KU drops to eighth in both polls

The Kansas men’s basketball team dropped three spots to eighth in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today coaches polls released Monday.

The Jayhawks, who lost 72-64 at Iowa State on Saturday, were one of three Big 12 teams in the top 10. Missouri (fourth AP/fourth coaches) and Baylor (sixth/tied for sixth) were ahead of KU in both of the rankings.

Kentucky took the top spot in both polls, followed by Syracuse and Ohio State.

See how Journal-World sports editor Tom Keegan voted.

The full rankings are below.

Associated Press poll

  1. Kentucky (63) 21-1 1,623
  2. Syracuse (2) 22-1 1,550
  3. Ohio St. 19-3 1,498
  4. Missouri 19-2 1,363
  5. North Carolina 18-3 1,331
  6. Baylor 19-2 1,310
  7. Duke 18-3 1,250
  8. Kansas 17-4 1,178
  9. Michigan St. 17-4 1,098
  10. Murray St. 21-0 979
  11. UNLV 20-3 936
  12. Florida 17-4 861
  13. Creighton 20-2 803
  14. Georgetown 16-4 762
  15. Marquette 18-4 682
  16. Virginia 17-3 578
  17. San Diego St. 18-3 566
  18. Saint Mary’s (Cal) 21-2 472
  19. Wisconsin 17-5 415
  20. Indiana 17-5 395
  21. Florida St. 14-6 375
  22. Mississippi St. 17-5 329
  23. Michigan 16-6 305
  24. Gonzaga 17-3 141
  25. Vanderbilt 16-5 102

Others receiving votes: Harvard 69, Louisville 65, Kansas St. 40, West Virginia 12, Wichita St. 9, Nevada 6, Notre Dame 6, Southern Miss. 5, Iowa St. 3, Long Beach St. 3, Iona 2, UConn 2, Illinois 1.

ESPN/USA Today poll

  1. Kentucky (31)
  2. Syracuse
  3. Ohio St.
  4. Missouri
  5. Duke
  6. Baylor
  7. North Carolina
  8. Kansas
  9. Murray St.
  10. Michigan St.
  11. Florida
  12. Creighton
  13. UNLV
  14. Georgetown
  15. Marquette
  16. St. Mary’s
  17. San Diego St.
  18. Virginia
  19. Mississippi St.
  20. Wisconsin
  21. Indiana
  22. Michigan
  23. Harvard
  24. Florida St.
  25. Louisville

Others receiving votes: Gonzaga 65, Vanderbilt 36, Connecticut 21, Nevada 18, Kansas St. 15, Middle Tenn. St. 9, Iowa St. 9, Wichita St. 7, West Virginia 6, New Mexico 6, Southern Miss 4, Long Beach St. 3, Temple 2, California 2, Notre Dame 1.

* — Note: Baylor and North Carolina tied for sixth, while Indiana and Wisconsin tied for 20th.