Villanova Stays #1 Week 8, AP Top 25

The same team who has been in the top spot for the last two weeks out of the Big East in Villanova  is ranked number one for the third week in a row.

Villanova stayed comfortably at No. 1 in an Associated Press Top 25 poll that offered little change at the top. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/21874545/villanova-no-1-top-4-new-ap-top-25-unchanged

The top four teams stayed the same in Monday's new poll, led by the Wildcats (12-0) receiving 43 of 65 first-place votes to stay at No. 1 for the third straight week. No. 2 Michigan State (12-1) was second and had 16 first-place votes, while third-ranked Arizona State (12-0) had six first-place votes to stay ahead of No. 4 Duke (12-1). "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/21874545/villanova-no-1-top-4-new-ap-top-25-unchanged

Those four teams won their six games last week by an average margin of 39.7 points, leaving their coaches to focus on tuning elements of their games before the bulk of conference play takes hold. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/21874545/villanova-no-1-top-4-new-ap-top-25-unchanged

"I guess if you were to ask me where do you want to be at Christmas: Would you like to be winning games by an average of 20 points a game ... and can you be 12-1?" Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said after last week's 102-60 win against Long Beach State. "I think I'd have taken that. Plus I'm seeing improvement." "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings/_/year/2018/week/5/seasontype/2

For the preseason No. 1 Blue Devils, in particular, a lighter December schedule because of exams and the holidays has offered some needed practice time following a travel-filled opening month. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings/_/year/2018/week/5/seasontype/2

"We had some good practices, so we looked better defensively and hopefully we will continue to do that," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said after last week's 104-40 win against Evansville. "Once we get back, we have a tough game (against No. 24 Florida State on Saturday), but we'll have more continuity. And that's what this group needs; a young group especially needs the continuity." "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings/_/year/2018/week/5/seasontype/2

Now lets take a look at the rest of the AP Top 25 poll. "according to http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings the poll looks like this.

1Villanova (43)12-01,600

2Michigan State (16)12-11,560

3Arizona State (6)12-01,481

4Duke12-11,435

5Texas A&M11-11,309

6Xavier12-11,242

7West Virginia11-11,226

8Wichita State10-2992

9Virginia11-1969

10TCU12-0923

11Kansas10-2920

12Oklahoma10-1901

13North Carolina11-2891

14Purdue12-2839

15Miami10-1827

16Kentucky9-2735

17Arizona10-3511

18Baylor10-2437

19Tennessee9-2405

20Gonzaga10-3382

21Cincinnati11-2377

22Texas Tech11-1351

23Seton Hall11-2227

24Florida State11-1169

25Creighton10-2143