Top 25

Team (Record): Comment

1. North Carolina (26-1): No second win for Maryland.

2. Arizona (22-3): Nearly paid Sun Devils their due.

3. Duke (24-2): Survives Clemson, ready for UCLA.

4. Kansas (28-3): Racing toward 40 games.

5. Connecticut (23-4): Rebounded from West Virginia loss.

6. Purdue (22-5): Iowa stops Boilermaker run.

7. Kentucky (23-4): New lineup, and 6 a.m. practices.

8. Utah (21-2): Two-time loser on WAC road.

9. Stanford (21-3): Stopped swoon with Bruins.

10. Princeton (21-1): Write Ivy title in Penn and ink.

11. UCLA (20-5): Duke’s depth, discipline a task.

12. New Mexico (20-3): TCU Saturday could be tough.

13. Mississippi (18-5): Ole Miss has Kentucky home.

14. Arkansas (21-5): Razorbacks down Gamecocks.

15. Michigan State (19-5): Trouble if Cleaves is out.

16. South Carolina (19-5): Something still missing.

17. TCU (23-4): Nailon takes on New Mexico on Saturday

18. Syracuse (20-5): Burgan leads way.

19. West Virginia (21-5): Needs a healthy Owens.

20. Illinois (19-8): Kevin Turner keeps on scoring.

21. Cincinnati (19-5): Final Four appearance was six years ago.

21. Rhode Island (19-6): Rhody finishing strong.

23. Massachusetts (19-7): Atlantic 10 a dogfight.

24. St. John’s (20-7): First 20-win season since 1991.

25. Maryland (15-8): Still only team to beat No. 1.

GAME OF THE WEEK

UCLA at DUKE

When--Sunday. Time--1:30 PST. TV--Channel 7.

Story line--UCLA’s last chances of beginning the NCAA tournament on any kind of roll come against Duke on Sunday and against Arizona in Pauley Pavilion on March 7. The Blue Devils know something about losing their center--freshman Elton Brand was their leading scorer when he was lost for the season to a foot injury. The departure of Jelani McCoy is a far lesser loss to the Bruins.