NEW YORK (AP) — Gonzaga is back atop the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll.
The Zags moved up a spot Monday to begin a second stint at No. 1 this season, both times replacing Duke at the top. They earned 44 of 64 first-place votes.
Gonzaga (27-2) spent two weeks at No. 1 after beating the Blue Devils to win the Maui Invitational in November. Mark Few’s team fell out after a December loss to Tennessee followed by another loss to North Carolina, but it has since won 18 straight games.
Virginia moved up a spot to No. 2 while ACC foe Duke fell to 3rd after a loss to North Carolina that saw Zion injure his knee in the infamous “shoe explosion”.
The Tar Heels climbed to a season-high 5th behind Kentucky. Michigan State, Tennessee, Houston, Michigan and Marquette rounded out the top 10.
Preseason No. 1 Kansas fell to 15th, the Jayhawks’ lowest ranking since 2014.
Complete Poll: