ASU picks up 5 first-place votes, climbs to No. 5 in AP basketball poll

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Following Sunday's victory at No. 2 Kansas, the Arizona State men's basketball team has climbed to No. 5 in the Associated Press Top 25 -- its highest ranking since reaching No. 3 in March of 1981 with a lineup featuring Byron Scott, Lafayette Lever, Alton Lister, Sam Williams and Johnny Nash.

The Sun Devils, who have a 9-0 record for the first time since 1974, picked up five first-place votes. The only other teams to receive first-place votes were top-ranked Villanova (41) and Michigan State (19).

ASU was unranked at the start of the season and made a big leap from No. 16 in last week's poll. They also are ranked No. 3 in the NCAA RPI ratings.

Villanova (10-0) took over the top spot after last week's top two teams -- Duke and Kansas both suffered losses. Duke (11-1) lost at Boston College and fell three spots to No. 4, while Kansas (7-2) lost to both ASU and Washington of the Pac-12 Conference and dropped 11 spots to No. 13.

Michigan State (9-1) is ranked second, followed by Wichita State, Duke and ASU.

The remainder of the top 10 consists of Miami, North Carolina, Kentucky, Texas A&M and Xavier. Kansas (7-2) fell 11 spots to No. 13.

Arizona, which recorded victories over a pair of top-10 opponents in Texas A&M and Alabama, returned to the rankings at No. 23 following a two-week absence.

Minnesota (No. 14 last week), Nevada (No. 22) and Southern California (No. 25) all fell out of the Top 25.














Associated Press Top 25


1. Villanova (41)      10-0   1598

2. Michigan St. (19)    9-1   1561

3. Wichita St.          8-1   1402

4. Duke                11-1   1362

5. Arizona St (5)       9-0   1316

6. Miami                8-0   1272

7. North Carolina       9-1   1237

8. Kentucky             8-1   1227

9. Texas A&M            8-1   1072

10. Xavier               9-1   1044

11. West Virginia        9-1    972

12. Gonzaga              8-2    805

13. Kansas               7-2    760

14. TCU                 10-0    718

15. Seton Hall           8-1    704

16. Virginia             8-1    690

17. Purdue              10-2    568

18. Notre Dame           8-2    564

19. Florida St.          9-0    452

20. Tennessee            7-1    342

21. Baylor               7-2    281

22. Florida              6-3    261

23. Arizona              7-3    252

24. Texas Tech           7-1    191

25. Cincinnati           7-2    145