Villanova moves back to No. 1 in AP poll

After a one-week absence, Villanova reclaimed the No. 1 ranking in the latest Associated Press college basketball poll released Monday.

The reigning national champion Wildcats (17-1), who were No. 1 for five straight weeks before dropping to No. 3 a week ago, leapfrogged No. 2 Kansas (16-1) to supplant Baylor atop the poll.

Villanova received 28 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel while the second-ranked Jayhawks were No. 1 on 32 ballots.

No. 3 UCLA (18-1) received three first-place votes while the remaining two went to fourth-ranked and unbeaten Gonzana (17-0). Kentucky (15-2) checked in at No. 5 while Baylor (16-1) tumbled five slots following its loss at West Virginia (15-2), which vaulted three spots into a tie with Creighton (17-1) at No. 7.

ACC rivals North Carolina (16-3) and Florida State (16-2) rounded out the top 10, with the Tar Heels climbing two slots after beating the Seminoles on Saturday.

Oregon (16-2) and Louisville (15-3) each moved up two spots to Nos. 11 and 12 and were followed by Butler (15-3), Arizona (16-2) and Notre Dame (16-2), which made the biggest move from 20th to No. 15.

Rounding out the top 20 were Virginia (13-3), Wisconsin (14-3), Duke (14-4), Florida (14-3) and Cincinnati (15-2). Duke plummeted 11 spots after losses at Florida State and Louisville.

Purdue (14-4), Xavier (13-4) and Saint Mary's (15-2) each dropped but held down the Nos. 21-23 slots, while No. 24 South Carolina (14-3) and Maryland (16-2) were newcomers to the poll. Dropping out of the Top 25 were Minnesota, Kansas State and USC.