Although most teams had quiet weeks for final exams and Duke stayed put at No. 4, an upset-filled weekend still caused some reshuffling in this week's AP poll.
Sun Devils stay unbeaten, jump Blue Devils
Former Duke point guard and current Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley is at the helm of the biggest surprise of the season so far, with his program matching its highest ranking ever at No. 3 after a 76-64 victory against Vanderbilt Saturday. Hurley struggled to a 30-35 record through his first two years with the Sun Devils, but everything has come together this season to the tune of a 10-0 start. Arizona State's next big test will come on the road at No. 18 Arizona Dec. 30.
North Carolina enters top five after escape at Tennessee
The Tar Heels trailed for most of the game Sunday in Knoxville, Tenn., but Kenny Williams' go-ahead 3-pointer with 33 seconds left lifted North Carolina to a 78-73 victory at Tennessee. North Carolina leapfrogged Miami to No. 5 with the win, putting three ACC teams in the top six, and the Volunteers dropped one spot to No. 21.
Oklahoma shocks Shockers
Freshman phenom Trae Young has put Oklahoma on the map again, and he was not rattled by the big stage Saturday on the road at No. 3 Wichita State. Young poured in 21 points in the first half and finished with 29 to go along with 10 assists in a 91-83 upset. Young leads the nation by a lot with 28.8 points per game, and he is also third in assists at 8.9 per contest. The 8-1 Sooners entered the rankings at No. 17, and Wichita State tumbled to No. 11.
Notre Dame, Florida drop out of the poll
Duke's thrilling 87-84 comeback victory against then-No. 7 Florida at the PK80 Invitational Nov. 26 doesn't look so impressive anymore. The loss started a stretch of four defeats in five games for the Gators, who have now dropped all the way out of the rankings after a loss to Clemson Saturday.
Notre Dame has also taken a steep tumble, falling from No. 5 to unranked in a span of three weeks after three losses in its last five games, culminating with an 80-77 defeat in overtime against Indiana Saturday afternoon.
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COMPLETE RANKINGS:
1. Villanova
2. Michigan State
3. Arizona State
4. Duke
5. North Carolina
6. Miami
7. Kentucky
8. Texas A&M
9. Xavier
10. West Virginia
11. Wichita State
12. Gonzaga
13. Virginia
14. Kansas
15. TCU
16. Purdue
17. Oklahoma
T18. Baylor
T18. Arizona
20. Cincinnati
T21. Texas Tech
T21. Tennessee
23. Seton Hall
24. Florida State
25. Creighton
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