Top 25 College Basketball

Team (Record): Comment

1. Duke (16-1): Cruising in ACC for now.

2. Connecticut (14-0): Hit West Virginia with 35-point payback.

3. Cincinnati (15-0): Survivors at Southern Mississippi.

4. Maryland (16-2): Passed big test against North Carolina.

5. Stanford (13-2): Time for L.A. to take its best shot.

6. Kentucky (14-4): More trouble at home.

7. Auburn (16-0): Goes to Rupp Arena on Jan. 20.

8. North Carolina (14-4): Maryland game determines ACC order.

9. Iowa (13-1): Are Hawkeyes the Big Ten’s best team?

10. UCLA (11-3): In search of consistency.

11 Purdue (14-3): Battle of Indiana on Saturday.

12. St. John’s (14-3): Good freshman point guard in Barkley.

13. Michigan State (13-4): Cleaves playing better.

14. Arizona (11-1): Sun Devils might bag Wildcats.

15. Minnesota (10-3): Przybilla’s a prize.

16. Kansas (12-3): Jumped on Missouri early.

17. Arkansas (12-4): Richardson brings them along.

18. New Mexico (15-2): No. 136 RPI lowest in Top 25.

19. Wisconsin (15-3): Big Ten could be strongest league.

20. Syracuse (11-4): Another Providence victim.

21. Ohio State (13-4): Still figuring out position in Big Ten.

22. California (10-3): Bay Area has more than one good team.

23. Clemson (12-5): Big Ten outnumbers ACC in Top 25.

24. Oklahoma State (11-4): Barely hanging onto ranking.

25. Texas Christian (13-2): Not quite scoring kings now.

GAME OF THE WEEK

STANFORD (13-2): at UCLA (11-3):

When--Saturday. Time--7:30. TV--FX.

* Story line--In this wild and wacky Pac-10 season, this is UCLA’s best shot at Stanford, the runaway favorite. The Bruins were swept by the Cardinal last season, but lost by only three points at home, 84-81, after falling at Maples Pavilion by 13, 93-80. Defending against the three-point shot and taking Tim Young out of the game would go a long way for Bruins.