RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Michigan State, Kentucky, Duke and Louisville have each spent time at No. 1 in the AP Top 25 mens college basketball poll only to lose quickly. The challenge now falls on Kansas to avoid the same fate.
The Jayhawks reached No. 1 in Mondays poll, marking the first time the AP poll has had five different No. 1s before New Years Day. They play once this week with their new ranking, visiting No. 18 Villanova on Saturday.
None of the previous four teams to hold the No. 1 ranking this season have won more than twice before stumbling, illustrating that this is a year with no dominant team in college basketball.
Kansas (9-1), which earned 47 of 65 first-place votes, hasnt lost since falling to Duke in the Champions Classic to open the season. That run has included winning the Maui Invitational and beating a then-ranked Colorado team, with all but the overtime win against Dayton for the Maui title coming by double-digit margins.
Weve done what were supposed to do, Kansas coach Bill Self said last week of potentially rising to No. 1. Weve played pretty well since the Duke game.
The Jayhawks committed 28 turnovers in that game but have done a better job taking care of the basketball since; they had 21 turnovers against the Buffaloes but have had 15 or fewer in every other game. They entered the week alongside No. 3 Louisville and No. 5 Ohio State as the only teams in the top 12 of KenPoms adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency rankings.
After Saturday’s win against UMKC, Self said the team would have to work around exam schedules as it prepared for Villanova.
We are going to give Villanova three intense days of practice even though they will be an hour-and-a-half long, probably each one of them, not long, because of finals, Self said.
The Jayhawks will find out if thats enough to pass their first test at No. 1.
THE BIG MATCHUP
Fifth-ranked Ohio State and sixth-ranked Kentucky have the weeks headlining matchup in Saturdays CBS Sports Classic in Las Vegas.
For the Buckeyes, it will be a chance to add to an already impressive nonconference resume that could position them for a top NCAA Tournament seed come Selection Sunday.
Ohio State (9-1) already has 25-point wins against both Villanova and then-ranked North Carolina. Chris Holtmanns team lost at Minnesota in Big Ten play Sunday but returns to action Tuesday against Southeast Missouri State at home before playing John Caliparis Wildcats.
Kentucky (8-1) is playing a doubleheader this week in Las Vegas, first against Utah on Wednesday.
