Duke, UConn 1-2 in poll; Kansas tumbles to No. 18

It’s back to a familiar pair at the top of the Associated Press’ college basketball poll.

Duke was No. 1 for the second straight week Monday, and Connecticut moved up one spot to No. 2. The teams held those two spots for eight of the previous 11 polls, each on top for four weeks.

The Blue Devils (27-1) were a runaway No. 1 for a second straight week, receiving 65 first-place votes and 1,791 points from the 72-member national media panel.

Connecticut (25-2) made the jump following Sunday’s 89-75 victory over No. 2 Villanova, avenging the loss to the Wildcats two weeks ago that knocked the Huskies from No. 1.

Memphis (26-2) moved up one spot to No. 3.

Villanova (22-3) dropped from second to fourth.

Gonzaga held fifth in the next-to-last poll, while Texas and George Washington, which has the nation’s longest winning streak at 16 games, switched spots at sixth and seventh.

Pittsburgh moved up one place to No. 8, while Ohio State and Illinois were ninth and 10th.

Tennessee was 11th followed by Boston College, North Carolina, Washington, UCLA, West Virginia, Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma and Georgetown.

The last five ranked teams were LSU, North Carolina State, Iowa, Nevada and Michigan State.