Arizona No. 1 for first time since 2003

New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Arizona is No. 1 in the Associated Press men's basketball poll for the first time since 2003.

The Wildcats moved up one spot and were a near unanimous choice, receiving 63 of a possible 65 first-place votes and 1,623 points from a nationwide media panel.

Michigan State had occupied the top spot, but a 79-65 home loss to North Carolina last week cleared a path for Arizona.

Syracuse picked up the remaining two first-place votes in the poll released Monday and moved up two places to second. Ohio State climbed two spots to third and Wisconsin vaulted four places to fourth. Michigan State fell to fifth.

Louisville, Oklahoma State, Duke, Connecticut and Villanova rounded out the top 10. Villanova made the biggest jump among the quintet, climbing four spots.

Kentucky, Wichita State, Kansas, Baylor, Oregon, Memphis, Iowa State, North Carolina, Florida and Gonzaga rounded out the top 20. The Tar Heels moved back into the poll at No. 18, while Kentucky and Kansas both lost last week to plummet eight and seven spots, respectively, to 11th and 13th.

Colorado, Massachusetts, Iowa, Missouri and San Diego State were the last five teams ranked. Colorado and Missouri joined North Carolina as the newcomers this week. UCLA, Michigan and Dayton fell out of the rankings.