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Kansas returns to top spot in AP men's college basketball rankings

Posted at 11:43 AM, Dec 16, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-16 12:43:51-05

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The University of Kansas men's basketball team is back on top.

The Jayhawks (9-1) ascended to the No. 1 spot Monday In the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Coach Bill Self's squad edged out Gonzaga (11-1) for the top spot.

Last week's top-ranked team, Louisville (10-1), slipped to No. 3, while Duke (9-1) and Ohio State (9-1) rounded out the top five spots.

The Jayhawks are the fifth team to reach the top spot this year. It's the first time the AP poll has had five different No. 1-ranked teams before New Year's Day.

Kansas’ only loss this season came against Duke in the season-opener.

Three other Big 12 teams are ranked with Baylor (8-1) checking in 10th with Texas Tech (6-3) and West Virginia (9-1) moving into the poll at Nos. 24 and 25, respectively.

Another newcomer to the ranking, No. 23 Penn State, is in the poll for the first time since March 1996, while North Carolina fell out of the poll for the first time since February 2014.

The Jayhawks return to action at 11 a.m. on Saturday at No. 18 Villanova (8-2) in Philadelphia.