FSU climbs 2 spots, UCF drops out of top 25 in final AP poll before conference tournaments begin
NEW YORK (AP) — Gonzaga, Virginia and North Carolina remain 1-2-3 atop an otherwise reshuffled top 10 in the latest AP Top 25 poll.
The Zags sit on top for a third straight week, earning 41 of 64 first-place votes on Monday. And the Cavaliers also stayed put behind Gonzaga for a third straight week, claiming the remaining 23 first-place votes.
Gonzaga (29-2) didn't play last week after wrapping up its regular-season schedule on March 2. The Zags return to the court against Pepperdine on Monday night to start play in the West Coast Conference Tournament. Virginia (28-2) and UNC (26-5) finished tied atop the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season standings with wins Saturday.
Kentucky was fourth, followed by Duke — which lost for a second time to the rival Tar Heels without freshman star Zion Williamson, though coach Mike Krzyzewski has said the 6-foot-7, 285-pound Williamson could be ready for this week's ACC Tournament.
Michigan State, Texas Tech, Tennessee, LSU and Michigan rounded out the top 10.
Florida State, which closed out its regular season on a four-game win streak, climbed up two spots to No. 12
Preseason No. 1 Kansas fell to No. 17 for its lowest ranking since the 2013-14 season, which followed last week's end of the Jayhawks' 14-year run of winning at least a share of the Big 12 regular-season title.
No. 23 Marquette had the biggest fall of the week, sliding seven spots after closing the regular season on a four-game losing streak. Kansas and No. 24 Cincinnati each fell four spots.
Auburn is the only addition at No. 22, returning for the first time since mid-January and after peaking at No. 7 in December. UCF slid out from its No. 25 ranking in the last poll.
