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AP Poll: Tennessee moves to No. 1 in Top 25, Duke drops to No. 2

Associated PressJan 21, 2019, 2:27 PM EST

Top-ranked Duke went down early in the week. No. 2 Michigan and No. 4 Virginia, the last of Division I’s unbeaten teams, both fell over the weekend. In all, six top-10 teams lost.

Tennessee kept rolling amid chaos across the AP Top 25.

The Vols are the new No. 1 in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll on Monday, climbing three spots to earn their first top ranking since the 2007-08 season.

Tennessee received 48 of 64 first-place votes from a media panel in the poll released Monday, well ahead of No. 2 Duke with 11. No. 3 Virginia received three first-place votes and No. 6 Michigan State two. Gonzaga and Michigan rounded out the top five.

“The guys playing right now built this thing,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said.

Expectations followed the Vols into the 2018-19 season. With its top six scorers back from a team that shared the SEC title, Tennessee had its highest preseason ranking at No. 6 and was eyeing a deep NCAA Tournament run in Barnes’ fourth season.

The Vols have lived up to the forecast so far, bouncing back from an overtime loss to then-No. 2 Kansas to win 12 straight games. Tennessee knocked Gonzaga from atop the AP Top 25 with Barnes’ first win over a No. 1 team in early December and won its two games last week, rolling over Arkansas and holding off Alabama .

The only other time Tennessee (16-1, 5-0) was No. 1, it lost the next night to Vanderbilt — the Vols’ opponent on Wednesday.

“Tennessee basketball hasn’t been ranked No. 1 in a long time,” Vols guard Jordan Bone said. “That’s a good feeling, but we can’t be so locked in on that. We have to continue to stay hungry. We can’t be so focused on that. It’s so fleeting. It can change really quick.”

The changes in the AP Top 25 came quickly after a wild week.

Duke started by losing to Syracuse in overtime at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils played without a sick Cam Reddish and lost point guard Tre Jones to a shoulder injury in the first half.

Reddish returned against Virginia on Saturday and Duke responded with a superb game, knocking Virginia from the unbeaten ranks with a 72-70 victory despite playing without Jones.

Michigan lost to Wisconsin by 10, also on Saturday, leaving the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers as the last Division I team to go undefeated.

No. 7 Kansas, No. 8 Texas Tech and No. 9 Virginia Tech also lost. The Jayhawks fell two spots after losing to West Virginia. The Red Raiders dropped six spots to No. 14 after losses to Iowa State and Baylor. The Hokies were down one to No. 10 following a loss to Virginia.

In all, 13 ranked teams lost last week.

HERE IS THE FULL POLL

1. Tennessee (48 first-place votes)
2. Duke (11)
3. Virginia (3)
4. Gonzaga
5. Michigan
6. Michigan State
7. Nevada
8. Kentucky
9. Kansas
10. Virginia Tech
11. North Carolina
12. Marquette
13. Maryland
14. Texas Tech
14. Buffalo
16. Auburn
17. Houston
18. Villanova
19. Iowa
20. Ole Miss
21. N.C. State
22. Mississippi State
23. Louisville
24. Iowa State
25. LSU

KENTUCKY RISING

Kentucky saw a steady slide down the AP Top 25 after opening the season with a blowout loss to Duke. The preseason No. 2, the Wildcats were down to No. 19 just a month ago, but started climbing again.

Kentucky is up to No. 8 after beating No. 14 Auburn and Georgia this week, with games against No. 22 Mississippi State and No. 9 Kansas coming up.

RISING AND FALLING

No. 13 Maryland moved up six spots after beating Wisconsin and Ohio State.

Kentucky, No. 17 Houston and No. 18 Villanova each moved up four spots.

Florida State after stretching its losing streak to three games with losses to Pittsburgh and Boston College, falling out of the poll from No. 11.

MOVING IN

Louisville moved into the AP Top 25 for the first time this season at No. 23 following wins over Boston College and Georgia Tech.

Iowa State’s wins over Texas Tech and Oklahoma State put the Cyclones back in at No. 24 after they dropped out from No. 20 last week.

LSU beat then-No. 19 Mississippi and South Carolina last week to return to the poll at No. 25.

MOVING OUT

Oklahoma joined Florida State in dropping out of the poll following losses to Kansas State and Texas. The Sooners were No. 20 last week.

Indiana, No. 25 last week, did not receive a single vote after lopsided losses to Nebraska and Purdue.

