Getty Images/Streeter Lecka
Despite being ranked number two in the AP Poll last week, the Arizona Wildcats lost three straight games and were kicked out of the top 25 as a result of their successive failures. However, as one team leaves the rankings another intriguing newcomer ultimately takes their place. It seems apropos then that Arizona State went from being unranked to 20th in the poll at the same time their hated rivals were ousted from the rankings. At 6-0, the Sun Devils have come on strong early in the season and had impressive wins over the likes of San Diego State, Kansas State, and a ranked Xavier program.
Top 25 College Basketball Rankings 2017: Week 3
Another intriguing newcomer to the top 25 is the Texas Tech Red Raiders. With wins over Northwestern and Boston College, the Red Raiders showed more than enough on defense (55.3 PAPG) to convince the voters of the AP Poll that they were worthy of being ranked this week. With an insanely close win over Wichita State, the Fighting Irish forced their way into the top five. Their stingy defense in combination with their prolific offense has the Fighting Irish looking like an early favorite to make the Final Four.
| Ranking | Team (1st place votes) |
| 1 | Duke (65) |
| 2 | Kansas |
| 3 | Michigan State |
| 4 | Villanova |
| 5 | Notre Dame |
| 6 | Florida |
| 7 | Kentucky |
| 8 | Wichita State |
| 9 | Texas A&M |
| 10 | Miami |
| 11 | Cincinnati |
| 12 | Minnesota |
| 13 | North Carolina |
| 14 | USC |
| 15 | Gonzaga |
| 16 | Baylor |
| 17 | Louisville |
| 18 | Virginia |
| 19 | West Virginia |
| 20 | Arizona State |
| 21 | Xavier |
| 22 | Texas Tech |
| 23 | TCU |
| 23 | Alabama |
| 25 | Creighton |
Voted unanimously as the number one team in the country, the Duke Blue Devils had to fight with everything they had to stay undefeated this past week. A close win over Florida most likely sealed the deal as freshman Marvin Bagley has looked like the early favorite to win the Wooden Award thanks to his tenacity on defense and his domineering presence when it comes to dunking the basketball on opposing defenders.
Dropped from rankings: Arizona 2, Purdue 18, Seton Hall 20, Saint Mary’s 21, UCLA 23
Others receiving votes that did not make the poll: Seton Hall 87, Nevada 61, Purdue 56, UCLA 56, Arizona 34, Washington State 25, Texas 22, Arkansas 17, Tennessee 14, Providence 9, Northwestern 8, Rhode Island 6, Georgia 5, Saint Mary’s 5, Oklahoma 3, UNLV 2, Vermont 1, UT Arlington 1, Maryland 1
