wilkes

Way to go Heels,15-5 on the season,Barnes is starting to come around!!!!

Ohio State is new No. 1 after Duke loses

The last time Thad Matta's Ohio State Buckeyes topped The Associated Press Top 25, they reached the national championship game.

Could the same karma take place in 2010-11?

``It did happen that way before and it would be great for it to happen again,'' Matta said Monday, hours after the Buckeyes replaced Duke at No. 1. ``I'd trade it right now for better defense. But it's great for our program.''

The Buckeyes (18-0) moved up one spot to replace Duke, which was No. 1 in the preseason Top 25 and the first nine polls of the regular season, including six weeks as the unanimous pick of the 65-member national media panel.

The Blue Devils' loss at Florida State on Wednesday opened the way for the Buckeyes, who are No. 1 for the third time in school history. Ohio State was No. 1 for all of 1960-61 and 1961-62, a run of 27 straight polls, and for three weeks at the end of 2006-07.

``This is big for our program and The Ohio State University,'' Matta said. ``At Ohio State we're trying to be the best program we can be and this is part of that. I don't know if the players will wear it as a target. I think we know how tough it will be to keep it.''

Ohio State, led by John Havlicek and Jerry Lucas, won the national championship in 1960 and lost the title game to Cincinnati in 1961 and 1962. The Buckeyes, this time led by Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr., reached the Final Four in 2007, losing to Florida in the championship game.

The Buckeyes got as high as No. 5 last season with Evan Turner, the national player of the year, leading the way. He left early for the NBA draft and is now with the Philadelphia 76ers.

``I'm glad to see it,'' he said of the No. 1 ranking. ``They're doing well and just playing terrific. I knew they were going to be really good, especially with the returning players they had and the incoming players they have now. They paid their dues over the last three years. This is perfect.''

With West Virginia moving into the poll for the first time this season, the Big East ties its own record with nine teams in the Top 25. There were nine Big East teams ranked for one week in January 2009.

The Buckeyes received 49 first-place votes Monday. Kansas, which was No. 1 on six ballots, and Syracuse, which got eight first-place votes, each moved up one spot to second and third.

Duke, which still received one first-place vote, dropped to fourth. Pittsburgh, which was also No. 1 on one ballot, San Diego State and Villanova remained fifth through seventh.

Connecticut, BYU and Texas rounded out the top 10.

Fourteen ranked schools lost last week, including Purdue, Notre Dame and Illinois, which each lost twice.

The other schools moving into the poll this week are Minnesota and Michigan State, both of which were ranked earlier this season, and Saint Mary's, Calif.

``It's nice to be recognized,'' said Saint Mary's coach Randy Bennett. ``Being ranked in Top 25 polls really demonstrates the consistency of the program and gives our team some extra recognition and publicity, which we appreciate.''

Kansas State, which was No. 3 in the preseason poll, Temple, Georgia and UCF dropped out this week.

Thanks Boss, I did not know if he was starting or not, I know he played when they were playing Wake.

Yes Davila starts for VT. He doesnt score much for them but he's a starter. In the UNC game he had 2 pts and 7 rebounds.

I missed the VTech game, anyone know if Davila #14 was playing?

Stung is about right BUD. That was a joke of an effort by the Tarheels

Them tarholes just got stung by a yellow jacket....lol

Boss,that was me,i was trying to tell Razor-GT THAT UNC had the tougher schedule with the top 25 and won loss records,he wasn't getting it,i think you are right,he is probe,i've had my run ins with him in the past and he argues just like GT PROBE,enquiring minds want to know,lol!!!

I'm not sure who was talking earlier about the tougher schedules to this point but as of now UNC strength of schedule is 13 toughest while Dook is at 52

I'm annoyed watching Seth Greenberg on the sidelines more than just about any coach in basketball. I'll take an ugly win over a loss any time. VT and BC have hurt UNC in recent years; I'm glad when the Heels slide by either. That and keeping the home win streak against Clemson alive. Carolina has barely squeaked by that one in recent years. When you are struggling and rebuilding, you look for confidence from those little things. Overcoming deficits against any team is a plus for a bunch of young players. I'd love to see Roy allow some team chemistry to be built. He tries to please too many players. It may help the individuals, but it will hurt the team in many respects.

And i'm glad we're done with VT unless the Heels play them in the ACC tourney. Delaney kills the Heels everytime he plays them.

Good points Yank. I was thinking the same thing about the whole 8 guys deal that they kept wanting to throw up. As with Rutgers, they played Villanova very tough on Novas home floor until they fell apart near the end of the game and like u said the score made it look bad but the game was close for 35 mins.

Yes, we beat a VTech team tonight with 8 players, but most cbb teams only run a 7-9 man lineup for conference play..so I'm not sure what the issue is there.

whatever u say JP

No, your way off. I said I would meet you take you to where I live any time any day and you have declined. I'm straight, and I'm I'm done with this, you two have fun running other people out of this thread. It was 7 or 8 people now its you, yanks, ron and mustang. Have fun and God bless you all. I wanna talk basketball and this has turned into a gay poetic justice saga that I'm done with. Go Duke!

The GTProbe thing bothers u so much b/c u know we're all right about u.

I'll check in from time to time, but going back in forth over your intense love this probe person is getting out of control. I'm done with it, and I believe you said the same thing a few days ago, so since your obviously not and this probe person gets you hard in a certain place maybe you and yanks can have a combat mission deep in a bunker to discuss who everybody is on GW, remember to search IP addresses cause as we all know it's 100% accurate. HAHA

and speaking of gay, whats gay is to make a bet like u did then back out of it and run and hide behind a new name

Just like i told u when u was under the GT name i've forgotten more about basketball than u know