Tennesse Gains First-Ever #1 Ranking

MCLEAN, Virginia (Ticker) -- Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl says he isn't sure if his team is the best in the nation. His fellow coaches don't share those doubts. Tennessee climbed one spot to claim the No. 1 overall ranking in the latest USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll released Monday, two days after winning the most important regular-season game in the program's history. It marks the first time in school history that the Volunteers (25-2) have held the top spot.

Ranked second at the time, Tennessee posted a 66-62 victory at then-No. 1 Memphis on Saturday night, ending the Tigers' hopes of a perfect season. Tennessee collected 775 points and all 31 first-place votes from a panel of Division I coaches. Saturday's showdown was the most anticipated matchup of the season, pitting nation's top two teams in an intrastate rivalry. The Volunteers held on for the victory after star guard Chris Lofton, who struggled throughout the game, sank two free throws with 4.5 seconds remaining. Tennessee had warmed up for the game with an 89-70 victory over Auburn on Wednesday, which improved them to 11-1 in the Southeastern Conference. Memphis (26-1) fell two places to third spot with the loss, collecting 714 points. The Tigers beat Tulane, 97-71, on Wednesday.

North Carolina (26-2) was the team to benefit from the Tigers' fall, climbing one place to second with 726 points. The Tar Heels beat North Carolina State, 84-70, on Wednesday before trouncing Wake Forest, 89-73, on Sunday. UCLA (24-3) and Texas (23-4) rounded out the top five.

Duke (23-3) slipped two places to sixth after being edged by Miami, 96-95, on Wednesday. Kansas (24-3) also fell two places to seventh after losing, 61-60, to Oklahoma State on Saturday. Stanford (22-4), Wisconsin (23-4) and Georgetown (22-4) complete the top 10.

Xavier (24-4) is 11th, followed by Indiana (23-4), which ended a troubled week by climbing two places to 12th. Former Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson resigned Friday and agreed to a $750,000 contract buyout amid allegations of NCAA violations. Less than 24 hours later, interim head coach Dan Dakich guided the Hoosiers to Saturday's 85-82 win at Northwestern. Butler (25-3) dropped five places to 13th after Saturday's 71-64 loss to Drake (24-3), which dropped two places to 20th after losing, 72-71, to Bradley on Tuesday. Vanderbilt (23-4) is 14th ahead of Tuesday's meeting with Tennessee, and Michigan State (22-5) is 15th. Connecticut (21-6) fell three places to 16th after losing, 67-65, to Villanova, ahead of Notre Dame (21-5), Louisville (22-6), Purdue (21-6) and Drake.

Marquette (20-6) is No. 21, followed by Washington State (21-6) and Saint Mary's (23-4). The Gaels fell three spots after Saturday's 65-57 loss to Kent State (23-5), which entered the poll at No. 24. It is the Golden Flashes' first appearance in the poll since it was 12th in the post-NCAA Tournament poll in 2001-02. Brigham Young (21-6) also entered the poll at 25th despite seeing its nine-game winning streak ended Saturday in a 69-65 loss to San Diego State. The Cougars beat Utah, 67-59, on Wednesday. Texas A&M and Kansas State both dropped from the rankings.