Kansas’ lead trimmed in AP men’s basketball poll

By JIM O'CONNELL, AP Basketball Writer Dec 21, 1:24 pm EST

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Kansas will be spending at least one more week atop The Associated Press’ college basketball poll, a spot it has held all season.

Another Big 12 team from that state jumped to territory it hasn’t been in over 25 years.

Kansas State moved up to No. 12 on Monday, its highest ranking since the Wildcats were ninth in the final poll of 1972-73.

The Jayhawks (10-0), who beat Michigan 75-64 in their only game last week, saw their lead over Texas trimmed a bit. They received 55 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel, six less than it had a week earlier. Those votes all went to Texas (10-0), which beat No. 10 North Carolina 103-90 on Saturday, and was No. 1 on seven ballots.

Kentucky (11-0) had one first-place vote and was third, followed by Purdue (10-0) and Syracuse (11-0), which was No. 1 on two ballots.

West Virginia, Duke and Villanova remained sixth through eighth, while Michigan State moved up three places to ninth and North Carolina remained 10th.

Connecticut moved up three spots to 11th and was followed by Kansas State, New Mexico, Georgetown, Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio State, Florida, Texas A&M and Butler.

Temple is making its first appearance in the poll since November 2001, and was followed by Washington, Texas Tech, Clemson and Gonzaga.

Kansas State (10-1) beat Alabama 87-74 last week to run its winning streak to seven since an 86-74 loss to Mississippi in the semifinals of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Wildcats are ranked No. 1 in this week’s RPI ratings.

Temple (9-2) made its move into the rankings after handing two Big East teams their first losses of the season. The Owls followed their win over Villanova with a 71-65 victory at Seton Hall on Saturday.

Clemson (10-2) moved back into the rankings after falling out for two weeks. The Tigers have won four straight since a 76-74 loss to Illinois.

Georgia Tech (8-2) fell out from 22nd after losing its Atlantic Coast Conference opener to Florida State 66-59 in overtime on Sunday. Cincinnati (7-3) moved into the poll at No. 19 two weeks ago, then fell out from 25th this week following consecutive losses to Xavier and UAB.

Two of this week’s three games between ranked teams are on Tuesday, when Michigan State visits Texas and Texas A&M is at Washington. Mississippi visits West Virginia on Wednesday.

Updated Dec 21, 1:24 pm EST
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554 Comments

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  1. Texas Longhorn Fan
    554. Posted by Texas Longhorn Fan Tue Dec 22 9:37pm EST

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    Texas football recruits from mainly Texas. Rick Barns has recruited players from all over the country to play for him. Damn, that guy is good! He's built a solid team that can win it all.
  2. Texas Longhorn Fan
    553. Posted by Texas Longhorn Fan Tue Dec 22 9:30pm EST

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    Texas just spanked Michigan State. I doubt Kansas will lose tonight. From what I've seen from Texas is I'd compare them to UNLV of days gone bye. They have a second rotation that could start on any other team and a 3rd rotation trying take their jobs.
    Go Big 12! Kansas and Texas will play each other a minimal of 3 times this year. I look forward to it. Should be some good basketball.
  3. William H
    552. Posted by William H Tue Dec 22 8:14pm EST

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    I love all the talk about how KU has not played anybody. The schedule is made well before a season begins usually and they didnt pick for certain things to happen. The game against Memphis would have been a battle of two top 5 teams if Calipari (and John Wall by default) had remained there. They didnt decide for this to be the year that UCLA just kinda falls apart a bit in what would have been a huge battle in years past. Michigan was a ranked as high as 15th earlier this season. While I agree that their are teams that may have played tougher schedules (UNC definately but others could all possibly claim that) to this point in the season, KU still has to play 2 ranked teams and a Cal team whose three losses are to teams that are a combined 33 and 2 with 2 of them being undefeated. All the teams at the top have 75% or more of their games against opponents of a lesser calliber.

    As far as UNC goes and their ranking......if a team is ranked in the top 10 and you are too and you lose to them then it should not count against you the same as a loss to a team outside of the top 10. I would say that if UNC doesnt finally win another of these games soon then yes it proves they dont belong. IN THE TOP 10 THAT IS.

