Men’s college basketball has wrapped up its annual “Feast Week,” showcasing some of the nation’s top teams through a series of multi-team events that are essential to the early season competition. This year’s results provide insight into the emerging landscape of the sport as teams compete for dominance.
The standout at the Players Era Festival was No. 6 Michigan, which achieved a remarkable championship run. Michigan triumphed in all three of its games, posting a staggering combined victory margin of 110 points. The Wolverines capped off their impressive performance with a commanding 101-61 victory over No. 10 Gonzaga.
In other events, Southern California claimed victory in a less competitive Maui Invitational, overcoming Arizona State 88-75, which brought their season record to a perfect 7-0. Similarly, No. 23 Vanderbilt made quick work of its competition in the Battle 4 Atlantis, decisively defeating Saint Mary’s 96-71 to secure the title.
Several key matchups also occurred outside the tournament circuit, with No. 7 UConn defeating No. 14 Illinois 74-61 at Madison Square Garden and No. 4 Duke edging past No. 21 Arkansas with an 80-71 win in Chicago.
These performances have significantly shaped the latest Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 rankings. After Week 4, Purdue holds the top spot in both polls, while Michigan and Arizona maintain strong positions as well. The updated rankings reveal a competitive landscape heading into the season’s next phase.
Here are the current standings in the Coaches Poll:
1. Purdue (21 votes)
2. Michigan (6 votes)
3. Arizona (3 votes)
4. Duke (1 vote)
5. UConn
6. Louisville
7. Houston
8. Michigan State
9. Iowa State
10. BYU
11. Gonzaga
12. Alabama
13. Tennessee
14. Florida
15. Illinois
16. Vanderbilt
17. North Carolina
18. Kentucky
T-19. Indiana
T-19. Texas Tech
21. Kansas
22. St. John’s
23. Arkansas
24. Auburn
25. Iowa
In the AP Top 25, Purdue remains in the lead:
1. Purdue (40 votes)
2. Arizona (6 votes)
3. Michigan (15 votes)
4. Duke
5. UConn
6. Louisville
7. Michigan State
8. Houston
9. BYU
10. Iowa State
11. Gonzaga
12. Alabama
13. Tennessee
14. Illinois
15. Florida
16. North Carolina
17. Vanderbilt
18. Kentucky
19. Texas Tech
20. Auburn
21. Kansas
22. Indiana
23. St. John’s
24. USC
25. Arkansas
This season continues to build excitement with strong performances from several programs, setting the stage for a thrilling journey leading up to March Madness. As the teams grow and adjust, fans can look forward to even more competitive matchups on the horizon.