North Carolina Remains On Top

MCLEAN, Virginia (Ticker) - After a quiet week, there was virtually no movement in the latest USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll released Monday. The top-10 teams remained unchanged, headed by North Carolina, which routed Pennsylvania, 106-71, in its only game last week.

The Tar Heels, who improved to 8-0, received 763 points and 25 of 31 first-place votes to stay ahead of Memphis. The Tigers (7-0) survived a scare, holding off Southern California, 62-58 in overtime in their only action of the week. Memphis garnered 740 points and four first-place ballots. Kansas (9-0) and Georgetown (7-0), who are third and fourth, respectively, each collected one first-place vote. Texas (9-0) is fifth, followed by Washington State (9-0), Duke (9-0), UCLA (8-1), Pittsburgh (9-0) and Michigan State (8-1).

The top-10 teams have a combined record of 83-2. The new poll featured only one newcomer - No. 24 St. Mary's (7-0), which has wins over Oregon and Seton Hall this seaon. Butler (8-1) suffered the biggest fall of the week, dropping six spots to No. 19 after suffering its first loss of the season, a 43-42 defeat to Wright State on Saturday. Tennessee (8-1) is 11th, followed by Texas A&M (8-1), Marquette (6-1), Indiana (8-1), Clemson (8-0), Oregon (7-1), Xavier (7-1), Villanova (7-1), Butler and Louisville (5-2). Vanderbilt (9-0) jumped four spots to 21st after wins over Wake Forest and Lipscomb. Arizona (6-2), which will be without coach Lute Olson for the balance of the season, Gonzaga (8-2), St. Mary's and Brigham Young (7-2) complete the poll. No. 23 Wisconsin dropped out following Saturday's 81-76 defeat to Marquette.