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Tarheels Top 1st ESPN/USA Today Poll

Friday, October 31st, 2008 | Sports | No Comments

ESPN/USA Today released its first poll of the 2008-2009 NCAA College Basketball Season. North Carolina topped the polls, receiving all 31 first-place votes. UCONN was 2nd, followed by Louisville 3rd, UCLA 4th and Duke 5th. The ACC has 2 teams in the Top 10 of the poll (North Carolina and Duke). The Big East set a record with 7 teams in the ESPN/USA Today poll – including 4 teams in the Top 10 – UCONN at #2; Louisville at #3; Pittsburgh at #6; and Notre Dame at #9.

The defending NCAA Champion Kansas Jayhawks are slated in the 23rd spot. Kansas knocked off North Carolina in the NCAA Final Four Semifinals game in an exciting game and then went on to defeat the Memphis Tigers in the Final Four Championship Game. Memphis is ranked #12 in the ESPN/USA Today poll, while the other 2008 Final Four Team – the UCLA Bruins – is ranked #4.

Even though it’s only October, it’s never too early to think ahead to the NCAA college basketball season and the always fun NCAA Basketball Tournament. Pretty soon we’ll have the NIT tournament, the Thanksgiving and holiday tournaments, the Jimmy V Classic and the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. It should be an exciting college hoops schedule in 2008-9.

ESPN/USA Today Poll

1. North Carolina (31) 0-0 775

2. Connecticut 0-0 707

3. Louisville 0-0 694

4. UCLA 0-0 650

5. Duke 0-0 578

6. Pittsburgh 0-0 576

7. Michigan State 0-0 572

8. Texas 0-0 538

9. Notre Dame 0-0 525

10. Purdue 0-0 465

11. Gonzaga 0-0 437

12. Memphis 0-0 425

13. Tennessee 0-0 408

14. Oklahoma 0-0 387

15. Arizona State 0-0 304

16. Miami (FL) 0-0 233

17. Marquette 0-0 219

18. Georgetown 0-0 175

19. Florida 0-0 161

20. Davidson 0-0 158

21. USC 0-0 153

21. Wisconsin 0-0 153

23. Kansas 0-0 130

24. Wake Forest 0-0 129

25. Villanova 0-0 122

Others Receiving Votes UNLV 60, Saint Mary’s 59, Ohio State 54, Baylor 47, Xavier 27, Syracuse 23, Texas A&M 19, LSU 19, Arizona 18, Virginia Tech 15, Brigham Young 13, West Virginia 10, Washington 8, Siena 8, Kentucky 7, Vanderbilt 7, Oklahoma State 4, Clemson 2, Washington State 1.

Tags: ESPN, NCAA College Hoops, Poll, Rankings