Kentucky is back in a familiar place, and so is its coach.
The Wildcats, the last unbeaten team in Division I, were a unanimous No. 1 in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll on Monday, their first time on top since the final poll of 2002-03.
Only three schools have been No. 1 more often.
For first-year coach John Calipari, Kentucky is the third school he has taken to No. 1. He led Massachusetts to the top spot in 1994-95 and 1995-96, and Memphis in 2007-08.
The Wildcats (19-0) moved up one spot, replacing Texas (17-2), which was No. 1 for two weeks before losing to Kansas State and Connecticut, both on the road. The Longhorns, who were ranked No. 1 for the first time in school history, dropped to sixth.
Kentucky went into Saturday’s game against Arkansas knowing it could move to No. 1 and the Wildcats responded with a 101-70 rout of the Razorbacks.
“I knew they wanted to be ranked No. 1 and came out and really took it right at Arkansas,” Calipari said Monday. “We are inexperienced and we did play great against Arkansas, but that doesn’t tell you how you’re going to play the next game.”
Kentucky’s first game as the nation’s No. 1 team will be at South Carolina tonight.
This is Kentucky’s 89th week at No. 1, which trails only UCLA (134), Duke (111) and North Carolina (105).
Kansas, the only other No. 1 team this season, Villanova, Syracuse and Michigan State all moved up one place from last week to be second through fifth.
After Texas, Georgetown, Duke, West Virginia and Purdue rounded out the top 10.
North Carolina (12-7), the defending national champion and loser of three straight and four of five, did not receive a vote and dropped out of the poll for the first time since January 2006. The Tar Heels were sixth in the preseason poll.
Clemson, Northern Iowa and Mississippi State also dropped out of the Top 25 while Connecticut, Vanderbilt, New Mexico and UAB, all of whom were ranked earlier this season, moved into the rankings.
Kansas State and BYU led the second 10, with the Cougars’ No. 12 ranking their highest since being 11th in February 1988.
Gonzaga was 13th, followed by Tennessee, Temple, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, Mississippi, Connecticut and Ohio State. The last five teams were Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech, New Mexico, Baylor and UAB.
UConn women No. 1 in poll
Connecticut keeps rolling up victories and records.
UConn is No. 1 in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll for the 36th straight week, matching Louisiana Tech (1980-82) for the longest run atop the Top 25. The Huskies again were the unanimous choice as the top team, receiving 40 first-place votes from a national media panel Monday.
The Huskies won their 58th straight game Saturday, routing Villanova. UConn (19-0) hosts Rutgers on Tuesday before traveling to Pittsburgh on Saturday. Connecticut has the second longest streak in women’s basketball history and only trails the NCAA- and school-record 70 straight victories it set from 2001-03.
Stanford remained No. 2 while Notre Dame moved back up to third. Ohio State and Tennessee rounded out the first five.
Top 25 men
No. 2 Kansas 84, Missouri 65
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Cole Aldrich had 12 points, 16 rebounds and blocked seven shots, helping Kansas run over rival Missouri.
Kansas (19-1, 5-0 Big 12) dominated inside and hounded Missouri defensively to turn the Border Showdown into a beatdown.
No. 4 Syracuse 73, No. 7 Georgetown 56
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Kris Joseph and Andy Rautins had 15 points apiece and Syracuse rallied from a big early deficit to get the win.
Wes Johnson scored 14 for Syracuse (20-1, 7-1 Big East), which has won seven straight since a home loss to Pittsburgh. The Orange also have defeated Georgetown (15-4, 6-3) six consecutive times in the Carrier Dome.
It was the 819th career win for Jim Boeheim, breaking a tie with Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun for sixth in Division I. Boeheim also extended his Division I record for most 20-win seasons to 32 in his 34 years at his alma mater.
Austin Freeman led Georgetown with 23 points and Jason Clark had 15.
Syracuse, which trailed by 14 just 3 minutes into the game, started the second half with an 18-8 surge to take command.
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