Little change to note between the preseason polls and the second version of college basketball’s rankings system. The new lists for the Associated Press and Coaches polls were unveiled Monday afternoon. Atop the rankings, it remains the same first four: Kentucky, Michigan State, Louisville, Duke.
And when Kentucky and Michigan State play each other Tuesday night at the Champions Classic in the United Center, it will mark the earliest meeting between top-ranked teams in college basketball history — and the 39th time 1 has played 2 in the AP poll. It’s the first such tilt since Feb. 24, 2008, when Tennessee toppled Memphis 66-62. The all-time record in these games is 21-17 in favor of the No. 1-ranked program.
Kentucky is 5-2 all-time as a No. 1 team going against a No. 2. MSU has never been part of a 1 vs. 2 matchup in the regular season.
Duke brings Simeon’s Jabari Parker and Coach Mike Krzyzewski back to their native Chicago. Kansas’s Andrew Wiggins is already expected to be the #1 pick in next Summer’s NBA Draft. He is a Son on one time Bull Mitchell Wiggins.
As for the AP poll, there were no newcomers to the rankings. Ranked teams opened the season 26-0, according to the AP.
AP Poll
- Kentucky
- Michigan State
- Louisville
- Duke
- Kansas
- Arizona
- Michigan
- Oklahoma State
- Syracuse
- Ohio State
- Florida
- North Carolina
- Memphis
- VCU
- Gonzaga
- Wichita State
- Marquette
- Oregon
- Connecticut
- Wisconsin
- Notre Dame
- New Mexico
- Baylor
- UCLA
- Virginia