They’re Baaaack: Syracuse Named No. 1 Team In AP Poll For First Time In 20 Years

Raise your hand if you thought Syracuse would be an NCAA Tournament team this year. (Some hands raised).

↵Raise your hand if you thought Syracuse would be a Top 25 team this year. (Fewer hands raised).

↵Raise your hand if you thought Syracuse would be the number one team in the country on March 1. (Nobody raises their hand).

↵Yet that’s exactly where we are. The new AP Top 25 just came out, and due to losses by Kansas, Kentucky and Purdue, Syracuse (yes, Syracuse!) is the number one team in the country. They deserve it too, especially after their statement win over Villanova on Saturday.

↵Kansas, Kentucky and Purdue fell to second, third and seventh respectively after their losses this weekend. Newcomers include Maryland (finally!) at 21, UTEP at 24 and Xavier at 25. They replace Texas, who has lost seven of 12 since a 17-0 start, Richmond and Northern Iowa.

↵The full list is here.