WATCH: Five Atlantic 10 games on NBCSN highlight terrific weekend of hoops

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By Rob DausterJan 19, 2019, 8:35 AM EST

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There is an absolutely loaded slate of Atlantic 10 action on NBCSN this weekend.

As it stands, Saint Louis is currently sitting all alone in first place in the conference at 5-0 with five teams just a game back of the Billikens, who beat St. Joseph’s on Friday night.

Four of those five teams will be in action on NBCSN, including Dayton, who pays a visit to St. Bonaventure in what is the game of the day. The action heats up in Olean, N.Y., at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, after Richmond visits Davidson and URI takes on La Salle and right before UMass heads south to Richmond to pay a visit to VCU and the Siegel Center.

VCU, like Davidson, is a game out of first place.

On Sunday, the fourth second-place team will be in action, as Duquesne treks through the snow to the Smith Center to pay a visit to George Washington.

Here is the full schedule:

RICHMOND at DAVIDSON, Sat. 12:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (stream)
RHODE ISLAND at LA SALLE, Sat. 2:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (stream)
DAYTON at ST. BONAVENTURE, Sat. 4:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (stream)
UMASS at VCU, Sat. 6:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (stream)
DUQUESNE at GEORGE WASHINGTON, Sun. 4:00 p.m. (NBCSN) (stream)

Bracketology: All Hail the Wolverines

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By Dave OmmenJan 17, 2019, 10:35 AM EST

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With Duke’s home loss to Syracuse, and with the status of Blue Devils’ point guard Tre Jones uncertain following a shoulder injury, Michigan climbs the final rung on the latest Seed List ladder.

The Wolverines hold the No. 1 overall position in today’s bracket, followed closely by Virginia and Tennessee.

The real debate involved the fourth No. 1 seed position.

One could make a compelling case for Duke, Kansas, or Michigan State.

The Blue Devils were without two of their primary players for much of the loss to Syracuse.

In the end, however, the Jayhawks’ eight Group 1 wins, plus victories over both Tennessee and Michigan State, proved to be the difference.

UPDATED: January 17, 2019

FIRST FOUR – DAYTON
EAST REGION	VCU vs. Pittsburgh
WEST REGION	Texas vs. Arizona State
SOUTH REGION	Norfolk State vs. Prairie View
EAST REGION	Sam Houston vs. UMKC

SOUTH – Louisville		EAST – Washington, DC
Columbus		Columbia
1) MICHIGAN		1) VIRGINIA
16) PR VIEW / NORFOLK ST		16) SAM HOUSTON / UMKC
8) NC State		8) Kansas State
9) Mississippi State		9) Minnesota

Salt Lake City		Des Moines
5) Florida State		5) VILLANOVA
12) LIPSCOMB		12) VCU / Pittsburgh
4) Marquette		4) Maryland
13) GEORGIA STATE		13) YALE

Des Moines		Jacksonville
6) Nebraska		6) Indiana
11) SAINT LOUIS		11) Arizona
3) HOUSTON		3) Kentucky
14) LOYOLA-CHICAGO		14) VERMONT

Jacksonville		Tulsa
7) LSU		7) Auburn
10) TCU		10) Syracuse
2) Duke		2) Texas Tech
15) RIDER		15) UTSA

WEST – Anaheim		MIDWEST – Kansas City
Tulsa		Columbia
1) KANSAS		1) TENNESSEE
16) WEBER STATE		16) WAGNER
8) Purdue		8) Ohio State
9) St. John’s		9) Seton Hall

Hartford		San Jose
5) Iowa		5) Louisville
12) Texas / Arizona State		12) MURRAY STATE
4) North Carolina		4) Oklahoma
13) HOFSTRA		13) UC-IRVINE

San Jose		Hartford
6) Iowa State		6) BUFFALO
11) WOFFORD		11) Temple
3) NEVADA		3) Virginia Tech
14) NORTHERN KENTUCKY		14) SOUTH DAKOTA ST

Salt Lake City		Columbus
7) Wisconsin		7) Ole Miss
10) Cincinnati		10) WASHINGTON
2) GONZAGA		2) Michigan State
15) RIDER		15) LEHIGH

BUBBLE NOTES
Last 4 Byes	Last 4 IN	First 4 OUT	Next 4 OUT
TCU	Texas	Butler	Clemson
Cincinnati	Arizona State	UCF	San Francisco
Temple	VCU	Florida	Fresno State
Arizona	Pittsburgh	Alabama	Dayton

