UCLA climbs to No. 2 in final regular-season Top 25 poll

Houston remained No. 1 while UCLA climbed to No. 2 in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll of the regular season.

The Cougars (29-2) earned 58 first-place votes to three for the Bruins (27-4), who have won 10 straight games with their defeat of Arizona on Saturday night.

Kansas (25-6), Alabama (26-5) and Purdue (26-5) round out the top five. 

No. 21 Duke (23-8) rejoined the Top 25 this week after falling out in mid-January.The Blue Devils won six straight to close out the regular season.

Marquette (25-6), Texas (23-8), Arizona (25-6), Gonzaga (26-5) and Baylor (22-9) complete the top 10. Texas A&M was the week’s biggest climber, jumping six spots to No. 18. The Aggies (23-8) are 17-3 since standing at 6-5 on Dec. 20.

Fellow SEC team Tennessee (22-9) fell five spots to No. 17 after losing at Auburn to close out the regular season.

In addition to Duke, Creighton is back in the Top 25 for a third time this season, returning at No. 24. Missouri also returns at No. 25.

Providence, Maryland and Pitt all dropped out of the Top 25.

The rest of the poll: 11. UConn 12. Kansas State 13. Virginia 14. Miami (FL) 15. Xavier 16. Saint Mary’s 17. Tennessee 18. Texas A&M 19. Indiana 20. San Diego State 21. Duke 22. TCU 23. Kentucky 24. Creighton 25. Missouri –Field Level Media

Mar 4, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins cheerleaders celebrate after the Bruins defeated the Arizona Wildcats at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports