UCLA, UNC Atop Hoops Rankings

McLean, Virginia (Ticker) - UCLA joined North Carolina atop the rankings in the USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll released Monday. After opening the season with three lopsided wins over inferior opponents, UCLA (3-0) tied North Carolina for the top spot in the rankings. North Carolina (2-0), which narrowly escaped an upset against Davidson before thrashing Iona, picked up 14 first-place votes, four more than UCLA. The teams both have 744 points overall.

After taking care of Oklahoma and Connecticut last week, Memphis (4-0) remained third. The Tigers picked up six first-place votes and 718 points. Kansas (3-0) and Georgetown (2-0) remained fourth and fifth, respectively. Louisville (2-0) is sixth, followed by Tennessee (3-0), Indiana (2-0), Washington State (3-0) and Duke (2-0). Oregon (4-0) and Michigan State (2-0) both are 11th. Marquette (2-0) is 13th, followed by Gonzaga (3-0) and Texas A&M (4-0). The next five are Texas (3-0), Pittsburgh (4-0), Southern Illinois (1-0), Villanova (2-0) and Kansas State (3-0). Rounding out the poll is Syracuse (3-0), Clemson (3-0), Butler (3-0), Florida (4-0) and Davidson (1-1).