Arizona men’s basketball climbs to No. 9 in Associated Press poll

Arizona played in Fox’s first-ever primetime game from out west, and apparently the Associated Press voters were watching.

The Wildcats (8-1) have moved up one s[pt in the latest AP poll, sitting at No. 9. It marks the third consecutive week they’re in the Top 10 and the 16^th time under coach Tommy Lloyd.

Arizona’s jump was aided by an 89-75 win Saturday over No. 14 Indiana in Las Vegas, its third win this season over a ranked opponent. The UA will get another on Saturday when No. 6 Tennessee (9-1) comes to McKale Center to complete a home-and-home with the Volunteers that began last season.

The UA is one of two ranked Pac-12 schools, along with No. 16 UCLA. ASU, which has won seven in a row and is 9-1 overall heading into a Monday night game with Creighton in Las Vegas, is tied for 28th in total votes.

Arizona visits ASU on Dec. 31.

Before facing Tennessee, Arizona will host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Tuesday, the first of four home games in a 10-day span before the holiday break.