MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Syracuse remains one second-place vote from being a unanimous No. 1 in the USA Today/Coaches men's basketball poll, which was updated Monday.
The Orange (13-0) pulled in 30 of the possible 31 first-place votes this week, with the other coach on the board putting Syracuse No. 2 to Ohio State. Syracuse has been on top of the poll since Dec. 12. The Buckeyes (12-1) have been No. 2 since Nov. 28.
The nine highest-ranked teams retain their positions from last week but Xavier, Pittsburgh and Kansas sustained steep drops. Xavier, which lost its first three games after a brawl at the end of its game against Cincinnati, falls out of the Top 25. Pittsburgh goes from 13th to No. 22 and Kansas sinks from 11th to 18th.
Kentucky (11-1) is third followed by fourth-ranked Louisville (12-0) and No. 5 Duke (10-1). North Carolina (11-2) occupies the sixth spot ahead of No. 7 Baylor (12-0), eighth-ranked Missouri (12-0) and Connecticut (10-1) at No 9. Florida (10-2) moves from 12th to 10th.
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Wisconsin (11-2) is up three to 11 with Georgetown (10-1), 16th a week ago, in at 12th. Marquette (11-1) slips from 10th to 13th but No. 14 Mississippi State (12-1) and 15th-ranked Indiana (12-0) are both up three places.
Michigan (10-2) and Michigan State (11-2) also improve three rungs to 16th and 17th, respectively, with Kansas (8-3) next. Creighton (10-1) takes the 19th spot and Nevada-Las Vegas (13-2) is 20th.
Murray State (13-0) is 21st while Pittsburgh (11-2) is No. 22. Harvard (10-1) goes from 25th to 23rd. No. 24 Virginia (10-1) and 25th-ranked Kansas State (10-1) are ranked for the first time this season.
Xavier and Illinois drop out of the Top 25 this week.
There are five games this week pitting ranked teams against each other. Two involve Louisville, which goes against Georgetown at home Wednesday and then plays at Kentucky Saturday.
