Monday, November 23, 2009

Syracuse rises to No. 9 after upset

ESPN.com news services

North Carolina, which lost to Syracuse in the 2K Sports Classic Championship last weekend, dropped sharply in the latest ESPN/USA Today men's college basketball top 25 poll, slipping from No. 4 to No. 12.

 

Kansas (3-0), which escaped with a 57-55 win against Memphis, remained No. 1 in the poll, released Monday afternoon, with 772 points and 28 first-place votes.

 

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For the complete ESPN/USA Today poll, click here.

 

 

Syracuse (4-0), boosted by the 87-71 victory against the Tar Heels, shot up to No. 9 from No. 24.

 

 

Michigan State (2-0), Texas (2-0) and Kentucky (4-0) maintained their positions at No. 2, No. 3 and No. 5 respectively. The Spartans received two first-place votes, and Duke, at No. 7, received one.

 

 

Moving into the No. 4 spot was Villanova (5-0). The Wildcats, ranked sixth last week, beat Pennsylvania 103-65; George Mason 69-68; then-No. 21 Dayton 71-65; and Mississippi 79-67.

 

North Carolina (4-1) beat then-No. 15 Ohio State 77-73 in the semifinals of the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden, but was surprised in the final by the Orange, led by tournament MVP Wesley Johnson.

 

 

Entering the top 25 for the first time this season were Maryland at No. 22, and Vanderbilt at No. 24.