Top 25 2/13/12

Kentucky (25-1) sits atop both the Coaches and AP polls this week, followed by Syracuse (25-1) and Missouri (23-2). Duke (21-4) and Kansas (20-5) are fourth in one poll and fifth in the other to round out the top 5.

Saint Mary's (23-3) remains in the top 25, though they've fallen to 21st in the AP and 16th in the Coaches, down from 16th and 13th respectively, after the loss at Gonzaga last week. With that the Zags (20-4) moved back into the top 25 after spending just one week in the "also receiving votes" category. Gonzaga is 24th in both polls. Saint Mary's moved into the top 25 after they beat Gonzaga (as did Illinois and Michigan State when they beat Gonzaga) back in January, now the Zags get the same treatment for their win over the Gaels.


The Spartans (20-5), who beat the Zags in Spokane back on December 10th, are now ranked 7th in the AP and 8th in the Coaches Poll. Notre Dame (17-8) suffered a 20 point loss at Gonzaga back on November 30th, when Gonzaga was ranked 18th. The Irish have since beaten ever ranked team they've played, a whopping 7, including Syracuse when they were #1 in the land.

Baylor (21-4) was 10-0 and ranked #7 when they beat Saint Mary's on December 22nd. The game was played at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, site of the WCC Championship. Baylor has slipped over the past few games, but is still ranked 9th and 10th in the AP and Coaches polls. Saint Mary's heads to Murray State this weekend to play the Racers who were undefeated until last Thursday. Their only loss of the season happened to be at home, but the 16th/14th ranked Racers. While the Gaels won't get the chance to knock off the nation's last unbeaten or gain a win over a top 10 team, a win in Murray, Kentucky would help boost the Gaels NCAA appeal. The game will be televised on ESPN3 (I thought it was ESPN or ESPN2 until both teams lost on Thursday) at 3pm Pacific. Unfortunately for the feel good story Racers, a loss here could very well kill their hope of an at large bid.

Brigham Young has flirted with the top 25 this season, never making it past the "also receiving votes" category, but they've fallen out of that for now.