Jayhawks climb two spots to No. 6 in latest AP poll

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Marcus Garrett (0) soars in for a dunk against Texas Tech guard Zhaire Smith (2) during the first half on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018 at United Supermarkets Arena.

It turns out that KU’s 74-72 victory over Texas Tech last weekend in Lubbock, Texas, was worth more than Kansas clinching a share of Big 12 title No. 14 in a row.

It also was worth the No. 6 spot in this week’s Associated Press Top 25.

Powered by their victory over then-No. 6 Texas Tech, the Jayhawks (23-6 overall, 12-4 Big 12) jumped up two spots to No. 6 in this week’s poll. Texas Tech, meanwhile fell six spots to No. 12.

West Virginia jumped up one spot from 21st to No. 20 this week and TCU, which picked up a huge home victory over fellow-NCAA Tournament bubble team Baylor last weekend is now the top team receiving votes, which essentially ranks them No. 26 in the country.

Oklahoma, which knocked off Kansas State in Norman, Oklahoma, also is back on the “receiving votes” list this week.

KU sits behind a Top 5 of Virginia, Michigan State, Xavier, Villanova and Duke, yet the Jayhawks remain pegged as a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament by ESPN’s Joe Lunardi in his Bracketology feature.

Lunardi currently has eight Big 12 teams (everyone but Iowa State and Oklahoma State) in the field of 68, with both Baylor and Texas, KU’s Senior Night opponent at 8 p.m. tonight, listed in the “Last Four In” section.

Here’s a quick look at this week’s Top 25:

1 – Virginia (48), 26-2

2 – Michigan State (17, 28-3

3 – Xavier, 25-4

4 – Villanova, 25-4

5 – Duke, 24-5

6 – Kansas, 23-6

7 – Gonzaga, 27-4

8 – Purdue, 26-5

9 – North Carolina, 22-7

10 – Cincinnati, 25-4

11 – Wichita State, 23-5

12 – Texas Tech, 22-7

13 – Ohio State, 24-7

14 – Auburn, 24-5

15 – Michigan, 24-7

16 – Tennessee, 21-7

17 – Rhode Island, 23-4

18 – Clemson, 21-7

19 – Arizona, 22-7

20 – West Virginia, 21-8

21 – Nevada, 25-5

22 – Saint Mary’s, 27-4

23 – Kentucky, 20-9

24 – Middle Tennessee, 23-5

25 – Houston, 22-6