Top 25

Team (Record): Comment

1. North Carolina (25-1): Tar Heels have flair for dramatic.

2. Arizona (21-3): The No. 1 vs. No. 2 game we’d like to see.

3. Duke (22-2): Must await Feb. 28 rematch with UNC.

4. Kansas (26-3): Will Jayhawks peak at right time?

5. Kentucky (22-3): Unbeaten on mainland outside Rupp.

6. Purdue (21-4): Avenged Indiana loss.

7. UCLA (18-4): Fooled us again before Oregon loss.

8. Utah (20-1): This close to unbeaten.

9. Connecticut (21-4): Tough time in Morgantown.

10. Princeton (18-1): OK, Tigers better than we thought.

11. Stanford (19-3): Cardinal sins could be absolved tonight.

12. New Mexico (18-3): Utah still unhappy with Pit crew.

13. Arkansas (20-4): Bitten by Georgia Bulldogs.

14. Michigan State (17-4): Izzo no longer Dizzo.

15. West Virginia (20-4): Big upset over UConn.

16. Mississippi (16-5): Plays at Kentucky on Saturday.

17. South Carolina (18-4): Tennessee put a crimp in SEC hopes.

18. Syracuse (18-5): No comfort at Carrier Dome.

19. Massachusetts (18-6): Bounced back from Temple loss.

20. Cincinnati (17-5): Bearcats are stumbling.

21. Rhode Island (18-5): Streaky, but a survivor.

22. George Washington (20-4): Lost at home to Rhody.

23. St. John’s (18-7): Red Storm rising.

24. Indiana (16-7): Wait til Big Ten tourney.

25. Maryland (15-7): Only team to beat No. 1.

Game of the Week

STANFORD at UCLA

* When--Tonight. Time--7:30. TV--Fox Sports West

Storyline--This once figured to be a showdown of teams at the top. Now the loser of this one loses a lot. Stanford is facing a fourth loss in five games after its undefeated start, and UCLA is in danger of its fourth Pac-10 loss of the season. The Cardinal’s shooting percentages tumbled in the losses to Arizona, Arizona State and Connecticut. UCLA is in search of consistency.