Villanova hops over No. 2 MSU in AP hoops poll
Villanova is the new No. 1 in the AP Top 25 while Arizona State made a big leap after a tumultuous week in which half of the top 10 lost.
The Wildcats (10-0) were fourth but earned 41 of 65 first-place votes to hop over Michigan State, which earned 19 first-place votes to climb from third to second. They were the favorites to take over at the top following unanimous No. 1 Duke’s weekend loss at Boston College.
Wichita State climbed three spots to No. 3, followed by Duke and Arizona State. The Sun Devils (9-0) jumped 11 spots and earned the other five first-place votes after winning at then-No. 2 Kansas to extend their best start since the 1974-75 season.
The Jayhawks fell to No. 13 after two losses.
2017-18 MICHIGAN STATE BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Michigan State (9-1) has won eight straight since its 88-81 loss to then-No. 1 Duke in the Champions Classic on Nov. 14 in Chicago, including resounding victories over North Carolina and Notre Dame. MSU won both of its games last week, at Rutgers (62-52) and at home against Southern Utah (88-63).
Villanova beat No. 12 Gonzaga 88-72 and La Salle 77-68 last week.
Michigan State takes on Oakland on Saturday at Little Caesars Arena, part of a college hoops doubleheader with Michigan and Detroit Mercy.
ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25
Record | Pts | Prv | |
1. Villanova (41) | 10-0 | 1598 | 4 |
2. Michigan State (19) | 9-1 | 1561 | 3 |
3. Wichita State | 8-1 | 1402 | 6 |
4. Duke | 11-1 | 1362 | 1 |
5. Arizona State (5) | 9-0 | 1316 | 16 |
6. Miami | 8-0 | 1272 | 10 |
7. North Carolina | 9-1 | 1237 | 11 |
8. Kentucky | 8-1 | 1227 | 8 |
9. Texas A&M | 8-1 | 1072 | 7 |
10. Xavier | 9-1 | 1044 | 13 |
11. West Virginia | 9-1 | 972 | 18 |
12. Gonzaga | 8-2 | 805 | 12 |
13. Kansas | 7-2 | 760 | 2 |
14. TCU | 10-0 | 718 | 20 |
15. Seton Hall | 8-1 | 704 | 19 |
16. Virginia | 8-1 | 690 | 15 |
17. Purdue | 10-2 | 568 | 21 |
18. Notre Dame | 8-2 | 564 | 9 |
19. Florida State | 9-0 | 452 | — |
20. Tennessee | 7-1 | 342 | 24 |
21. Baylor | 7-2 | 281 | 23 |
22. Florida | 6-3 | 261 | 5 |
23. Arizona | 7-3 | 252 | — |
24. Texas Tech | 7-1 | 191 | — |
25. Cincinnati | 7-2 | 145 | 17 |
Others receiving votes: Creighton 79, Oklahoma 72, Texas 52, Louisville 19, Arkansas 17, Virginia Tech 15, Minnesota 15, Nevada 13, Mississippi State 8, UCLA 6, SMU 6, Loyola of Chicago 5, Alabama 4, Georgia 3, Houston 3, Northern Iowa 3, Towson 3, Syracuse 2, Boise State 2, Middle Tennessee 1, Rhode Island 1.
COACHES POLL
Record | Pts | Pvs | |
1. Villanova (22) | 10-0 | 790 | 4 |
2. Michigan State (10) | 9-1 | 768 | 3 |
3. Wichita State | 8-1 | 675 | 6 |
4. Duke | 11-1 | 667 | 1 |
5. Kentucky | 8-1 | 609 | 7 |
6. Arizona State | 9-0 | 604 | 17 |
7. North Carolina | 9-1 | 593 | 10 |
8. Miami | 8-0 | 569 | 11 |
9. Xavier | 9-1 | 529 | 14 |
10. Texas A&M | 8-1 | 495 | 9 |
11. West Virginia | 9-1 | 477 | 16 |
12. Kansas | 7-2 | 378 | 2 |
13. Gonzaga | 8-2 | 374 | 13 |
14. TCU | 10-0 | 373 | 20 |
15. Seton Hall | 8-1 | 360 | 19 |
16. Virginia | 8-1 | 355 | 12 |
17. Purdue | 10-2 | 303 | 21 |
18. Notre Dame | 8-2 | 247 | 8 |
19. Florida State | 9-0 | 209 | — |
20. Tennessee | 7-1 | 153 | — |
21. Baylor | 7-2 | 150 | 22 |
22. Florida | 6-3 | 111 | 5 |
23. Arizona | 7-3 | 106 | — |
24. Oklahoma | 7-1 | 86 | — |
25. Creighton | 7-2 | 75 | — |
Others receiving votes: Cincinnati 74, Texas Tech 58, Virginia Tech 41, Texas 26, Louisville 25, Arkansas 21, Rhode Island 14, Minnesota 10, Mississippi State 10, Syracuse 10, Loyola of Chicago 9, Boise State 8, Houston 8, Middle Tennessee 7, Alabama 6, Saint Mary’s 4, UCLA 4, Georgia 3, Georgetown 2, Missouri 2, Nevada 1, Stephen F. Austin 1.