For the first time in program history, the Villanova Wildcats occupy the No. 1 spot in both national polls.
The Wildcats were voted No. 1 in the Associated Press rankings for the first time in program history on Monday. The USA Today Coaches poll voters also listed VU as America’s No. 1 team for the week of Feb. 8. This marks the second time Villanova has stood atop the USA Today poll – the other took place in April 1985 after the ‘Cats upended Georgetown to earn the NCAA title.
Villanova, which improved to 20-3 overall with its 72-60 victory at then No. 11 Providence Saturday, had been ranked as high as No. 2 in the AP poll on six occasions previously, the most recent of those coming last March after the Wildcats captured the Big East Tournament championship to improve to 32-2.
“We’re honored and humbled to have been voted No.1 by the writers in the Associated Press poll and the coaches in the USA Today Coaches poll,” said Villanova head coach Jay Wright. “There’s still a lot of basketball left to be played and handling this will be another challenge for our team. We look forward to it.”
The Wildcats (20-3) made the jump from third in the AP poll following then-No. 1 Oklahoma’s loss to Kansas State and then-No. 2 North Carolina’s losses to Louisville and Notre Dame.
Villanova received 32 first-place votes Monday from the 65-member national media panel. Maryland, which received 13 No. 1 votes, moved up two spots to second.
Oklahoma, which had been No. 1 for the last three weeks, dropped to third and received seven first-place votes. Iowa, which got 11 first-place votes, is fourth and is followed in the top 10 by Xavier, Kansas, Virginia, Michigan State, North Carolina and West Virginia.
Kansas and Virginia both received one first-place vote.
No. 23 Southern Cal and No. 24 Texas are the week’s two newcomers, replacing Indiana and South Carolina.
AP TOP 25:
1. Villanova
2. Maryland
3. Oklahoma
4. Iowa
5. Xavier
6. Kansas
7. Virginia
8. Michigan State
9. North Carolina
10. West Virginia
11. Oregon
12. Miami
13. Louisville
14. Iowa State
15. Texas A&M
16. SMU
17. Arizona
18. Purdue
19. Dayton
20. Providence
21. Baylor
22. Kentucky
23. USC
24. Texas
25. Wichita State
Read more: Big East Breakdown
Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press
