New York, NY (Sports Network) - Indiana strengthened its grip as the top team
in men's college basketball, while Miami-Florida moved up to No. 2 in the
latest Associated Press poll.
The Hoosiers received 43 first-place votes -- 17 more than last week -- and a
total of 1,597 points from a nationwide media panel to outdistance the still
surprising Hurricanes. Miami, unbeaten in the ACC and riding a 13-game win
streak, picked up 20 No. 1 tallies and 1,571 points to climb one place from
third.
Gonzaga again garnered top consideration from two voters and moved up two
spots to third, while Michigan State and Florida complete this week's top
five. Michigan State vaulted four places from eighth after a 75-52 rout of
Michigan last week. The Spartans have a tough week ahead with a visit from
Indiana on Tuesday and a trip to Ohio State on Sunday.
Duke, Michigan, Syracuse, Kansas and Louisville round out the top 10. Duke
dropped four places from second after an 83-81 loss at Maryland, while
Michigan slipped three places after its loss in East Lansing and Syracuse
dipped two spots following a setback at UConn. Kansas moved up five places
from 14th.
The second 10 consists of Georgetown, Arizona, Kansas State, Oklahoma State,
Butler, New Mexico, Marquette, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Pittsburgh. Arizona
tumbled three places from ninth after a loss at Colorado and Ohio State's
71-49 loss at Wisconsin sent the Buckeyes down five spots from 13th.
Memphis, Colorado State, Oregon, VCU and Notre Dame are the last five teams
ranked. VCU, which spent two weeks in the poll in January, is back in after a
three-week absence.
Kentucky, as expected, dropped out and didn't receive a single vote. The
Wildcats were ranked 25th last week, but lost to both Florida and Tennessee --
the second setback a 30-point defeat after star freshman Nerlens Noel was lost
for the season with a torn ACL.
This week's schedule features a Big 12 showdown between Kansas and Oklahoma
State on Wednesday in Stillwater. Syracuse will host Georgetown on Saturday in
the first of two late-season matchups of the Big East powers, while first
place in the Mountain West will be at stake the same day when New Mexico
visits Colorado State.
The Sports Network