New York, NY (Sports Network) - Kansas remained the top team in the latest Associated Press men's college basketball poll, while Syracuse moved up one spot to No. 2.
The Jayhawks (22-1) regained the top spot last week after spending the first eight weeks of the season atop the rankings before their lone loss of the season on January 10 at Tennessee. Kansas received 55 first-place votes, one more than last week, and a total of 1,613 points from a nationwide media panel.
Syracuse (23-1) moved up one spot, garnering eight first-place votes, while Kentucky also climbed one spot to third. The Wildcats, who spent one week at No. 1, picked up a pair of top tallies.
Villanova and West Virginia, combatants on Monday in Morgantown, round out the top five. The Wildcats were second last week, but suffered their first Big East loss on Saturday at Georgetown, while West Virginia moved up one spot from sixth.
Purdue jumped up two spots to sixth and this week is followed by Georgetown, Duke, Kansas State and Michigan State. The Spartans lost to Wisconsin and Illinois last week and dropped five places from fifth.
The second 10 consists of Wisconsin, Tennessee, Ohio State, Texas, New Mexico, Gonzaga, BYU, Butler, Northern Iowa and Georgia Tech. Wisconsin moved up five spots from 16th after beating Michigan State and Michigan, while Texas dropped five places after a loss Saturday at Oklahoma. The Longhorns were ranked No. 1 for two weeks, but have lost four of their last six games entering Monday's Big 12 tussle against Kansas.
Temple, Vanderbilt, UNLV, Baylor and Pittsburgh are the last five teams ranked this week.
UNLV is the lone newcomer, thanks to a five-game winning streak that included Saturday's 88-74 victory over BYU. The Runnin' Rebels were ranked for two weeks earlier this season.
Ole Miss was the only team to drop from the rankings. The Rebels were 25th, but lost to Kentucky last Tuesday before beating Alabama.
In addition to Monday's matchups of ranked foes, Tuesday's slate features an SEC showdown between Tennessee and Vanderbilt in Nashville and a Big Ten battle pitting Purdue and Michigan State in East Lansing. On Wednesday, UNLV will host New Mexico and a rare Friday top-25 contest has West Virginia at Pittsburgh in the second 2010 basketball edition of the Backyard Brawl. The two rivals squared off last Wednesday in Morgantown with West Virginia taking a 70-51 decision. Only one ranked matchup Saturday is a big one in the SEC, as Kentucky welcomes Tennessee.
