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AP men’s basketball Top 25: Arizona remains No. 1, Nebraska earns highest ranking since 1991

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AP men’s basketball Top 25: Arizona remains No. 1, Nebraska earns highest ranking since 1991


Arizona maintained its position as the No. 1 team in the Associated Press men’s basketball Top 25 on Monday, earning 42 of 61 first-place votes after a week that included a 96-75 win over No. 16 Alabama.

The Wildcats (9-0), one of seven undefeated teams remaining in Division I, already own five wins over high-major opponents.

There was little movement in the top 10 after a week with few upsets. Michigan (10-0), Duke (10-0), Iowa State (11-0) and UConn (10-1) remained Nos. 2-5, respectively. The only team to move up in the top 10 was No. 7 Gonzaga (10-1), which swapped places with No. 8 Houston (10-1) after adding another top-tier win over UCLA on Saturday.

The greater movement occurred between Nos. 10-25.

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Nebraska (11-0) was the biggest riser, jumping eight spots to No. 15 after Saturday’s 83-80, buzzer-beating win over No. 18 Illinois. The Huskers, the lone power-conference team to never win an NCAA Tournament game, achieved their highest ranking since 1990-91, when they finished the season No. 11.

Illinois (8-3) and No. 23 Florida (6-4) were the biggest fallers, dropping five spots apiece.

Georgia (9-1) was the lone newcomer to the poll at No. 25, while UCLA (7-3) dropped out.

Here’s the full poll, along with my ballot:

Rank

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Team

  

Record

  

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Prev

  

CJ’s vote

  

1

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9-0

1

2

2

10-0

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2

1

3

10-0

3

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5

4

11-0

4

3

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5

10-1

5

4

6

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10-1

6

6

7

10-1

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8

7

8

10-1

7

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10

9

9-1

9

9

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10

9-1

10

8

11

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9-1

11

11

12

9-1

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14

15

13

10-0

15

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12

14

8-2

17

14

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15

11-0

23

13

16

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7-3

12

17

17

8-3

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19

16

18

8-3

13

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18

19

7-3

16

21

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20

7-3

20

20

21

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8-3

21

NR

22

6-3

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22

24

23

6-4

18

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19

24

9-1

24

22

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25

9-1

NR

25

NR

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9-2

NR

23

Others receiving votes: USC 68, Iowa 47, Seton Hall 46, LSU 19, Kentucky 19, UCLA 16, Clemson 14, California 13, Saint Mary’s 12, Arizona State 5, Villanova 5, Notre Dame 4, Indiana 4, Miami (Ohio) 4, Miami (Fla.) 4, Utah State 2, Saint Louis 1, Wisconsin 1.

How good is Nebraska?

I caught Nebraska in person earlier this season when it beat New Mexico and Kansas State in Kansas City, Mo., and I’ve been a believer since. It’s a classic Fred Hoiberg team with a playmaking big, tons of shooting and awesome offensive execution. But what also stood out was how hard the Huskers played, and the defense is better than many of his best teams of the past at Iowa State.

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The numbers are starting to back that up. The Huskers are up to 28th in adjusted defensive efficiency, the highest ranking ever for a Hoiberg defense. All this team was missing was signature wins, and it got two this past week, crushing Wisconsin 90-60 and then winning on the road at No. 18 Illinois on a last-second shot.

Arkansas could keep climbing

Arkansas fell out of my rankings for a few weeks early in the season because its computer numbers were bad after a few close calls against mid-majors. It was obvious the talent was there, but the Razorbacks just weren’t sharp early. They’re starting to play up to their talent, and I moved them up to 14th this week, which is one spot below where I had them in the preseason.

John Calipari’s best teams always have an NBA-level point guard, and he has one in Darius Acuff, who is averaging 17.7 points and 5.7 assists. Calipari also has three big wings who could develop into pros — Meleek Thomas, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond III — and as I wrote about in my weekly rankings, Trevon Brazile is playing the best ball of his career. This team is deeper and more talented than last year’s group, which got hot late and made the Sweet 16. Might still be a little low on this group.

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Best team not ranked: Iowa

Iowa has yet to make the AP Top 25, but I’ve ranked the Hawkeyes the last three weeks and would argue their case was made even stronger last week in a loss. Iowa led Iowa State by 13 in the first half last Thursday at Hilton Coliseum and ended up taking a 4-point loss, which actually moved it up in the computer models. The Hawkeyes now rank 20th at KenPom and Bart Torvik, 19th in the NET and 21st at Evan Miya.

As the Hawkeyes proved against Iowa State, they are a tough out. Similar to Drake last year, Ben McCollum’s second Division I team gives nothing in transition, is hard to score against in the half court and is exhaustingly patient offensively waiting for a great shot to develop.

I can understand why my fellow voters aren’t there yet. With Ole Miss being a disappointment, you could argue Iowa is missing a signature win. The first opportunity is Jan. 3 when Iowa hosts UCLA.





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See work of award-winning Arizona Republic photographer Rob Schumacher

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See work of award-winning Arizona Republic photographer Rob Schumacher


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Rob Schumacher shared the triumphs and tribulations of the world with The Arizona Republic’s readers through his photography for 35 years.

Schumacher, 62, who died Sunday, May 17, covered Olympic Games, Super Bowls, Masters golf tournaments, riots and natural disasters, as well as intimate portraits of everyday people in Arizona.

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He won dozens of awards for his work, including having his image, “Foul Ball,” named Photo of the Year by the Arizona Associated Press Managing Editors in 2003 and being named Arizona Photojournalist of the Year by the Arizona Press Club in 2020.

