Cats move to No. 2 in polls

Freshman+forward+DeMarcus+Cousins+steals+the+ball+during+the+first+half+of+the+UK+mens+basketball+game+against+Georgia+at+Rupp+Arena+on+Saturday%2C+Jan.+9%2C+2010.+The+Cats+were+down+35-34+to+the+Bulldogs+at+halftime.+Photo+by+Adam+Wolffbrandt

Freshman forward DeMarcus Cousins steals the ball during the first half of the UK men’s basketball game against Georgia at Rupp Arena on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010. The Cats were down 35-34 to the Bulldogs at halftime. Photo by Adam Wolffbrandt

After four consecutive weeks at No. 3, the Cats (16-0) have moved up to No. 2, and received nine first-place votes.

The Cats are also No. 2 in the coaches poll, receiving one first place vote.

Texas (15-0) took over the No. 1 spot after Kansas (14-1) fell 76-68 to Tennessee (12-2) on Sunday evening. Kansas dropped to No. 3.

Villanova (14-1) and Syracuse (15-1) round out the top five at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

The bottom half of the top ten has Purdue (14-1) at No. 6 after the Boilermakers lost on the road at Wisconsin this week. Michigan State (13-3) is at No. 7, followed by Duke (13-2), Tennessee (12-2) and West Virginia (12-2) at No. 10.

Mississippi (12-3) is at No. 21 this week after losing to in-state rival Mississippi State. The Rebels, along with UK and Tennessee, are the only other Southeastern Conference team in the Associated Press top 25. Mississippi State checks in just outside of the top 25 at No. 29.