    I will agree whole heartedly with the sane voices though that say getting caught up in the rankings is pointless. Come tournament time your ranking doesnt matter. All that matters is 10 men, 2 hoops and on orange ball. The Champ is crowned on the floor.....not in a ranking
  4. samuel c
    551. Posted by samuel c Tue Dec 22 7:17pm EST

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    im a unc fan and i dont know why they rank us so high either .look where they had us at the beginning of the season .and thats after losing our starting line up along with several good backups.dont make any sense to me,were maybe 25 at the most and thats being kind go tarheels
  5. babyair
    550. Posted by babyair Tue Dec 22 6:07pm EST

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    UNC is a young team that brought back a few players from its championship team last year. They have played a number of teams ranked higher than they are and beat one of them, Michigan St., at home. I think the voters are giving them a break because their losses are to ranked teams. It's not like they had a cupcake schedule like Kansas. How good is Kansas anyway since they haven't played any one yet? Kentucky should be #1 followed by Texas and then Kansas. Who does Kansas play next...the Chuck E. Cheese All-Stars? Give me a break! I am a UNC fan and I'm proud of how the young guys are trying. They just need to get in the weight room and bulk up and stop turning the ball over so damn much. At least they are getting the experience of playing better teams which could help them in the long run.
  6. <i>brad_euckert</i>
    549. Posted by brad_euckert Tue Dec 22 4:13pm EST

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    IT is a funny thing the way the polls work in college basketball but like most of you have said it will all get worked out in the end when the tourney starts in march that is why we just sit back and wait for the bracket to come out and see who plays the best basketball over the course of those six games.and the real beauty is that there are a lot of mid major teams out there that will impact the tourney so why does everyone just stop cryin about unc ku and the rest of the teams because in march that is when the true maddness begins
  7. Red Sox Nation
    548. Posted by Red Sox Nation Tue Dec 22 3:57pm EST

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    Purdue is still a head scratcher for me as to why they are ranked 4th. They beat Tennessee and that was really the only decent school they have played. Wake Forest might be a decent win when it comes to looking at their wins later in the season but after that who else is there? Their RPI ranking is a joke. The funny thing is Syracuse gets two first place votes this time and still are rank below Purdue. SU has beaten 3 top 15 ranked teams at the time they played them. Plus the little ten is a weak conference so it is not like there is much of a challenge there. Top five should be Texas, Syracuse, Kentucky, Kansas and West Virginia.
  8. Red Sox Nation
    547. Posted by Red Sox Nation Tue Dec 22 3:40pm EST

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    Post 532 StevenL rankings actually do have something of importance. Yes the conference Tournaments have a lot of say but when it comes to tournament seating or even tournament entry they look at the poles as well as the RPI. When was the last time you remember a top 20 team not making the tourney? So if a team is getting preferential treatment in the polls it can help them get in the tourney or be seated higher.
  9. <i>j.cwright2</i>
    546. Posted by j.cwright2 Tue Dec 22 5:33am EST

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    hrmmmmm....

    Kansas fans like to take credit for UNC success.
    Kansas fans like to take credit for UK success.

    i see a trend here...i wonder if kansas fans realize that when someone is no longer part of Kansas that their accomplishments then stop counting for Kansas.

    By Kansas fan opinion, i guess Kansas has another what...6 national titles because of Adolf Rupp and Roy Williams...not to mention apparently Kansas has another 184 (williams)+876 (rupp) in total wins.

    It also amazes me because of this logic how Kansas has 13 SEC tournament championships which is awesome for the incredible Kansas program to have those titles and not even be in the SEC.

    I wish that worked for KY too, i mean cmon we would have at least 2 more titles from B Donovan in Florida...not to mention several more final fours cause of Pitino in Louisville...but alas we just cant be as cool as Kansas i guess and those dont count for us.
  10. Scotty G
    545. Posted by Scotty G Tue Dec 22 3:53am EST

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    I agree with anthony m...I can't figure out why when UNC loses they either rise or remain at the same position in the polls. It's stupid.....I guess they'll have to lose 10-12 games before they drop more than one or two spots. The UNC love in the polls, ESPN, and the national media is beyond sickening. Dick Vitale has his head shoved so far up UNC, Duke, and the rest of the ACC that he wouldn't see daylight until at least Easter.
  11. Abdallah
    544. Posted by Abdallah Tue Dec 22 2:43am EST

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    the class shown by Roy Williams? no way. he asked security to kick a fan out of the arena because he was yelling "miss it" to the free throw shooter. he is a bully
  12. Raja King
    543. Posted by Raja King Tue Dec 22 12:49am EST

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    I am still amazed with the Roy bashing from some, NOT ALL KU fans. What surprises me the most about these few KU fans, is that do they know that UNC won the 2009 NCAA title? And do the few KU fans who bashes Roy know that Roy Williams was the coach of the 2009 NCAA champions team at UNC? Can some reasonable KU fan help me with this?
  13. Thomas M
    542. Posted by Thomas M Tue Dec 22 12:43am EST

