No. 1-vs.-No. 2 matchup in the works — if Cats, Boilermakers can take care of business

Arizona rose to No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll on Monday, matching its highest ranking ever under third-year coach Tommy Lloyd while setting up a potential 1-versus-2 showdown with top-ranked Purdue on Dec. 16 in Indianapolis.

There’s a chance the No. 1 team in that matchup could be Arizona by then, too.

The Boilermakers face a more difficult path before the Dec. 11 poll that will precede their semi-neutral game with the Wildcats, having to play Northwestern, Iowa and Alabama, while UA has only home games against Colgate and Wisconsin.

If Purdue lost one of those three high-major games but wins the other two, and Arizona wins its two home games, the Boilermakers could slip to the No. 2 spot — or lower, depending on how No. 3 Marquette, No. 4 UConn and No. 5 Kansas fare in the next two weeks.

In Monday’s poll, Kansas dropped from the No. 1 spot to No. 5 after losing to Marquette but beating Tennessee in the Maui Invitational at Honolulu. UConn moved up one spot.

Among other UA opponents this season, Duke moved from No. 9 to No. 7 after beating two low-major teams, Alabama dropped from No. 17th to 23rd after losing to Ohio State but beating Oregon, and Florida Atlantic rose from 19th to 13th after winning three games.

Two UA opponents dropped out of the Top 25: Michigan State, from the No. 21 spot after losing to the Wildcats, and Colorado from the No. 18 ranking after losing to Florida State.

The Wildcats’ wins over Michigan State and Duke propelled them to the highest ranking they have held since the final four weeks of the 2021-22 season, when they were ranked No. 2 while winning the Pac-12 regular season and Pac-12 Tournament titles. The AP Top 25 is not conducted after the NCAA Tournament begins.

Whether Arizona moves up to No. 1 early this season likely will depend on what Purdue does until Dec. 16, assuming the Wildcats win their two upcoming home games.

Here’s a look at each team and what it faces before their showdown:

Arizona (6-0, No. 2 AP, No. 4 Kenpom)

Colgate (3-3, No. 162 in Kenpom)

When, where: Dec. 2 at McKale Center

Wins: Brown at home, Gardner-Webb and Weber State at Moncton, New Brunswick

osses: At Syracuse, to Yale at Moncton, to Harvard at home

Strength: Two-point percentage defense (46.7)

Weakness: Non-steal turnover percentage (10.7)

Wisconsin (4-2, No. 24 Kenpom)

When, where: Dec. 9 at McKale Center

Wins: Arkansas State and Robert Morris at home, Virginia and SMU at Fort Myers, Fla.

Losses: Tennessee at home, at Providence

Strength: Rebounding (46th in offensive rebound percentage, 51st in defensive rebounding percentage)

Weakness: Overall field-goal percentage defense (247th in Kenpom effective percentage)

Purdue (6-0, No. 1 AP, No. 2 Kenpom)

Texas Southern (0-6, No. 244 Kenpom)

When, where: Tuesday at West Lafayette, Ind.

Wins:

Losses: At New Mexico, at ASU, at Virginia, at Creighton, at Oral Roberts, at Drake

Strength: Experience against high-majors

Weakness: Two-point percentage shooting (37.6)

Northwestern (4-1, No. 60 Kenpom)

When, where: Friday at Evanston, Ill.

Wins: Binghamton, Dayton and Western Michigan at home, Rhode Island in Uncasville, Conn.

Loss: Mississippi State at Uncasville.

Strength: Defensive turnover percentage (25.6)

Weakness: Three-point shooting (29.1)

Iowa (4-2, No. 40 Kenpom)

When, where: Dec. 4 at West Lafayette, Ind.

Wins: North Dakota, Alabama State, Arkansas State at home, Seton Hall at San Diego

Losses: at Creighton, Oklahoma at San Diego

Strength: Ball control (turnovers on just 11.5% of possessions)

Weakness: Two-point percentage defense (49.6)

Alabama (5-1, No. 23 AP, No. 8 Kenpom)

When, where: Dec. 9 at Toronto

Wins: Morehead State, Indiana State, South Alabama and Mercer at home, Oregon in Niceville, Fla.

Loss: Ohio State in Niceville.

Strength: Overall offensive efficiency (No. 1 in Kenpom)

Weakness: Two-point percentage defense (50.4)

Rim shots

California's Fardaws Aimaq was named the Pac-12 Player of the Week after averaging 18.3 points and 14.3 rebounds while shooting 58% from the field over the Bears' three losses last week — to UTEP, Tulane and San Diego State.

Arizona had nominated Keshad Johnson, who collected 13 points and 10 rebounds while also making a game-preserving block in the Wildcats' 74-68 win over Michigan State.

UCLA's Sebastian Mack was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week after averaging 19.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in the Maui Invitational last week at Honolulu. The Bruins lost to Marquette and Gonzaga while beating Chaminade.

Arizona nominated KJ Lewis for the freshman award, citing his six points and strong defense in the Michigan State game.