THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

*--* Rk. Team (Rec.) Comment 1 STANFORD (23-0) Cardinal needs Justin Davis close to 100% for NCAA run. 2 SAINT JOSEPH’S (25-0) Only two games to perfection entering Atlantic 10 tournament. 3 PITTSBURGH (25-2) At least Ben Howland will have a team to watch come tournament time. 4 DUKE (22-3) Despite two-game “slump,” Blue Devils are still the ACC’s best. 5 GONZAGA (23-2) This is the Bulldogs’ deepest, most versatile team. 6 OKLAHOMA STATE (21-3) Cowboys accidentally woke a sleeping (Missouri) Tiger. 7 CONNECTICUT (22-5) Okafor is throwing a block party in the Big East. 8 MISSISSIPPI STATE (22-2) SEC tournament will be the chance for Bulldogs to earn a high NCAA seeding. 9 KENTUCKY (20-4) Not the most talented team, just one of the most determined. 10 TEXAS (20-4) Brandon Mouton has been the big scorer of late. 11 WAKE FOREST (18-6) Justin Gray is aiding the Deacons’ surge. 12 N.C. STATE (18-6) Wolfpack is one of many teams that should make ACC tournament great. 13 GEORGIA TECH (19-8) Yellow Jackets are one of six ACC locks for the NCAA tournament. 14 ARIZONA (17-7) Rough ride for the Wildcats, but they’ll be a dangerous team in March. 15 PROVIDENCE (18-5) Friars lead the Big East in scoring defense at 60.1 points a game. 16 MEMPHIS (20-4) Tigers have won 11 in a row. 17 NORTH CAROLINA (16-8) Tar Heels are a game under .500 in the ACC 18 KANSAS (17-7) Era of Jayhawks’ Big 12 domination is over. 19 ILLINOIS (19-5) Illini defeated Michigan State, Wisconsin to return to rankings. 20 CINCINNATI (19-5) Center Robert Whaley didn’t live up to billing before leaving team. 21 MICHIGAN STATE (16-9) After early struggles, Spartans could claim Big Ten. 22 LOUISVILLE (17-7) Reeling Cardinals have taken a lot of blows lately. 23 WISCONSIN (18-6) Badgers hitting a few bumps in the road. 24 SO. ILLINOIS (23-2) Salukis survived Bracket Buster trap against Hawaii. 25 UTAH STATE (22-2) Aggies visit Long Beach State tonight after winning first meeting by 38 points.

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