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    UNC fans have class. Shows they have been there before. I am a Texas fan, and I appreciate the class shown by Roy Williams and the bunch. UNC played some tough opponents and I think its easy to see why they are still ranked high. They have been there before, and they will be there again.
  14. scott
    541. Posted by scott Tue Dec 22 12:23am EST

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    Hey Salvacion, let me correct my self. Not all KU fans. There, that better for you. I'm just saying KU fans because all year I've heard nothing but KU fans claiming KU made UNC. Kinda like what you where trying to say. If it will make you guys sleep better at night I will say THANK YOU from all of us at UNC for the great tradition,coachs and championships you guys at KU GAVE US!!!

    And to kevinc; If you so sick, go puke on some other topic !! As a fan of basketball I understand everyones problem with it but as a UNC fan look at who they lost to. # 5 Syracuse, # 3 Kentucky, and # 2 Texas. Do you see anybody on that list behind UNC in the polls? Hell do you see anybody on that list below the top 5? Have any of them lost a game yet? Dont say Syracuse either because that game was BS and aint on there record is it? NOPE. Basicly show me a team with 3 loses all to the top 5 and I will show you another top 10 team. I will give you this though. I dont believe they are playing like a top 10 team, Hell not even a top 15 team to me.

    Kevinc you made it seem like you wanted to know why they didnt drop after that lose. So do the math. If the #10 loses to #2; WELL... Thats the way it was supposed to be.
    Or you could just stick with your conspiracy theory. Maybe the NCAA will vote UNC into the NC game. Hopefully, because that looks like the only way they will get there this year.
  15. Bruce7
    540. Posted by Bruce7 Tue Dec 22 12:17am EST

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    Go Horns. Beat the Spartans tomorrow.
  16. Rich B
    539. Posted by Rich B Mon Dec 21 8:24pm EST

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    the best three teams at this moment, ky, tx and cuse. who will be playing the best in march? of course the best team does not always win the NC. it is who plays the best in the last 6 games of the year.

    jayhawks!
  17. MARTIN
    538. Posted by MARTIN Mon Dec 21 6:52pm EST

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    KU needs to mature. But guess what... they will.
  18. kevinc
    537. Posted by kevinc Mon Dec 21 6:09pm EST

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    I'm sick of the way some teams get treated in the polls...UNC being the prime example. It seems that losses don't count against North Carolina. This is twice now that losses have either been ignored or rewarded when it comes to the polls and UNC. In their last loss to Kentucky they actually went up in the USA Today/ESPN poll. I wonder what it would take for UNC to drop out of the top 25...must be like eight losses!
  19. <i>aaacats99</i>
    536. Posted by aaacats99 Mon Dec 21 5:54pm EST

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    517 norman.
    reasons are statements and don't usually end in question marks. those are called questions
  20. <i>serf_tide</i>
    534. Posted by serf_tide Mon Dec 21 5:13pm EST

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    UNC will stay high because of reputation. The key will be how they handle the top teams in the ACC. Duke looked pretty good on Saturday, but the same thing with them. Even with a win over UConn and Gonzaga, you won't really know until they play road games against the top teams in the ACC.
  21. Salvacion
    533. Posted by Salvacion Mon Dec 21 4:42pm EST

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    Chill out Scott, why are you bashing KU fans? For those of us that know our history it should be hard to be a fan of one school and not the other, as both schools are so closely linked. Dean Smith was a native Kansan who graduated from KU after being mentored by the great Phog Allen, and then did an awesome job at UNC, in turn mentoring Roy Wiliams who did a great job at KU and will continue to do great at UNC. So, no need to trash UNC, they're obviously a great team and I think you're right that voters are looking at the potential more than just results, which is also why KU is still #1 even tho they haven't played that way. All I can say is this should be a great tourney since there are so many great teams and not much separation. Rock Chalk Jayhawk, time for another championship!
  22. StevenL
    532. Posted by StevenL Mon Dec 21 4:29pm EST

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    Unlike football, rankings in basketball doesn't really matter. It's what happens in the tournament that counts.
  23. <i>anders1stevie</i>
    531. Posted by anders1stevie Mon Dec 21 4:14pm EST

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    Go state!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  24. jamie
    530. Posted by jamie Mon Dec 21 4:07pm EST

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    come on guys and gals im not a uk fan but i did whatch ky play two times and i will tell you this there is no one in the ncaa that can cover john wall and as much as i hate to say this when march comes around he will eat everyone up right with patterson and bledsoe and cuz. go orange
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