Weekly Polls: Still the One

-Kyle Tizio/VUBenchMob.com

For the third consecutive week, Villanova is ranked #1 in both the AP and Coaches’ Polls. Pollsters have confirmed their confidence in the Wildcats by ranking them #1, this time by more votes than last week. Villanova’s third week in a row as #1 is the second-longest streak atop the polls this tumultuous season, with only Michigan State’s four consecutive weeks between December 7 and January 4 longer.

Villanova’s Big East counterpart Xavier jumped in the polls this week, up three spots to #5. This of course sets up the Big East’s first top-5 matchup of the season this Wednesday when #1 Villanova visits the Musketeers. Since this is also the first top-5 matchup in the history of Xavier basketball, it will undoubtedly be the biggest game ever played at the Cintas Center.

Kansas kept their #2 spot, albeit with less votes this week, while Oklahoma and Virginia, the two teams which defeated Villanova in non-conference play, are tied at #3. Providence, after their loss to Xavier, dropped out of the AP poll after twelve weeks ranked but remain in the Coaches’ Poll at #24.

Here are the polls, courtesy of ESPN:

AP Poll                                                           Coaches’ Poll

Tagged as: Big East, Patrick Ciapciak, Providence Friars, Villanova Basketball, Villanova Wildcats, Xavier Musketeers