New York, NY (Sports Network) - Indiana is back at the top of the Associated
Press men's college basketball poll.
The Hoosiers were the top-ranked team at the start of the season and held the
position for the first five weeks before a December loss to Butler. Three
other teams -- Duke (twice), Louisville and Michigan -- have held the top spot
since.
Indiana received 58 first-place votes and a total of 1,615 points from a
nationwide media panel, moving up two spots from third. The Hoosiers knocked
off last week's top-ranked team, Michigan, with an 81-73 triumph Saturday at
Assembly Hall.
It's the fifth straight week with a new No. 1 team. After Duke's first reign
came to an end, Louisville held the spot for a week, followed by Duke again,
Michigan and now Indiana.
Florida picked up the remaining seven first-place votes and ascended two spots
to second, while Michigan tumbled just two places to third. Duke and Kansas
round out this week's top five. Kansas was second last week, but saw its 33-
game home winning streak come to an end Saturday with a loss to Oklahoma
State.
Gonzaga, Arizona, Miami-Florida, Syracuse and Ohio State complete the top 10.
Miami-Florida vaulted six places from 14th after coming away with a 79-78 win
Saturday at North Carolina State. Syracuse slipped three places after a 65-55
loss at Pittsburgh.
The second 10 consists of Louisville, Michigan State, Kansas State, Butler,
New Mexico, Creighton, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Oregon and Georgetown. Butler
dipped five places from ninth after a loss to Saint Louis last week and Oregon
dropped nine spots from 10th after losing at Stanford and California, while
Cincinnati moved up seven places from 24th for this week's biggest rise within
the poll.
Missouri, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, Marquette and Notre Dame are the last
five teams ranked this week.
Georgetown, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame are this week's
newcomers. All were ranked at some time earlier this season. The three new Big
East teams gives the conference seven ranked squads.
Ole Miss, NC State, Wichita State and San Diego State fell out of this week's
poll.
This week's schedule includes a number of ranked matchups. On Tuesday, Ohio
State will visit Michigan, while another Big Ten tussle on Wednesday pits
Minnesota at Michigan State. Saturday features a pair of Big East battles, as
Pitt travels to Cincinnati and Notre Dame hosts Louisville. Ohio State's tough
week concludes Sunday with a visit from Indiana.
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