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SPORTS Tuesday 19 december 2017

Villanova still No. 1, Arizona State up to No. 3 in AP poll

By JOHN MARSHALL No. 5, right behind Duke, sure. Not at Villanova.
AP Basketball Writer but moved past the Blue The Wildcats (11-0) won a
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona Devils after rallying from a national championship in
State was picked to finish shaky start to handily beat 2016 and have reached
sixth in the Pac-12. Now the Vanderbilt on Sunday. The No. 1 each of the past
Sun Devils are one of the Sun Devils are 10-0 and three seasons. The handled
biggest surprises in college one of the most exciting their first game as No. 1 this
basketball, inching toward teams to watch in college season with ease, blowing
the program’s first No. 1 basketball, led by four past Temple 87-67 behind
ranking. freewheeling guards who another huge game by
Arizona State moved up have helped turn ASU into Jalen Brunson.
two spots to No. 3 in the AP “Guard U.” Villanova’s junior guard
Top 25 released on Mon- Arizona State rallied from a scored a career-high 31
day, leapfrogging pre- 13-0 hole to beat Vander- points on 11-of-16 shoot-
season No. 1 Duke after bilt 76-64 on Sunday, fol- ing, made 6 of 10 from
Wichita State dropped out lowing a program-defining the 3-point arc, had six re-
of the top 10. win at Kansas last week. bounds and five assists in 38
Villanova was No. 1 for the The Sun Devils received turnover-free minutes.
second straight week, re- first-place votes for the first “He’s just terrific, plays with
ceiving 45 of 65 first-place time in last week’s poll and a great pace, so smart,
votes from a media panel. have matched their high- great toughness,” Owls
Michigan State stayed at est ranking, also accom- coach Fran Dunphy said.
No. 2 and received 15 first- plished in 1981 and 1963. “His efficiency is ridiculous.”
place votes, with Arizona “They play with a lot of in- SHOCKERS FALL, SOONERS
State getting the final five tensity and you have to RISE
first-place votes to match match that intensity the Wichita State had been on
its highest ranking as a pro- whole game,” Vanderbilt a good run since losing by
gram. coach Bryce Drew said af- one to Notre Dame in the
No. 5 North Carolina, Mi- ter Sunday’s game. championship game of
ami, Kentucky, Texas A&M, VILLANOVA CRUISES the Maui Invitational, win- Arizona State guard Remy Martin (1) drives past Vanderbilt for-
Xavier and West Virginia Moving into the top spot in ning four straight games ward Jeff Roberson (11) in the second half during an NCAA col-
rounded out the top 10. the AP Top 25 could cause to reach No. 3 in the AP lege basketball game, Sunday, Dec 17, 2017, in Tempe, Ariz.
Arizona State had been some teams to feel pres- Top 25. The Shockers (8-2) Associated Press
UConn still unanimous No. 1 dropped eight spots to No. the AP Top 25 after a thrill-
ing double-overtime vic-
11 in this week’s poll af-
in AP women’s hoops poll ter running into Oklahoma tory over Gonzaga in the
and phenomenal fresh-
PK80 Invitational. The Ga-
man Trae Young. tors have gone south since
By DOUG FEINBERG off and will play on Tues- Young, who leads the na- then, dropping spots each
AP Basketball Writer day against Oklahoma as tion in scoring and is third week while losing three of
NEW YORK (AP) — UConn coach Geno Auriemma in assists, had 29 points and four.
remains the unanimous No. goes for his 1,000th career 10 assists in Oklahoma’s 91- Florida (6-4) dropped out
1 team in The Associated victory. The top five teams 83 victory. The Sooners (8- of the poll completely this
Press women’s basketball stayed the same with Notre 1) moved into the poll this week after losing to Clem-
poll. Dame, Louisville, South week at No. 17. son.
There wasn’t much move- Carolina and Mississippi MOVING IN Notre Dame has gone on
ment in the Top 25 this State following UConn. In this Feb. 11, 2017, file photo, Creighton was the only a similar slide. The Fighting
week with most schools in Baylor, Tennessee, Texas, Connecticut head coach other team to move into Irish (8-3) moved up to No.
exam break. West Virginia and Oregon Geno Auriemma gives a a the poll, entering at No. 5 not long after winning
The Huskies (8-0), who re- round out the top 10. The thumbs up to his team in the 25 after beating Maryland the Maui title, but dropped
ceived all 32 votes from Mountaineers and Ducks first half of an NCAA college Eastern Shore last week. out from No. 18 this week
the national media panel flipped spots after Oregon basketball game against DROPPING OUT after losing to Indiana in
SMU, in Storrs, Conn.
on Monday, had the week lost at Mississippi State.q Associated Press Florida reached No. 5 in overtime.q