Five takeaways from AP Top 25 men's basketball poll

In this week's Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll, released on Monday, the battle for the No. 1 ranking is historically close while two programs put the country on notice with upset wins. Here are five takeaways from the poll.

Michigan gains ground on Arizona for top spot

Although the Wildcats (14-0) received 32 first-place votes to remain atop the rankings, there is only one point separating them from the Wolverines (13-0), making this one of the closest races for the No. 1 ranking in the 78-year history of the poll.

Michigan's dominance has contributed to that as the Wolverines are the first team in AP poll history with three straight 30-point wins against AP-ranked opponents. Arizona has the top ranking for now, but that level of dominance suggests Michigan is just as worthy of the top spot.

Nebraska, Arkansas climb after key wins

The Cornhuskers (14-0), up three spots to No. 10, achieved their first top-10 ranking since 1966 after Friday night's gritty win over then-No. 9 Michigan State, 58-56. Nebraska picked up its first home win in an AP-ranked matchup since 1991 and is currently in possession of the nation's longest active winning streak (18 games).

The Razorbacks (11-3) rise three spots to No. 15, largely due to their freshmen growing up fast in an 86-75 win over then-No. 19 Tennessee to kick off SEC play. Darius Acuff Jr. was the star, though, with 29 points (9-of-16 FG) as Arkansas continues to pile up signature wins as the season progresses.

North Carolina, Louisville plummet

The Tar Heels (13-2) slide five spots to No. 17 after their defense was nonexistent in a concerning 97-83 loss to SMU on Saturday. The 97 points allowed were the most against an unranked team since head coach Hubert Davis' debut season (2021-22), while the 14-point margin of defeat is the program's largest as a ranked team against an unranked opponent since 2019.

Louisville (11-3) falls four spots to No. 20 after another loss on the road, an 80-76 setback to Stanford, on Friday. The Cardinals are 10-0 at home or neutral sites this season, but are now 1-3 on the road and will be without star freshman Mikel Brown Jr. (back) for a fifth straight game when they host No. 6 Duke on Tuesday, per ESPN's Jeff Borzello.

Georgia, Iowa rise 

The Bulldogs (13-1) lead the nation in scoring (99.4 PPG) and blocks (7.9 BPG). That was evident in Saturday's overtime win over Auburn when Georgia, up five spots to No. 18, scored 104 points and recorded nine blocks.

The Hawkeyes (12-2) experienced the biggest jump in the poll, up six spots to No. 19. Saturday's 74-61 win over UCLA was closer than it should have been after Iowa led by as many as 24, but the hot shooting of senior guard Bennett Stirtz (27 points, 8-of-10 FG) was enough to help the Hawkeyes secure their best start through 14 games since the 2020-21 season.

SMU, UCF join the rankings

The Mustangs (12-2) picked up their first win over an AP-ranked team since the 2021-22 season when they defeated then-No. 12 North Carolina on Saturday. Senior guard Boopie Miller was key in that upset win, scoring a team-high 27 points (10-of-13 FG) and adding 12 assists.

The Knights (12-1) picked up their second win over a ranked Kansas Jayhawks team at home in the past three seasons with Saturday's 81-75 victory. It is the first time UCF has been ranked since 2019.