TOP SEED LINE: Michigan is the No. 1 overall seed, followed by Virginia, Tennessee, and Kansas

Breakdown by Conference …

Big 10 (10): MICHIGAN, Michigan State, Maryland, Iowa, Nebraska, Indiana, Wisconsin, Purdue, Ohio State, Minnesota

ACC (9): VIRGINIA, Duke, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State, Louisville, NC State, Syracuse, Pittsburgh

SEC (6): TENNESSEE, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Auburn, Mississippi State

BIG 12 (6): KANSAS, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Iowa State, TCU, Texas

Big East (4): VILLANOVA, Marquette, Seton Hall, St. John’s

American (3): HOUSTON, Cincinnati, Temple

Pac 12 (3): WASHINGTON, Arizona, Arizona State

Mountain West (1): NEVADA

Atlantic 10 (2): SAINT LOUIS, VCU

West Coast (1): GONZAGA

ONE BID LEAGUES: Loyola-Chicago (MVC), Rider (MAAC), UTSA (C-USA), Georgia State (SBELT), Yale (IVY), Weber State (BSKY), Northern Kentucky (HORIZON), Sam Houston (SLND), Wofford (STHN), UC-Irvine (BWEST), Buffalo (MAC), Lipscomb (ASUN), Murray State (OVC), Hofstra (CAA), Radford (BSO), Norfolk State (MEAC), South Dakota State (SUM), UMKC (WAC), Vermont (AEAST), Lehigh (PAT), Wagner (NEC), Prairie View (SWAC)

WATCH: A full slate of Atlantic 10 action on NBCSN, headlined by Saint Louis-La Salle

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By Rob DausterJan 12, 2019, 10:56 AM EST

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There is a fun slate of Atlantic 10 games on the NBCSN airwaves this weekend, and it will kick off with a game that I will be doing sideline reporting for: Saint Louis at La Salle.

Now, Saint Louis is a pretty good team this season. They’ve beaten Butler and Oregon State at home and won at Seton Hall. I’m not sure that it is going to be enough to get them into the NCAA tournament bubble picture come Selection Sunday, but as of today, they are one of the First Four Out, according to the resident NBC Sports bracketologist Dave Ommen.

La Salle is no pushover. Since Saul Phiri returned to the lineup, the Explorers have won three of four after losing their first ten games of the season, and with the addition of Jack Clark, who is coming off of an ACL tear, they suddenly have positional size and versatility. The things that new head coach Ashley Howard has been preaching are starting to sink in. This is a dangerous team with a chance to win some games in this league.

Sunday will feature two games, as UMass pays a visit to Dayton and George Mason will head to Kingston to take on Rhode Island.

All in all, it is a fun slate of games.

Here is the full schedule, with links to where they can be streamed:

SAINT LOUIS at LA SALLE, Sat. 6:00 p.m. (stream)
UMASS at DAYTON, Sun. 3:30 p.m. (stream)
GEORGE MASON at RHODE ISLAND, Sun. 5:30 p.m. (stream)

Go and download the new NBC Sports Scores app

NBC Sports

By Rob DausterJan 10, 2019, 12:24 PM EST

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The easiest way for you to read, watch and engage with any and all of the content that NBC Sports has to offer is now here.

The new NBC Sports Scores app is now ready and available to download on your mobile devices, which is the only way for you to truly keep up to date on everything happening in the world of sports.

Keep up to date on everything happening with your favorite college basketball team with live scores, team schedules and alerts to all the new content for whoever it is that you follow.

This isn’t just for college basketball, mind you.

The NBC Sports Scores app brings you extensive coverage of the NBA, the NHL, the NFL, Major League Baseball, college football and, of course, all of our Premier League content. It is the only app you need — and the only app you could ever want — to stay on top of breaking news and sharp analysis of whatever sport it is that you lone.

So go and download the app now.

Bracketology: Virginia climbs to top line

AP Photo/Steve Helber

By Dave OmmenJan 10, 2019, 10:28 AM EST

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Yes, Virginia, another No. 1 seed is yours for the taking. Thanks to the unbeaten Cavaliers’ dominant win over Florida State and Kansas’ loss at Iowa State, UVA climbs to the top line in this week’s bracket update. With its No. 1 NET rating (as of early this morning), Virginia also edges out Tennessee for No. 3 on the seed list, effectively bumping the Volunteers to the West Region.

