AP Poll Analysis: Week 18

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TUCSON, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 28: Ivan Kharchenkov #8 of the Arizona Wildcats posts up on Jamari McDowell #11 of the Kansas Jayhawks during the first half at McKale Center at ALKEME Arena on February 28, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

No change in the top three, as Duke, Arizona, and Michigan had dominant 2-0 weeks where they beat strong competition. The Blue Devils rolled past Virginia, the Wildcats clobbered Kansas, and the Wolverines romped past Illinois 84-70 on the road.

Below them, UConn and Florida impressed in the battle for the fourth 1-seed, with the Huskies destroying St. John’s 72-40 and Florida roasting Arkansas 111-77. The lesson seems to be clear: if you’re a ranked team and playing the top five, watch out. They’ll run you out of the gym.

Let’s take a look at the complete AP poll of Week 18:

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Notes:

• Miami-OH drained a last-second shot at Western Michigan to reach 29-0 and enter the regular season’s final week still unblemished. They just need to win their home finale against 16-13 Toledo and a road trip to 15-14 Ohio, and they’ll complete one of the few and far between undefeated regular seasons in college basketball history.
• Tennessee and Vanderbilt both stayed in the poll despite taking losses on Saturday. They’ll face each other Saturday for their season finales in Knoxville.
• Purdue dropped seven spots after an 0-2 week. After losing by two at home to Michigan State, they went to Columbus and fell to the Buckeyes 82-74.
• Since losing superstar J.T Toppin to an ACL tear against Arizona State, Texas Tech has gone 3-0 with 28, 12, and nine-point wins, with the last of those coming at then-#4 Iowa State. They’ll finish their season with TCU and BYU as they fight Houston for 2nd place in the Big 12 standings.
• Nebraska and Michigan State have been in the shadow of Michigan’s dominance, but the Cornhuskers are 25-4 and the Spartans are 24-5 with both teams being tied for 2nd in the Big Ten standings and contenders for an NCAA Tournament 2-seed.
• Gonzaga took a loss in its last regular-season WCC game ever: a trip to Saint Mary’s, which gave the Gaels a share of the WCC title as well in what might have also been the Zags’ last trip ever to the University Credit Union Pavilion.

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