Posted at 3:24 p.m., Monday, January 8, 2007
Low-led WSU breaks into Top 25 for 1st time since '83
By Jim O'Connell
Associated Press
The Tar Heels (14-1) moved into the top spot Monday after three weeks at No. 2 following UCLA's loss at Oregon last weekend.
It is North Carolina's first time at No. 1 since a two-week run in February 2001, and it's the first time the Tar Heels are there in the three-plus seasons, including the 2005 national championship, under coach Roy Williams.
"I feel good where we are, but it's so, so early," Williams said Monday. "We have 15 more battles to go in the conference, so we'll see what happens."
Williams is no stranger to having a top-ranked team. In seven of 15 seasons at Kansas, the Jayhawks reached No. 1, including a 15-week stretch in 1996-97.
"I've been No. 1 before, and if you don't finish that way at the end of the year, it means you had a good little stretch," he said.
Washington State (14-2), who are led junior and former 'Iolani star Derrick Low, is having an unexpected stretch, and the quick start has the Cougars tied for 22nd in the poll, their first ranking since a one-week stint in February 1983.
Picked last in the Pac-10's preseason media poll, the Cougars have gotten off to an impressive start under first-year coach Tony Bennett, including wins over Gonzaga and last weekend's 77-73 overtime win against Arizona. WSU earlier lost to then No. 1 UCLA 55-52.
"We've had different guys step up at different times," Bennett said Monday. "We have mostly sophomores and juniors, and they're kids who have taken their lumps and have some legitimate game experience with some heartbreaking losses and some bad losses. It's a start, and that's all it is. We're in the No. 1-ranked conference in the country, and we have 14 games to go, so we have to keep that same fighting mentality."
