Villanova is back atop The Associated Press’s men’s basketball poll after last week’s No. 1 team, Baylor, finally suffered a loss at West Virginia.
The Wildcats (17-1) sat at the pinnacle of the AP list in every poll released since Dec. 5, excluding last week.
Despite getting the top nod this week, with a total of 1,580 points, Villanova received the second most first-place votes with 28. Kansas (16-1) took home the most first-place votes with 32. UCLA with three, and Gonzaga with two were the only other teams to receive first-place votes.
Currently in the middle of Big East play, Villanova will face Seton Hall at home Monday night in hopes to affirm their spot as the nation’s top basketball team.
After a rough week featuring losses to No. 9 Florida State (16-2) and No. 12 Louisville (15-3), Duke finds themselves dropping from No. 7 in the poll to No. 18.
The Blue Devils will look to bounce back and strengthen their case for a jump in the poll next week with a game at home on Jan. 21 against Miami.
AP Poll
1. Villanova (17-1)
2. Kansas (16-1)
3. UCLA (18-1)
4. Gonzaga (17-0)
5. Kentucky (15-2)
6. Baylor (16-1)
7. West Virginia (15-2)
7. Creighton (17-1)
9. North Carolina (16-3)
10. Florida State (16-2)
11. Oregon (16-2)
12. Louisville (15-3)
13. Butler (15-3)
14. Arizona (16-2)
15. Notre Dame (16-2)
16. Virginia (13-3)
17. Wisconsin (14-3)
18. Duke (14-4)
19. Florida (14-3)
20. Cincinnati (15-2)
21. Purdue (14-4)
22. Xavier (13-4)
23. Saint Mary’s (15-2)
24. South Carolina (14-3)
25. Maryland (16-2)
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