By Sam Bush
Villanova’s first defeat on Saturday at the ends of Seton Hall dropped the Cats to 8th in the AP coaches poll and elevated the Pirates to 19th.
For the fifth straight week, Kentucky is the unanimous No. 1 team.
The Wildcats (13-0) got all 64 first-place votes cast Monday after having the week off, and have been atop the rankings all season. Kentucky hasn’t played since beating Louisville on Dec. 27 and returns Tuesday against Mississippi.
The top five remained unchanged, with Duke, Virginia, Wisconsin and Louisville behind Kentucky.
Seton Hall, VCU, Arkansas and Old Dominion were new arrivals to the Top 25, with the No. 19 Pirates (12-2) the highest of that group after upsetting then-unbeaten Villanova over the weekend. The Cats play Tuesday night at St. John’s.
For the No. 25 Monarchs (12-1), it marked their first appearance in program history.
Washington, Colorado State, Northern Iowa and Georgetown dropped out of the poll.
