KU, Oklahoma both ranked No. 1 ahead of Big Monday showdown in Lawrence

The Kansas basketball program is back atop the Associated Press poll for the first time in nearly five years, setting up a rare No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup on Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

When the Associated Press poll was released Monday, the Jayhawks, 12-1, moved up one spot to No. 1, taking advantage of Michigan State’s first loss last Tuesday. Oklahoma, 12-0, jumped one spot to No. 2, setting up an expected showdown at 8 p.m. Monday in Allen Fieldhouse.

The Jayhawks, who have won 11 straight games, received 44 of 65 first-place votes and are ranked No. 1 in the AP poll for the first time since the week of Feb. 14, 2011. The Sooners received the other 21 first-place votes. The order was reversed in the coaches’ poll released earlier Monday with Oklahoma No. 1 and KU No. 2.

“It’s definitely a good feeling,” said KU sophomore guard Devonte’ Graham said on Saturday night, after Kansas’ 102-74 victory over Baylor. “This early in the season, you can’t really say, ‘We’re the No. 1 team, we’re the best team.’ Other teams have been losing and we’re playing pretty well right now. So we might as well be happy with it and know that guys are going to be coming for it.”

Rounding out the top five are Maryland, Virginia and Michigan State, which dropped four spots after losing at Iowa. The Jayhawks and Sooners, meanwhile, lead four Big 12 teams in the poll. Iowa State, 11-2, dropped two spots to No. 13 after opening Big 12 play with a road loss at Oklahoma. West Virginia is ranked 17th after a 12-1 start.

AP Top 25

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Jan. 3, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and previous ranking:

Others receiving votes: Gonzaga 61, California 54, Texas Tech 40, George Washington 38, Saint Mary’s, Calif., 23, Baylor 22, Colorado 4, Oregon State 4, Seton Hall 4, Saint Joseph’s 3, Utah 3, Wichita State 3, Cincinnati 2, Indiana 2, Michigan 2, Akron 1, Oregon 1.

Tod Palmer’s ballot: 1. Oklahoma, 2. Michigan State, 3. Kansas, 4. Maryland, 5. Virginia, 6. North Carolina, 7. Providence, 8. Arizona, 9. Miami, Fla., 10. Kentucky, 11. Duke, 12. Villanova, 13. Xavier, 14. Iowa State, 15. SMU, 16. Louisville, 17. Butler, 18. Texas A&M, 19. Iowa, 20. Purdue, 21. Gonzaga, 22. Pittsburgh, 23. South Carolina, 24. West Virginia, 25. St. Mary’s, Calif.

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 12:43 PM with the headline "KU, Oklahoma both ranked No. 1 ahead of Big Monday showdown in Lawrence."