"It's been a revolving door at No. 1 the past couple of weeks. Purdue opened the 2025-26 season in the top spot but got replaced by Arizona after the Wildcats won at UConn in mid-November -- arguably the single most impressive victory of the season thus far. If not for a Power Rankings hiatus for Thanksgiving, the Boilermakers would have taken the No. 1 spot back just a couple days later when they blew out Texas Tech in the Bahamas."
"Instead of a debate between the Wildcats and Boilermakers, though, a third team emerged during Feast Week -- and ultimately jumped both teams to rise to No. 1. Michigan's performance at the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas was perhaps the best Feast Week run we've ever seen. Three wins over potential NCAA tournament teams -- San Diego State, Auburn and Gonzaga, the last of which looked like a No. 1 candidate before the loss -- by a combined 110 points."
Michigan rose to No. 1 after dominating the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas with three wins over San Diego State, Auburn and Gonzaga by a combined 110 points. The Wolverines climbed to the top of advanced metrics including KenPom, Bart Torvik and the NET. Michigan became the first team in the AP Poll era with consecutive 30-point wins against ranked opponents. Dusty May has the best defense in the country and a team that's huge, deep, old and can win playing different ways. Entering the second quarter of the regular season, Michigan stands as the national title favorite. UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg started slowly but improved quickly.
Read at ESPN.com
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