Kansas vaults OSU for top spot

Associated Press

Marcus Morris got his wish. Kansas is No. 1 once again.

After Ohio State’s first defeat, the one-loss Jayhawks moved up from No. 2 on Monday to the top spot in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll, a familiar place for Bill Self’s program.

When they beat Iowa State on Saturday, a couple of hours after the Buckeyes lost at Wisconsin, the Jayhawks were ready to ascend.

The Jayhawks (24-1, 9-1 Big 12) were ranked No. 1 for 15 weeks last season but lost to Northern Iowa in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Kansas received 22 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel, while Ohio State received 14 first-place votes and trailed the Jayhawks by only 13 points.

In third place is Texas, the only team to beat Kansas. But the Longhorns did collect the most first-place votes: 23. No. 4 Pittsburgh was No. 1 on six ballots.

Duke, which was No. 1 the first nine weeks, is No. 5. Completing the top 10 are: San Diego State, BYU, Notre Dame, Georgetown and Wisconsin.

Women

Baylor remains No. 1 after winning its 20th straight game.

The Lady Bears received 24 first-place votes Monday in the women’s college basketball poll by The Associated Press. They routed Texas on Saturday.

Second-ranked Connecticut had 15 first-place votes. Stanford, Tennessee and Texas A&M round out the first five.

Miami vaulted up seven spots to No. 13 after its impressive win at North Carolina on Sunday.