The Times’ rankings

*--* Rk. Team (Rec.) Comment (last week’s rank) 1 N. CAROLINA (8-0) Hansbrough averages 21.4 points, 9.6 rebounds. (1) 2 MEMPHIS (7-0) Dorsey is plenty intimidating inside. (2) 3 TEXAS (9-0) With Abrams, Augustin tag team, Longhorns still unbeaten. (3) 4 DUKE (9-0) Offensively improved Blue Devils are scoring 86.7 points a game. (4) 5 KANSAS (9-0) Sherron Collins is back early after foot surgery. (5) 6 UCLA (8-1) The Bruins often look their best when they run. (6) 7 WASH ST. (9-0) Cougars held Gonzaga to 19 points in first half. (7) 8 PITTSBURGH (9-0) On further review,Panthers picked up good road win at Washington. (8) 9 GRGETOWN (7-0) Hoyas meet Memphis on Dec. 22. (9) 10 MICHIGAN ST. (8-1) Izzo hoping tough road wins pay off later in season. (10) 11 TEXAS A&M (8-1) Freshman Deandre Jordan’s 80.4% field-goal % leads nation. (11) 12 MARQUETTE (6-1) After win over Wisconsin, call it the Golden Eagle state. (12) 13 INDIANA (8-1) Hoosiers took care of Kentucky even without Eric Gordon. (14) 14 TENNESSEE (8-1) Volunteers in midst of 11-day break. (15) 15 OREGON (8-1) Three starters -- Malik Hairston, Maarty Leunen and Bryce Taylor -- have completed their degree requirements. (16) 16 XAVIER (7-1) Musketeers are one of the teams boosting Atlantic 10’s profile. (20) 17 CLEMSON (8-0) Still unbeaten, but the ACC looms. (21) 18 BUTLER (8-1) Wright State clamped down on A.J. Graves in 43-42 upset. (13) 19 GONZAGA (8-2) Zags lost the Eastern Washington bragging rights to Washington State. (19) 20 ARIZONA (6-2) Sideline won’t look quite right without Olson the rest of season. (22) 21 BYU (7-2) Seven-point loss to Michigan State knocked Cougars back a bit. (17) 22 VILLANOVA (7-1) Wildcats showed comeback ability against Louisiana State. (24) 23 VANDERBILT (9-0) Australian Andrew Ogilvy has helped Commodores to unbeaten start. (NR) 24 USC (6-3) Trojans still could be dangerous in NCAA tournament -- provided they get there. (25) 25 ST. MARY’S (7-1) Gaels were No. 1 in the unofficial RPI, but Southern Illinois showed that doesn’t mean much in December. (23) *--*