New York, NY (Sports Network) - Michigan is the new No. 1 team in men's
college basketball.
The Wolverines became the third different team at the top of the Associated
Press poll in as many weeks, following Louisville and Duke. Michigan received
51 first-place votes and a total of 1,611 points from a 65-member nationwide
media panel.
It's the first No. 1 ranking for Michigan men's basketball since the Fab Five
roamed Ann Arbor in 1992-93. The 19-1 start is the best for the Wolverines in
program history.
Kansas moved up one spot to second, earning 13 first-place votes, and is
followed by Indiana, Florida and Duke. The Gators vaulted four places from
eighth and picked up the last No. 1 tally.
Duke had a short second stay atop the rankings. The Blue Devils were the top
team for four weeks until a loss at North Carolina State three Saturdays ago,
and last Wednesday suffered through a humbling 90-63 rout at the hands of
Miami-Florida.
Syracuse was tied for third with Kansas last week, but dropped an overtime
decision at Villanova on Saturday and slipped to sixth. Gonzaga, Arizona,
Butler and Oregon round out this week's top 10. Arizona, after a home loss to
UCLA on Thursday, dropped two places from sixth and Oregon, riding a nine-game
winning streak, jumped six places from 16th.
The second 10 features Ohio State, Louisville, Michigan State, Miami-Florida,
Wichita State, Ole Miss, Missouri, Kansas State, North Carolina State and New
Mexico.
Louisville has lost three in a row since attaining the No. 1 ranking and
tumbled seven spots from fifth this week, while Kansas State also dropped
seven places from 11th after losing twice.
Miami, which followed up its big win over Duke with a 71-47 thumping of
Florida State on Sunday, moved up 11 spots from 25th and Ole Miss rose seven
places from 23rd.
Creighton, San Diego State, Minnesota, Cincinnati and Marquette are the last
five teams ranked this week. Minnesota has lost four in a row and this week
dropped 11 places from 12th.
San Diego State and Marquette are this week's newcomers. San Diego State had
been ranked all season before falling out last week, but has returned after a
55-34 victory over New Mexico on Saturday. Marquette was ranked two weeks ago
for the first time this season, then fell out last week after an overtime loss
to Cincinnati.
VCU and Notre Dame dropped out this week. VCU was 19th last week, but lost to
Richmond and La Salle, while Notre Dame was 24th before a loss to Georgetown
and a narrow win over South Florida.
This week's schedule includes a trio of ranked matchups on Saturday. Miami and
NC State meet in Raleigh and a battle of SEC unbeatens pits Ole Miss and
Florida in Gainesville, while the featured matchup takes place in Bloomington
as Michigan visits Indiana. On Sunday, Marquette travels to Louisville.
The Sports Network