Five takeaways from AP Top 25 men's basketball poll

This week's Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll features a lot of movement heading into the loaded holiday week slate. Here are five takeaways from the poll.

Arizona inches closer to top spot after latest top-three win

Purdue still sits atop the rankings, but the Wildcats (5-0) leapfrog Houston and UConn to move to No. 2 after becoming the third team in AP poll history to have multiple wins over top-three opponents in the first five games of a season with a road win at then-No. 3 UConn.

Arizona has been led by senior guard Jaden Bradley (16.8 PPG) and the sensational play from freshman Koa Peat (16.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG). The Wildcats already have a strong resume and will look to add to it with a pair of marquee games against No. 21 Auburn (Dec. 6) and No. 8 Alabama (Dec. 13).

Alabama rises after another big win

The Crimson Tide (3-1) are coming off three consecutive games against top-10 opponents, winning two of the three. Most recently, Alabama outlasted then-No. 8 Illinois, 90-86, and became the fourth SEC team in AP poll history to have multiple top-10 wins in its first four games of the season.

Alabama has another huge test on Monday night against No. 12 Gonzaga in Las Vegas, but with an offense that has scored at least 80 points in all four games so far, the Crimson Tide have proven to be a difficult out.

Michigan State climbs six spots after statement win

Tom Izzo's Spartans (5-0) rise six spots to No. 11 after taking down then-No. 12 Kentucky to pick up their first win in a Champions Classic game played at Madison Square Garden. Michigan State now has two ranked wins after previously defeating a 14th-ranked Arkansas squad and just hit a season-high 11 threes against Kentucky.

While that has not been Michigan State's identity so far, it has been exceptional rebounding with an average of 13.8 offensive boards per game, which is tied for the 10th-most in the country. The Spartans will need to use that to their advantage with upcoming games against No. 16 North Carolina on Thanksgiving Day and No. 4 Duke (Dec. 6).

Kentucky, Texas Tech plummet

Concerns continue to mount for the Wildcats (4-2), who drop seven spots to No. 12 after getting dominated by the Spartans. Kentucky has given up at least 83 points in each of its two losses and struggled with rebounding. Three of its four wins, though, have come by at least 40 points, which is the most in the country.

Texas Tech (4-2) falls five spots to No. 20 after suffering its first 30-point loss as an AP-ranked team in program history in an 86-56 loss to No. 1 Purdue in the Baha Mar Championship. If the Red Raiders are going to respond, they must improve defensively after allowing the Boilermakers to shoot 59% from the floor.

Vanderbilt, Indiana join the poll

The Commodores (5-0) enter the rankings at No. 24 with the nation's highest-scoring offense (103 PPG), surpassing 100 points in four of their five wins. With six players averaging double-figures, led by sophomore guard Tyler Tanner (16 PPG), Vanderbilt can score in bunches.

Indiana (5-0) debuts at No. 25 after starting a season 5-0 for the first time since the 2022-23 season. The Hoosiers have not faced a ranked opponent, but with No. 6 Louisville (Dec. 6) and No. 19 Kentucky (Dec. 13) looming, the Hoosiers will have multiple chances to prove they are for real.