UCLA rises to fifth in the rankings
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
USC and Arizona, two of the hottest Pac-10 teams, remained unranked in both polls this week.
A road sweep of the fading Oregon schools helped boost UCLA to fifth today in both the Associated Press media and USA Today/ESPN coaches' polls.
The Bruins (18-2 overall, 6-1 in the Pacific 10 Conference) were ranked eighth in the media poll and seventh in the coaches' poll before defeating Oregon, 80-75, and Oregon State, 85-62.
Memphis, Kansas and Duke retained the top three spots in the coaches' poll, with the Blue Devils also moving up to No. 3 in the media poll after previously third-ranked Tennessee lost to unranked Kentucky, 72-66, on Jan. 22. The Volunteers dropped to No. 7 in the media poll and No. 8 in the coaches' poll.
Washington State (17-2, 5-2) fell three spots in both polls, to No. 9, after losing to Arizona and then defeating Arizona State on the road. Stanford (16-3, 5-2) rose six spots to No. 14 in the AP poll and seven spots to No. 14 in the coaches' poll following its victory at California.
Arizona State (14-5, 4-3) dropped out of the media poll and remained unranked in the coaches' poll after being swept at home by the Washington schools. The Sun Devils, losers of three consecutive games, play UCLA on Thursday at Pauley Pavilion.
Arizona and USC, arguably the hottest two teams in the Pac-10, remained unranked but received votes in both polls. The Wildcats (14-6, 4-3), winners of three consecutive games, play USC (13-6, 4-3) on Thursday at the Galen Center.
The Trojans have won four consecutive games and hold a three-game winning streak in their series with Arizona.
