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Duke Out of AP Top 25 Poll


Monday's release of the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll for men's basketball does not include the Duke Blue Devils. Mike Krzyzewski's team had just one game last week -- an 80-69 loss at Miami -- and so for the first time since 2007, Coach K's program is not a top-25 team.

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The last time this occurred came after the 2006-07 season, when Duke lost as a No. 6 seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to No. 11 VCU. Duke's streak of 167 consecutive week's in the AP poll is the fifth longest in history. If you're wonder, Duke did receive votes for the poll -- accruing six points -- meaning it finished 33rd in the voting this week.

Elsewhere, Oklahoma firmly held on to its top spot, marking the third straight week the Sooners have been atop the AP poll. Maryland, which knocked off No. 3 Iowa last week, moved from the 8 spot to No. 4. Iowa fell to fifth.

The biggest mover this week? Oregon, which swept the Arizona schools on the road in the past few days. That moved the Ducks from 23rd to 16th.

>>UNC Still No. 1 in Coaches Poll

North Carolina remained the No. 1 team in the country this week in the coaches poll, following a stretch of five straight weeks where the No. 1 position changed hands. Oklahoma also stayed at No. 2 following its win over LSU on Saturday.

Behind them, Maryland rose to No. 3, and a pair of Big East teams jumped up to Nos. 4 and 5. Vilanova and Xavier round out the top-five after a pair of strong weeks.

Beyond those five, Kansas, Iowa, Texas A&M, Virginia and Michigan State round out the top-10. Villanova's opponent on Saturday, Providence, is currently sitting at No. 11.

The poll is also notable due to the absence of Duke. The last time Duke was not ranked in the poll was in February 2007, marking a near-nine-year run in the poll. Duke's women's team is also currently unranked for the first time in around 16 years, following its departure on Jan. 18. Pittsburgh also fell from the group of ranked teams.

Replacing the Blue Devils and Panthers were Dayton and the surprising Saint Mary's Gaels. Dayton is now 18-3 and avenged its sole Atlantic 10 loss of the season to La Salle this weekend. Saint Mary's is 18-2 and has a tough road trip going to BYU this week followed by a game at San Diego.

>>Louisville Upends No. 2 North Carolina

Damion Lee scored 24 points, including two free throws with 8.3 seconds remaining, to help No. 19 Louisville beat No. 2 North Carolina 71-65 on Monday night ending the Tar Heels' 12-game winning streak.

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After scoring just six points in Saturday's loss to then-No. 11 Virginia, Lee lifted the Cardinals to a hard-fought victory over the first-place Tar Heels by making 8 of 12 shots, including consecutive 3-pointers that helped provide a 55-50 lead with 9:35 remaining.

Chinanu Onuaku and Trey Lewis then combined for Louisville's next eight points, with Onuaku's three-point play making it 63-55 with 5:15 left and giving Louisville some needed breathing room with the Tar Heels hanging tough. Ray Spalding scored and Lewis followed with a big layup and then two free throws with 26 seconds left for a four-point lead.

The Tar Heels missed three shots before Onuaku came up with a rebound and Lee was fouled. The graduate transfer sealed the win by making two more at the free throw line as Louisville (18-4, 7-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) handed the Tar Heels (19-3, 8-1) their first conference loss.

Onuaku had 12 points and 10 rebounds - his eighth double-double this season - and Donovan Mitchell added 10 points. Lewis had nine for the Cardinals, who shot 53 percent in the second half and 43 percent overall.

Justin Jackson scored 16 points and Brice Johnson had 15 for North Carolina, which shot just 35 percent from the field and committed 16 turnovers.

Louisville controlled the paint 36-28 and edged the Tar Heels 41-39 on the boards, with Onuaku's late grab looming large in a game where every possession was critical.

Johnson led the Tar Heels with 11 rebounds.

>>Texas Beats No. 15 Baylor on Road

Connor Lammert and the Texas Longhorns aren't backing down in the Big 12.

Not against No. 15 Baylor or Rico Gathers, the Bears' big man who was being watched by a scout from the NFL's Buffalo Bills on Monday night.

Texas got its sixth win in seven games, never giving up the lead in a physical and sometimes chippy second half on way to a 67-58 victory.

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Lammert had 15 points, including a clutch 3-pointer in the final minute, as the Longhorns (15-7, 6-3) moved within a half-game of No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 14 West Virginia for the conference lead. It was the 6-foot-10 forward's third 3 in the game.

Baylor (17-5, 6-3) had been part of a three-way tie, matching the latest ever in a season to be first in the Big 12.

Taurean Prince had 18 points for the Bears, while Lester Medford added 10.

Gathers, who had 20 points and eight rebounds, fouled out with 1:27 left, and Kerwin Roach hit the second of two free throws. After Prince had a turnover, Lammert's 3 from the right wing with 44 seconds left put the Longhorns up 62-56.

Baylor tied the game three times in the second half but could never get the lead again. The Bears led for less than 2 minutes, all in the game's opening stretch.

Isaiah Taylor had 12 points and nine assists for the Longhorns, who finished with assists on all 21 of their field goals.

After consecutive double-doubles, Prince Ibeh was held to nine points and six rebounds.

The Longhorns are 4-2 against Top 25 teams this season.

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