Michigan State Rises, Purdue Plummets in Latest AP Top 25 Projection

The top three teams remain the same, but there could be significant changes elsewhere in the rankings.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The men's college basketball regular season is nearing its end, and the conference tournaments are just around the corner. While the top three teams in the AP Top 25 - Duke, Arizona, and Michigan - all handled their business this week, there could be some surprises in the latest poll. Florida and Michigan State are set to continue their climbs up the rankings after perfect weeks, while Purdue is expected to plummet following a two-loss week. Meanwhile, Texas Tech and North Carolina kept winning despite the absences of their star forwards.

Why it matters

The final weeks of the regular season and the upcoming conference tournaments will be crucial in determining the seeding and matchups for the NCAA Tournament. These rankings shifts could have significant implications for teams' tournament positioning and paths to the Final Four.

The details

Duke, Arizona, and Michigan all went a combined 6-0 this week, including three wins over ranked opponents. Florida and Michigan State are poised to rise in the rankings after perfect weeks, while Purdue is set to drop after losing twice. Texas Tech and North Carolina continued to win without their star forwards, JT Toppin and Caleb Wilson, respectively.

  • The men's college basketball regular season is nearing its end.
  • The conference tournaments are around the corner.

The players

Duke Blue Devils

The top-ranked team in the country, Duke convincingly defeated Notre Dame and No. 11 Virginia this week.

Arizona Wildcats

The second-ranked team, Arizona went 3-0 without star freshman Koa Peat and then defeated No. 14 Kansas in Peat's return.

Michigan Wolverines

The third-ranked team, Michigan responded to its loss to Duke last week with wins over Minnesota and No. 10 Illinois.

Florida Gators

The Gators have climbed into the top five after winning nine straight games, including a 34-point drubbing of No. 20 Arkansas.

Michigan State Spartans

Tom Izzo's Spartans are one of the biggest risers of the week, having scored a couple of road wins, including a 76-74 victory at No. 8 Purdue.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.