Latest Division I Polls For February 2, 2009

Here we are in this post Super Bowl edition of College Fast Break.

Connecticut is your new number one team and that may only last until about 7 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

The Huskies (20-1, 9-1 in the Big East) are in Louisville to take on the fifth ranked Cardinals (17-3, 8-0).

If the Huskies win then no biggie. They get to hold on to the top spot for at least a week, because they play a couple of lousy teams in Michigan and Syracuse later this week.

If the Cardinals win then newly No. 2 Oklahoma (21-1, 7-0) in the Big 12 will more than likely take over, becoming the sixth team to sit at number one so far this season.

As I’m looking at the rest of the polls, I see that it’s pretty much business as usual But here’s one that caught my eye.

Utah State checks in at No. 25 this week.

Utah State!?

The Aggies are 21-1 and 9-0 in the Western Athletic Conference. Their only loss was to BYU, but they really haven’t beaten anyone that good.

Oh well. Congrats to Utah State and see you as the 16th seed and a date with Duke, North Carolina or UConn at the Big Dance in March.

For the record, I’ll continue to publish both polls, but I’m only referring to the Associated Press polls from now on. This two poll system with the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll where the rankings are different is driving me crazy!

Here are both polls.

AP Top 25
1. Connecticut (64) 20-1
2. Oklahoma (5) 21-1
3. North Carolina (3) 19-2
4. Duke 19-2
5. Louisville 17-3
6. Pittsburgh 19-2
7. Wake Forest 17-2
8. Marquette 19-2
9. Xavier 19-2
10. Clemson 18-2
11. Butler 19-1
12. Purdue 17-4
13. Michigan State 17-4
14. Memphis 18-3
15. UCLA 17-4
16. Texas 15-5
17. Villanova 17-4
18. Gonzaga 16-4
19. Minnesota 18-3
20. Syracuse 17-5
21. Kansas 17-4
22. Washington 16-5
23. Illinois 18-4
24. Arizona State 16-5
25. Utah State 21-1

Others Receiving Votes
Dayton 95, Davidson 85, Missouri 39, Penn State 37, LSU 36, West Virginia 33, South Carolina 33, UNLV 29, Florida 24, Providence 14, USC 8, Notre Dame 7, Siena 4, Kansas State 4, Northeastern 3, Ohio State 3, Kentucky 2, Arizona 2, Florida State 1, Northern Iowa 1, Virginia Military 1.

ESPN/USA Today Poll
1. Connecticut (28) 20-1
2. Oklahoma (3) 21-1
3. Duke 19-2
4. North Carolina 19-2
5. Pittsburgh 19-2
6. Wake Forest 17-2
7. Louisville 17-3
8. Marquette 19-2
9. Xavier 19-2 529
10. Clemson 18-2
11. Butler 19-1
12. UCLA 17-4
13. Purdue 17-4
14. Michigan State 17-4
15. Memphis 18-3
16. Villanova 17-4
17. Texas 15-5
18. Gonzaga 16-4
19. Minnesota 18-3
20. Syracuse 17-5
21. Illinois 18-4
22. Utah State 21-1
23. Arizona State 16-5
24. Kansas 17-4
25. Washington 16-5

Others Receiving Votes
Dayton 69, Missouri 30, Davidson 27, UNLV 19, Saint Mary’s 18, USC 15, Penn State 13, LSU 10, South Carolina 8, Florida 6, West Virginia 5, Notre Dame 4, Georgetown 3, Kentucky 3, Baylor 3, Brigham Young 2, Utah 2, Boston College 1.

Dropped From Rankings
Saint Mary’s 18, Notre Dame 22, Georgetown 23.