Quote:Duke's season-long hold on top spot over

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services


For the first time this season, Duke lost its grip on No. 1 as Kansas claimed the top spot in the latest ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll released Sunday night.

Duke was the preseason No. 1 and held the top spot despite losing at Florida State on Jan. 6 -- a night game that was played after the release of the poll.

But the Blue Devils (23-2) were not as fortunate this time. Sunday afternoon's 87-73 setback at Maryland knocked them from first to third.

The Jayhawks (23-2) extended their winning streak to 10 games and remained unbeaten in the Big 12 Conference with wins over Texas and Baylor. Kansas received 21 of 31 first-place votes and 763 points from a panel of Division I coaches.

Kansas also took over the top spot in The Associated Press writers' poll with 48 of 71 first-place votes and Duke fell to third. Maryland was second with 19 first-place votes, and Duke received five.

Maryland (21-3) received nine first-place votes and 748 points as it climbed to second. Duke received just one first-place vote and 719 points.

Cincinnati (24-2) and Oklahoma (20-4) traded spots. Alabama (22-4) moved up one spot to sixth and is followed by Gonzaga (24-3), Florida (19-5), Marquette (22-3) and Pittsburgh (22-4).

Marquette ascended three spots with Saturday's win over Louisville. Pittsburgh made the biggest jump, rising six places to No. 10 after beating Syracuse and West Virginia.

Stanford (17-6) jumped three spots to No. 11 with easy wins over Washington and Washington State. The Cardinal are followed by Kentucky (17-7), Miami (15-6), Oklahoma State (20-6), Virginia (16-6) and Arizona (17-8), which dropped six places with losses at UCLA and Southern California.

Oregon (18-7) is 17th, followed by Ohio State (18-5), Illinois (19-7) and Georgia (19-7).

Wake Forest (17-8), Southern California (18-6), Indiana (17-8), new entry Xavier (19-4) and Syracuse (19-7) complete the poll.

Xavier has won 10 of 11 Atlantic 10 Conference games and earned 90 points to inch past the Orangemen.