New York, NY (Sports Network) - Duke is back at the top of the latest Associated Press men's college basketball poll.
The Blue Devils were the top team for four weeks until a loss at North Carolina State two Saturdays ago, but losses by Louisville and Indiana last week allowed Duke to regain its lofty status, moving up two spots from No. 3.
Duke received 39 first-place votes and 1,578 points from a nationwide media panel to outdistance Michigan, Kansas and Syracuse for the top spot. Michigan picked up 11 No. 1 votes to move up three spots, while Kansas and Syracuse share third. The Jayhawks garnered seven first-place votes, while the Orange, after knocking off then-No. 1 Louisville on Saturday, earned eight top tallies.
Louisville's reign at the top lasted just one week. The Cardinals dropped four places to fifth after the 70-68 home loss against Syracuse.
Arizona, Indiana, Florida, Butler and Gonzaga round out this week's top 10. The Hoosiers, who dropped a 64-59 decision at home against Wisconsin on Tuesday and bounced back with a win at Northwestern on Sunday, dipped five places from second. Florida moved up two places and Butler, coming off its last-second thrilling win over Gonzaga, vaulted four places from 13th.
The second 10 consists of Kansas State, Minnesota, Michigan State, Ohio State, New Mexico, Oregon, Creighton, North Carolina State, VCU and Wichita State. Kansas State, Michigan State and Oregon each moved up five places, while Creighton dropped five spots from 12th after its narrow loss at Wichita State on Saturday.
Cincinnati, Missouri, Ole Miss, Notre Dame and Miami-Florida are the last five teams ranked this week. Missouri dropped five places from 17th after a humbling 83-52 setback at Florida.
Wichita State, Cincinnati, Ole Miss and Miami-Florida are this week's newcomers. Wichita State is back in the poll for a second time after dropping out last week, while Cincinnati is also back after a one-week hiatus. The Bearcats had been ranked all season and were as high as No. 8 after starting 12-0. Ole Miss and Miami are ranked for the first time this season.
San Diego State, Illinois, UCLA and Marquette all fell out of the poll. San Diego State had been ranked all season and was 15th last week, but lost to UNLV and Wyoming. Illinois joined the rankings in late November and reached as high as 10th after a 12-0 start, but the Illini are just 1-4 in Big Ten play. UCLA dropped out from No. 24 after a loss to Oregon last week, while Marquette's stay at No. 25 lasted just one week after an overtime loss to Cincinnati.
This week's limited schedule of ranked matchups includes Tuesday's Big 12 tussle between Kansas and Kansas State in Manhattan, as well as Duke's visit to Miami on Wednesday. On Sunday, Indiana hosts Michigan State.