A quick housekeeping note … now that conference play is underway, current league leaders receive the automatic bid for the bracket. Tie breakers in the loss column are settled by NET rating at the time of publication. As an example, Fresno State receives the Mountain West’s auto bid today after Nevada’s loss at New Mexico.

We still have a variety of hit-or-miss resumes on the board. Conference play will help separate teams over the next month. Enjoy your college hoops!

BRACKET UPDATE: January 10, 2019

FIRST FOUR – DAYTON
EAST REGION	Arizona vs. Temple
MIDWEST REGION	Purdue vs. Alabama
EAST REGION	NC A&T vs. Sacred Heart
SOUTH REGION	Purdue-FW vs. Sam Houston

EAST – Washington, DC		SOUTH – Louisville
Columbia, SC		Columbus
1) DUKE		1) MICHIGAN
16) NC A&T / SACRED HEART		16) P-FT. WAYNE / SAM HOUSTON
8) Mississippi State		8) LSU
9) TCU		9) Arizona State

Hartford		San Jose
5) BUFFALO		5) VILLANOVA
12) WOFFORD		12) MURRAY STATE
4) Indiana		4) Kentucky
13) YALE		13) GEORGIA STATE

San Jose		Jacksonville
6) Maryland		6) Ohio State
11) Arizona / Temple		11) VCU
3) Nevada		3) North Carolina
14) UC-IRVINE		14) RADFORD

Tulsa		Salt Lake City
7) Seton Hall		7) Iowa State
10) Syracuse		10) Ole Miss
2) TEXAS TECH		2) GONZAGA
15) LEHIGH		15) GREEN BAY

WEST – Anaheim		MIDWEST – Kansas City
Jacksonville		Columbia, SC
1) TENNESSEE		1) Virginia
16) NORTHERN COLORADO		16) RIDER
8) Minnesota		8) Nebraska
9) Louisville		9) Cincinnati

Salt Lake City		Des Moines
5) Wisconsin		5) Marquette
12) FRESNO STATE		12) LIPSCOMB
4) Florida State		4) Houston
13) HOFSTRA		13) NORTH TEXAS

Hartford		Des Moines
6) Iowa		6) NC State
11) Texas		11) Purdue / Alabama
3) Virginia Tech		3) Oklahoma
14) VERMONT		14) GRAND CANYON

Tulsa		Columbus
7) St. John’s		7) Auburn
10) WASHINGTON		10) UCF
2) Kansas		2) Michigan State
15) TEXAS SOUTHERN		15) VALPARAISO

BUBBLE NOTES
Last 4 Byes	Last 4 IN	First 4 OUT	Next 4 OUT
Cincinnati	Purdue	Kansas State	Florida
Ole Miss	Temple	Butler	Clemson
Syracuse	Arizona	Creighton	San Francisco
Texas	Alabama	Saint Louis	Missouri

TOP SEED LINE: Duke is the No. 1 overall seed followed by Michigan, Virginia, and Tennessee.

Breakdown by Conference …

Big 10 (10): MICHIGAN, Michigan State, Indiana, Wisconsin, Maryland, Iowa, Ohio State, Nebraska, Minnesota, Purdue

ACC (8): DUKE, Virginia, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Florida State, NC State, Louisville, Syracuse

SEC (7): TENNESSEE, Kentucky, Auburn, Mississippi State, LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss

BIG 12 (6): TEXAS TECH, Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa State, TCU, Texas

Big East (4): VILLANOVA, Marquette, Seton Hall, St. John’s

American (4): UCF, Houston, Cincinnati, Temple

Pac 12 (3): WASHINGTON, Arizona State, Arizona

Mountain West (2): FRESNO STATE, Nevada

Atlantic 10 (1): VCU

West Coast (1): GONZAGA

ONE BID LEAGUES: Valparaiso (MVC), Rider (MAAC), North Texas (C-USA), Georgia State (SBELT), Yale (IVY), Northern Colorado (BSKY), Green Bay (HORIZON), Sam Houston (SLND), WOFFORD (STHN), UC-Irvine (BWEST), Buffalo (MAC), Lipscomb (ASUN), Murray State (OVC), Hofstra (CAA), Radford (BSO), NC A&T (MEAC), Purdue-Fort Wayne (SUM), Grand Canyon (WAC), Vermont (AEAST), Lehigh (PAT), Sacred Heart (NEC), Texas Southern (SWAC)

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