Louisville vaults to top of men's hoops poll

New York, NY – Louisville is the new No. 1 in men's college basketball.

After both remaining unbeatens -- Duke and Michigan -- lost this past weekend, Louisville moved up from third to the top of the latest Associated Press poll.

The Cardinals received 36 first-place votes and a total of 1,591 points from a nationwide media panel to earn the top spot for the first time since the final poll of the 2008-09 season. Louisville has won 10 straight games since a loss to Duke in the final of the tournament in the Bahamas back in November.

Indiana, the preseason No. 1 and top-ranked team through mid-December, rose three spots from fifth to second. The Hoosiers, coming off Saturday's 88-81 win over fellow top-10 opponent Minnesota, picked up 13 first-place votes.

Duke, which fell at North Carolina State on Saturday, dropped only to third and still garnered 14 top tallies, while Kansas and Michigan round out the top five, each with a first-place vote.

Syracuse, Arizona, Gonzaga, Minnesota and Florida complete this week's top 10. Arizona tumbled three spots from fourth after suffering its first loss of the season last Thursday at Oregon.

The second 10 consists of Ohio State, Creighton, Butler, North Carolina State, San Diego State, Kansas State, Missouri, Michigan State, New Mexico and Notre Dame. Ohio State jumped four spots from 15th after knocking Michigan from the ranks of the unbeaten on Sunday, while NC State's 84-76 win over Duke lifted the Wolfpack six places from 20th. Missouri, meanwhile, tumbled seven spots from 10th after a loss at Ole Miss.

Oregon, VCU, Illinois, UCLA and Marquette are the last five teams ranked this week. Illinois had the biggest fall within the poll, dropping 11 spots from 12th after losses to Minnesota and Wisconsin.

This week's poll features four newcomers, as Oregon, VCU, UCLA and Marquette replace Cincinnati, Georgetown, UNLV and Wichita State -- all of whom suffered losses last week.

Oregon had been close to earning a spot in the poll earlier this season and earned its place this week after the 70-66 win over Arizona. VCU, a surprise Final Four team two years ago, has won 11 straight games since losses to Duke and Missouri in the Bahamas.

UCLA was 13th to start the season and rose to 11th before losses to Georgetown and Cal Poly during Thanksgiving week. The Bruins have won nine straight since a loss to San Diego State to start December.

Marquette is ranked for the first time this season after opening the Big East season with victories over UConn, Georgetown and Pittsburgh.

This week's schedule features a number of ranked matchups, including Thursday's Big Ten tussle between Michigan and Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Five ranked contests are on Saturday's slate, including a Big East showdown between Syracuse and Louisville in the Derby City. Also Saturday, Missouri visits Florida, UCLA hosts Oregon, Ohio State travels to Michigan State and a mid-major battle pits Gonzaga at Butler.