22-5)

9. Gonzaga (27-2)

10. Illinois (22-6)

11. Virginia (24-3)