Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

SPORTS Tuesday 12 december 2017
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Villanova hops over Michigan State for No. 1 in AP Top 25

By AARON BEARD during the 1980-81 season. after home losses to Florida
AP Basketball Writer Wichita State climbed State and to Loyola Chica-
Villanova’s unbeaten start three spots to No. 3, fol- go — a game in which they
now includes a No. 1 rank- lowed by Duke and Arizo- led for all of 93 seconds.
ing in the AP Top 25 , while na State. Unbeaten Miami Florida salvaged a win
Arizona State is making a climbed four spots to No. against Cincinnati in the
rapid rise into the top 10 6, followed by North Caro- Never Forget Tribute Clas-
under third-year coach lina, Kentucky, Texas A&M sic in Newark, New Jersey,
Bobby Hurley. and Xavier to round out the to avoid a four-game skid.
After a tumultuous week top 10. Villanova helped No. 18 Notre Dame (8-2) fell
in which unanimous No. 1 itself with an impressive nine spots after an upset
Duke and No. 2 Kansas lost, win against No. 12 Gonza- loss to Ball State, while the
the Wildcats (10-0) earned ga last week in New York, No. 25 Bearcats (7-2) slid
41 of 65 first-place votes to though the Wildcats had to eight spots.
hop over Michigan State fight to the final minute Sun- NEWCOMERS
and reach the top for the day to close out a La Salle There were three new-
third straight season. team that entered at 5-5. Villanova head coach Jay Wright talks to guard Jalen Brunson comers to this week’s poll,
Villanova and Michigan Villanova reached No. 1 (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game though one is more of a
State were the favorites to for the first time in February against La Salle, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Philadelphia. welcome back.
take over at the top after 2016 and stayed there for Associated Press The list included No. 19 Flor-
the Blue Devils’ weekend three polls before going on “I think we’ve got the expe- least eight spots. ida State (9-0) and No. 24
loss at Boston College, to win the national cham- rience now to understand TOP RISERS Texas Tech (7-1), while Ari-
though there was far less pionship. The Wildcats held that it’s a great honor but Arizona State’s leap was zona returned to the rank-
certainty for voters about the No. 1 spot three dif- a lot of responsibility comes the biggest, though No. 11 ings at No. 23.
who was now the nation’s ferent times last season, with it.” West Virginia (9-1) moved Arizona’s 0-3 showing at
top team. The Spartans including in the final poll KANSAS’ FALL up seven spots after beat- the Battle 4 Atlantis in the
(9-1) earned 19 first-place entering the NCAA Tourna- The Jayhawks (7-2) slid 11 ing then-No. 15 Virginia. Bahamas made the Wild-
votes to climb from third to ment. spots to No. 13 after two No. 14 TCU (10-0) climbed cats the first team in three
second, while the other five “We’ve been through the losses last week, the first six spots after a win against decades to go from No. 2 in
first-place votes went to cycle now,” coach Jay coming against Washing- a then-ranked Nevada the AP Top 25 to unranked
the Sun Devils — who leapt Wright said in an interview ton in Kansas City, Missouri, team. in a week. But four straight
11 spots to No. 5 after Sun- with the AP. “We’ve been before losing to the Sun Miami, UNC, No. 15 Seton wins have the preseason
day’s win at Kansas . through where you’re No. Devils in Allen Fieldhouse. Hall, No. 17 Purdue and No. Final Four favorite back in
Arizona State (9-0) is off to 1 for the first time. That’s SHUFFLE UP 20 Tennessee all climbed the poll.
its best start since the 1974- something you have to Only two teams — No. 8 four spots. SLIDING OUT
75 season. Now the Sun learn to deal with. And then Kentucky and No. 12 Gon- LONGEST SLIDES Minnesota (No. 14 last
Devils — who also have a you lose it. And you learn zaga — stayed in the same While Kansas’ losses stood week), Nevada (No. 22)
win against Xavier this sea- how to deal with that. Then spot. Thirteen teams rose in out, No. 22 Florida had the and Southern California
son — have their highest you go through it again the poll, while four of the biggest fall of the week. (No. 25) all fell out of the
ranking since reaching third with a new group. seven teams that fell slid at The Gators (6-3) slid 17 spots poll.q

Tennessee back in top 10; UConn

still No. 1 in women’s hoops

By DOUG FEINBERG Tennessee, which was a dia panel.
AP Basketball Writer perennial top team in the The Huskies, like many other
NEW YORK (AP) — Tennes- sport, hasn’t been among teams, are off for exams
see moves back into the the first 10 teams in the this week. Notre Dame,
top 10 after a big win while poll since Nov. 30, 2015. Louisville, Mississippi State
UConn continues to be No. The Longhorns dropped six and South Carolina follow
1 in The Associated Press spots to eighth. UConn. Baylor, Tennessee,
women’s basketball poll. Both teams are chasing the Texas, Oregon and West
The Lady Vols (10-0) Huskies (8-0), who routed Virginia round out the first
knocked off then-No. 2 Tex- DePaul in their only game 10. Iowa (10-1) entered the
as on Sunday and climbed this past week. UConn re- Top 25 for the first time since Tennessee head coach Holly Warlick calls to her team in the first
four spots to seventh in the ceived all 32 first place 2015, coming in at No. 25. half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas, Sunday,
Top 25 on Monday. votes from a national me- Kentucky fell out.q Dec. 10, 2017, in Knoxville, Tenn. Associated Press