The USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll was predictably shuffled after a slew of high-profile matchups as the regular season heads into its final week.
After routing Virginia to win the ACC regular-season title, Duke retains the No. 1 ranking for a second week, once again claiming 28 of 31 first-place votes. The other three top nods once again went to Arizona, which holds the No. 2 position following an impressive defeat of Kansas. No. 3 Michigan also stays put, though the Wolverines looked just as dominant as the Blue Devils and Wildcats over the weekend in winning at Illinois.
Connecticut and Florida each move up two positions to round out the top five, as No. 6 Houston and No. 7 Iowa State each fall two spots. Michigan State vaults five places to No. 8, edging ahead of No. 9 Nebraska. Texas Tech also leaps back into the top 10, gaining six positions after an important win at Iowa State.
Illinois keeps the No. 11 spot by a single poll point over Gonzaga, which slips three spots to No. 12 with its loss to Saint Mary’s. Purdue takes a six-place hit sliding to No. 14 with two losses in the week.
Saint Mary’s joins the poll at No. 21 after upending Gonzaga, and No. 23 Miami (Fla.) also moves in. Louisville and Brigham Young drop out.