“For him, it was more than just a job,” said Cheryl Evans, a former photographer at The Republic who worked with him for years. “It was his passion. I mean, he lived and breathed photojournalism.”

Here’s a look at his legacy through some of his most jaw-dropping images.



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5 Biggest Things We Saw, Heard as Arizona Cardinals Begin OTA’s

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5 Biggest Things We Saw, Heard as Arizona Cardinals Begin OTA’s


ARIZONA — The Arizona Cardinals have just finished their first set of voluntary offseason team activities, and there’s plenty to talk about.

We posted our sights and sounds video already (which you can check out here), though that didn’t quite cover everything we saw in Tempe.

Five biggest takeaways from being at the team’s facility for offseason team activities:

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1. Notable Absences

Jan 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) rolls out against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
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All of Jacoby Brissett, Josh Sweat, Baron Browning, L.J. Collier, and Trey Benson were not present for the voluntary portion of offseason team activities.

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Brissett continues to hope for a new contract while Sweat apparently is a healthy absence according to Arizona Sports. Collier had a personal day while Browning’s absence is unknown.

Starling Thomas and James Conner were spotted working off to the side while Tip Reiman (more on him later) and Walter Nolen III were also spotted on the sidelines. Garrett Williams posted on social media him getting recovery work in, too.

Benson suffered a season-ending injury last season, so he could be rehabbing elsewhere. Players who do not show in Tempe won’t be fined, though anybody who misses mandatory minicamp (June 8-10) will.

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2. Jeremiyah Love Returning Kicks?

May 8, 2026; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love (4) during rookie minicamp at Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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One of the biggest storylines was the emergence of No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love returning some kicks during the open portion of practice this week. Max Melton was also an interesting name back there as well.

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This caused a firestorm of overreactions on Love and the Cardinals’ potential usage of him. Many saw this as Love having to work his way through special teams while others think this will add more unnecessary hits if he is indeed on return duties.

“You’re experimenting with everyone in terms of a lot of different spots,” Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur told 98.7’s Burns and Gambo. “… Jeremiyah is a running back. We know that. But you never know.”

I wouldn’t read too much into this — at least right now. WR Devin Duvernay was signed this offseason as a primary return man.

3. Rookies Take (Expected) Back Seat

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck (19) during rookie mini-camp practice on May 8, 2026, at the Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center in Tempe. | Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Neither Love or third-round rookie quarterback Carson Beck had dibs on the first taste of action with the starting unit while media were allowed to view practice.

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That’s fine, and more importantly, very expected.

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Even with Brissett out, it was the veteran Gardner Minshew repping with the first team offense. Tyler Allgeier was the main back for the Cardinals’ top offensive players.

Rookies, at this point in the offseason, are placed behind veterans purposefully. Even if this is the case in training camp, fans shouldn’t freak out if Allgeier is still over Love in the “pecking order” Arizona has.

This is simply the Cardinals working in their inexperienced players at a reasonable rate.

4. Sean Murphy-Bunting’s Position Change

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Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (23) reacts in the first half against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images | Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

Murphy-Bunting suffered a season-ending injury before even stepping into 2025 and was largely thought to be a cut candidate entering the offseason in a crowded cornerbacks room.

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However, the Cardinals have apparently changed his position.

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Murphy-Bunting, typically a boundary cornerback, was spotted working out with the safety group. Cornerback Will Johnson confirmed Murphy-Bunting was set to be a nickel corner, which serves Arizona as Williams is not expected to be ready for the start of the season due to injury.

When you’re trimming a roster down to 53, versatility matters.

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5. Injury Updates

Oct 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Tip Reiman (87) is taken off the field on a cart after being injured against the Tennessee Titans during the third quarter at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

The Cardinals lost their top run-blocker in tight end Tip Reiman early last season with a right leg injury and is expected to be ready for training camp, according to LaFleur.

“Not going to dive too far into that, but [we] do expect him to be healthy, ready to roll when we get going in training camp. Another guy that I had a lot of respect for coming out of Illinois,” LaFleur told reporters.

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“… Tip is all of the right stuff in terms of how he approaches it, and stuff like that. It’s unfortunate, obviously what happened a year ago, but [I believe he is a] big piece of where I think we can go.”

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LaFleur was then asked about Benson, which drew a, “Kind of that same type of thing,” response from the Cardinals coach.

The Cardinals again will hit the practice field on May 21 where voluntary OTA’s continue.

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Where to watch San Francisco Giants vs Arizona Diamondbacks: TV channel, start time, streaming for May 19

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Where to watch San Francisco Giants vs Arizona Diamondbacks: TV channel, start time, streaming for May 19


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The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.

Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.

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The MLB action continues on Tuesday as the San Francisco Giants visit the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.

See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.

What time is San Francisco Giants vs Arizona Diamondbacks?

First pitch between the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants is scheduled for 9:40 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, May 19.

How to watch San Francisco Giants vs Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday

All times Eastern and accurate as of Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 6:33 a.m.

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  • Matchup: SF at ARI
  • Date: Tuesday, May 19
  • Time: 9:40 p.m. (ET)
  • Venue: Chase Field
  • Location: Phoenix, Arizona
  • TV: NBC Sports Bay Area and DBACKS.TV
  • Streaming: MLB.TV on Fubo

Watch MLB all season long with Fubo

MLB regional blackout restrictions apply

MLB scores, results

MLB scores for May 19 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:

See scores, results for all of today’s games.



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