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The Sports Network
New York, NY (Sports Network) - Kentucky remained the top team in the latest
Associated Press men's college basketball poll.
The Wildcats, who first had a two-week stay at No. 1 starting in late
November, are the top team in the nation for a third straight week. They
received 63 first-place votes and a total of 1,623 points from a nationwide
media panel for the second consecutive week.
Syracuse, which preceded Kentucky at the top with a six-week run, held firm at
No. 2 with the other two first-place votes. Ohio State, Missouri, North
Carolina and Baylor also kept their places from third through sixth.
Kansas, despite a 74-71 loss at Missouri on Saturday, moved up one spot to
seventh and is followed by Florida, Murray State and Duke. Florida vaulted
four spots from 12th, while Duke dipped three places from seventh after an
overtime home loss on Sunday against Miami-Florida.
The second 10 consists of Michigan State, Georgetown, San Diego State, UNLV,
Florida State, Saint Mary's, Creighton, Marquette, Virginia and Mississippi
State. Creighton dropped four places after Saturday's last-second loss at
Northern Iowa, while Florida State vaulted six spots after running its winning
streak to seven with a 58-55 victory over Virginia.
Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Louisville and Harvard are the last five teams
ranked this week. Louisville, a preseason No. 9 that reached as high as fourth
earlier in the season, returned to the poll after a two-week absence. Harvard
was ranked for a week in early December, then for two weeks starting later in
the month.
Gonzaga and Vanderbilt each dropped out this week. Gonzaga lost to BYU and
Vandy fell to both Arkansas and Florida on the road.
This week's busy schedule includes a top-10 battle between Florida and
Kentucky on Tuesday in Lexington, while Big East heavyweights Georgetown and
Syracuse meet Wednesday at the Carrier Dome.
Also Wednesday, it's the first of two meetings this season between Tobacco
Road arch rivals as Duke takes the eight-mile trip to North Carolina. Another
top-10 matchup Wednesday features Kansas and Baylor in Waco. Baylor's
difficult week concludes Saturday with a trip to Missouri.
Saturday's slate includes this season's second meeting of Mountain West rivals
San Diego State and UNLV, as the Runnin' Rebels try to avenge a 69-67 road
loss on January 14. A Big Ten tussle on Saturday also pits Michigan State at
Ohio State.
The Sports Network