Kansas tops coaches' poll

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MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Kansas replaced Duke as the No. 1-ranked team in the USA Today Coaches' poll Monday, with Michigan a very close second.

Last week was another tough one for ranked teams, with 14 of the Top 25 falling at least once and four -- including former No. 1 Louisville -- losing twice. One of those victims was Duke, which was routed 90-63 at Miami (Fla.) two days after returning to the top spot last Monday.

That opened the way for Kansas (18-1) to move atop the poll. The Jayhawks are listed first on 16 of the 31 ballots and have a total of 760 poll points. Michigan (19-1) pulls in 14 first-place mentions and 757 points.

With upsets coming every day ranked teams played last week, there was much movement in the Top 25. Six teams improve their positions at least five spots, including No. 3 Indiana (18-2), which was eighth last week. Mississippi is up eight places to No. 16 and Oregon and Wichita State are both up seven. Also, Miami, unranked a week ago, is 15th.

Going the other way, five teams fall at least four spots, with Duke (17-2) going from first to fifth while Minnesota plummets 10 places to 24th, Louisville and Kansas State both drop eight places and Creighton is off five. That doesn't include Virginia Commonwealth, which was 16th last week and drops from the rankings this week.

Florida (16-2) takes the final first-place vote and is up three places, coming between Indiana and Duke in fourth.

Syracuse (18-2) is voted sixth, with Gonzaga (19-2) up to seventh and Arizona (17-2) in eighth. Michigan State (17-4) comes in ninth and Butler (17-3) completes the Top 10.

Ohio State (18-2) is 11th followed by Oregon (18-2) and Louisville (16-4) in 12th and 13th, respectively. Big upward movers Wichita State (19-2) and Miami (15-3) are 14th and 15th.

Mississippi (17-2) is No. 16 ahead of No. 16 Creighton (18-3) and 17th-ranked Missouri (15-4). North Carolina State (16-4) is 19th before No. 20 San Diego State (16-4).

Kansas State (15-4) sits in the 21st spot with New Mexico (17-3) at 22nd while, in order, Cincinnati (16-4), Minnesota (15-5) and Marquette (14-4) fill out the rankings.

Notre Dame joined Virginia Commonwealth in falling out of the rankings this week.

Key games this week include Michigan at Indiana on Saturday. Also, Mississippi goes to Florida and Miami is at North Carolina State Saturday and Marquette plays at Louisville on Sunday.