Cats fall to No. 3 in latest AP poll

Freshman+guard+John+Wall+drives+to+the+basket+during+the+second+half+of+the+game+against+Tennessee+at+the+Thompson-Bowling+Arena+on+Saturday.+Photo+by+Zach+Brake

Freshman guard John Wall drives to the basket during the second half of the game against Tennessee at the Thompson-Bowling Arena on Saturday. Photo by Zach Brake

There’s a new No. 1 team in the land.

After a wild week of college basketball that saw the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 team in the country fall, Syracuse (27-2), previously No. 4, has catapulted to the top ranking in the newest Associated Press top 25.

Kansas (27-2) fell from that top spot to No. 2.

UK (27-2, 12-2 Southeastern Conference) also dropped one position to No. 3. The Cats defeated South Carolina on Thursday night, but fell 74-65 on the road at Tennessee (21-7, 9-5 SEC). The Volunteers have now defeated Kansas and UK at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Duke (25-4) moved up to No. 4 after wins over Tulsa and at Virginia.

Rounding out the top five is Kansas State (24-4).

Ohio State (23-7) and national Player of the Year candidate Evan Turner, are No. 6 in the newest poll, followed by fellow Big Ten member Purdue.

Purdue (24-4), which lost star junior forward Robbie Hummel for the season with a knee injury in a one-point victory at Minnesota on Wednesday, fell to No. 7 after losing at home to Michigan State on Sunday.

New Mexico (27-3), Villanova (23-5) and West Virginia (22-6) round out the bottom third of the top 10.

As has been the case for the past few weeks, Vanderbilt and Tennessee were the only two other teams from the SEC to make the top 25. Vanderbilt (22-6, 11-3 SEC) moved up three spots to No. 13 this week after wins over Georgia and Arkansas. The Volunteers also moved up three spots to No. 16. Tennessee lost to Florida earlier in the week, but their home victory over previous No. 2 UK was enough to move them up to No. 16.