College Basketball: Three Unbeatens Headline Coaches’ Poll

Three of college basketball’s four remaining unbeatens top the USA Today Coaches’ Poll unveiled on Monday, with Duke retaining the top spot for the third straight week.

The Blue Devils (12-0) received 30 of the 31 first-place votes while second-ranked Michigan (13-0) received the other. Arizona (12-0) is No. 3 in the coaches’ poll, followed by Louisville and Indiana, respectively.

Cincinnati and Missouri each dropped out of the Top 10 after losses last week. The Bearcats fell at home to New Mexico (now ranked No. 23), then dropped seven spots in the poll from No. 8 to No. 15. The Tigers, meanwhile, dipped just three spots despite losing an overtime shootout to still unranked UCLA at Pauley Pavilion.

In their place, Florida (No. 9) and Gonzaga (No. 10) climbed back into the Top 10. Kansas and Syracuse held serve at No. 6 and No. 7 while Ohio State rose two spots from No. 10 to No. 8.

UNLV tumbled from No. 17 to No. 24 following its loss in Chapel Hill to North Carolina minus Mike Moser. The Tar Heels, saddled with three early-season losses, are second in votes among teams not ranked in the Top 25.

Kentucky skipped out of the coaches’ poll for the first time this season in light of its weekend loss–the team’s fourth overall–to Bluegrass rival Louisville. The Wildcats have been out of the AP Poll for several weeks, but had previously hung in the coaches’ poll with three losses.

New Mexico is the only returnee to the poll. The Lobos are back in the group after a one-week absence.

• Others receiving votes: Virginia Commonwealth 36, Kansas State 35, North Carolina 34, Kentucky 31, Wyoming 30, Wichita State 7, Colorado 6, Maryland 5, Connecticut 3, UCLA 2, Bucknell 1, Colorado State 1, Temple 1