KU & Mizzou make big move in rankings, while KSU cracks top-25 for first time this season

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The new Associated Press top-25 poll came out on Monday, and there was plenty of good news to go around for our local college basketball teams.

The Kansas Jayhawks moved closer to the top-5, going from No. 9 to No. 6. The Missouri Tigers are right behind the Jayhawks, soaring from No. 12 to No. 7. Plus, the Kansas State Wildcats cracked the top-25 rankings for the first time this season. K-State is No. 25.

The big moves came after all three of our local teams knocked off top-ten foes. Plus, then-No. 3 Syracuse fell for the first time this season when it lost against Temple.

KU pulled off an impressive 74-66 win at then-No. 7 Ohio State. Mizzou handed then-No. 10 Illinois its first loss of the season after a 82-73 victory in the Braggin’ Rights Game in St. Louis.

But Kansas State pulled off the biggest surprise of them all. The Wildcats weren’t even ranked, but still upset then-No. 8 Florida in a 67-61 victory at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. The Wildcats improved to 9-2.

K-State finishes the non-conference portion of its season with two home games in a three-day span. The Wildcats play UMKC on Saturday, Dec. 29 and South Dakota on Monday, Dec. 31.

Kansas faces American Saturday, Dec. 29 in Lawrence. The 10-1 Jayhawks finish their non-conference season Sunday, Jan. 6 against Temple in Lawrence.

Missouri, 10-1, next plays at UCLA on Friday, Dec. 28 before finishing non-conference play on Saturday, Jan. 5 against Bucknell.

Here’s an entire look at the AP top-25:

                        Record   Pts Prv
1. Duke (63)             11-0  1,623   1
2. Michigan (2)          12-0  1,551   2
3. Arizona               11-0  1,463   4
4. Louisville            11-1  1,422   5
5. Indiana               11-1  1,383   6
6. Kansas                10-1  1,309   9
7. Missouri              10-1  1,157  12
8. Cincinnati            12-0  1,144  11
9. Syracuse              10-1  1,140   3
10. Ohio St.               9-2    965   7
11. Minnesota             12-1    878  13
12. Illinois              12-1    875  10
13. Gonzaga               11-1    824  14
14. Florida                8-2    772   8
15. Georgetown            10-1    674  15
16. Creighton             11-1    589  17
17. San Diego St.         11-1    557  18
18. Butler                 9-2    512  19
19. Michigan St.          11-2    416  20
20. UNLV                  11-1    382  21
21. Notre Dame            12-1    337  22
22. Oklahoma St.          10-1    318  24
23. NC State               9-2    264  25
24. Pittsburgh            12-1    189   --
25. Kansas St.             9-2    152   --

Others receiving votes: New Mexico 66, Kentucky 37, Temple 36, Wyoming 28, North Carolina 16, VCU 16, Wichita St. 11, Maryland 7, Oregon 6, UConn 6.