Michigan State takes over top spot in new AP Top 25 Poll

After three weeks at No. 1, Kentucky falls to No. 5.

Michigan State is the new No. 1 team in the latest Associated Press college basketball poll. Kentucky topped the last three weeks of rankings.

The Spartans are 9–0 on the year with victories over Kansas on Nov. 17, now ranked No. 2, and the No. 22 ranked Louisville Cardinals on Dec. 2.

North Carolina jumped from ninth to third in the rankings after upsetting last week's No. 2-ranked Maryland and defeating Davison. Maryland is now ranked No. 6.

Kentucky dropped to No. 5 after being upset 87-77 by UCLA. Butler entered this week's rankings at No. 18.

Below are the top 25 rankings by the AP (first-place votes in parentheses):

1. Michigan State (62)

2. Kansas (1)

3. North Carolina (2)

4. Iowa State

5. Kentucky

6. Maryland

7. Oklahoma

8. Duke

9. Villanova

10. Virginia

11. Purdue

12. Xavier

13. Arizona

14. West Virginia

15. Providence

16. Baylor

17. Miami

18. Butler

19. SMU

20. Gonzaga

21. Vanderbilt

22. Louisville

23. Cincinnati

24. Oregon

25. Utah

Other receiving votes: UConn, Syracuse, Texas A&M, George Washington, UNLV, UCLA, South Carolina, Dayton, UALR, Florida, Georgetown, Iowa, Pittsburgh, Indiana, Northwestern, Navy, Notre Dame.