"How they got here: Behind an exceptional debut from freshman Koa Peat (30 points), Arizona opened the season with a win over reigning champion Florida in Las Vegas and has racked up more quality wins since then. The Wildcats hold victories over UConn, Alabama, UCLA, Auburn and San Diego State, with only one of those coming on their home floor in Tucson. Their defeat of UConn in Storrs was one of the most impressive wins we'll see from any team this season."
"Biggest upcoming test: Jan. 26 at BYU. Arizona's Big 12 schedule is backloaded; the Wildcats won't face Kansas, Texas Tech, Houston, Baylor or Iowa State until February. A Jan. 17 trip to UCF could be tricky, but Arizona should win that one, too. So we'll circle the Wildcats' trip to Provo for a date with potential No. 1 NBA draft pick AJ Dybantsa and coach Kevin Young's top-10 Cougars."
"How they got here: After closer-than-expected wins over Wake Forest and TCU, Michigan went to Las Vegas for the Players Era Festival and came back as one of the most dominant teams in recent memory. The Wolverines ambushed San Diego State, Auburn and Gonzaga by a combined 110 points then kept the dominance rolling with a 41-point win over Rutgers, a 28-point win over Villanova"
As conference play begins, separation in the national pecking order is expected as teams face tougher, more frequent games. Six programs remain unbeaten entering 2026: Arizona, Michigan, Iowa State, Vanderbilt, Nebraska and Miami (Ohio). Arizona's resume includes a season-opening win over Florida and quality victories at UConn, Alabama, UCLA, Auburn and San Diego State, with the Jan. 26 trip to BYU as a major upcoming test. Michigan dominated the Players Era Festival, outscoring San Diego State, Auburn and Gonzaga by a combined 110 points and following with lopsided wins over Rutgers and Villanova.
Read at ESPN.com
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