Both the Associated Press and the USA Today College Coaches poll now rank the University of Louisville Cardinals number in their weekly basketball pecking order. Even with all the Cardinal success over the years, including championships in 1980 and 1986, this is only the second time Louisville (15-1) has lead the nation in the AP poll. More interesting still, this is the first time the Cards have been number one during the regular season. The only other top ranking occurred after the 2009 Big East Conference Tournament.
The Louisville success comes on the heels of losses by previously top ranked Duke when they lost to North Carolina State on Saturday and by number two Michigan when Ohio State beat them on Sunday.
Louisville received 36 first place votes in the Associated Press poll followed by Indiana who got 13 and now ranked number 2 in the country. The University of Kentucky is not ranked in the Top 25.
The Cards take that number one ranking into Hartford, Connecticut to battle with the University of Connecticut Huskies at the XL Center as part of the ESPN “Big Monday” broadcast tonight. UConn is now cast in the roll of giant killer since they dispatched then number 17 Notre Dame over the weekend and are coming off a Final Four season from a year ago. That game tips at 7pm.
The AP Poll goes as follows:
- Louisville
- Indiana
- Duke
- Kansas
- Michigan
- Syracuse
- Arizona
- Gonzaga
- Minnesota
- Florida
- Ohio State
- Creighton
- Butler
- North Carolina State
- San Diego State
- Kansas State
- Missouri
- Michigan State
- New Mexico
- Notre Dame
- Oregon
- VCU
- Illinois
- UCLA
- Marquette
The USA Today Coaches Poll goes as follows:
- Louisville
- Indiana
- Duke
- Kansas
- Michigan
- Syracuse
- Arizona
- Gonzaga
- Florida
- Creighton
- Ohio State
- Minnesota
- Butler
- San Diego State
- North Carolina State
- Missouri
- Michigan State
- Kansas State
- VCU
- Notre Dame
- New Mexico
- Illinois
- UNLV
- Cincinnati
- UCLA
Photo: Louisville.com/Tim Girton
