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Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Spartans capitalize on Duke's setback



ARLINGTON, Virginia -- Defending national champion Michigan State took over the top spot in the ESPN/USA Today college basketball poll released Monday.

The Spartans (9-0) jumped from No. 2 in the country by beating up its only opponent, posting a 72-57 victory over No. 12 Seton Hall on Tuesday to extend the longest winning streak in the nation to 20 games.

Michigan State took over the top spot after Stanford (9-0) pulled off an 84-83 upset over Duke in a battle between the third- and top-ranked teams in the country, respectively, on Thursday.

The Cardinal completed a 3-0 week by rallying from a 15-point deficit in the final seven minutes. They also pounded Sacred Heart 94-52 and recorded an 80-66 triumph over Georgia Tech during the week.

Duke (10-1) split its two games last week after posting a 97-64 victory over Portland on Tuesday.

Not much separates the top three teams in the poll. The Spartans received 22 first-place votes and 763 points while the Cardinal got eight top votes and 750 points. The Blue Devils picked up the final first-place vote and 715 points.

Wake Forest (10-0) moved up two spots to No. 4 while Tennessee (10-1) dropped one to round out the top five. Illinois (9-3), Florida (8-1), Kansas (10-1), Virginia (8-0) and Arizona (6-3) complete the top 10.

Connecticut (9-1) heads the next 10 and is followed by a pair of fellow Big East Conference squads -- Seton Hall (7-2) and Syracuse (9-1).

Wisconsin (8-1), Southern California (9-1), North Carolina (7-2), Oklahoma (9-1), Cincinnati (8-2), Maryland (7-3) and Alabama (9-1) round out the top 20.

The last of five unbeaten teams in the top 25 and one of five Big East teams in the poll, Georgetown (10-0) moved up a spot to No. 21 and is followed by Iowa (9-1), Notre Dame (7-2), Mississippi (11-1) and newcomer Texas (8-2).

Arkansas dropped out of the rankings.
ALSO SEE
ESPN/USA Today poll

Associated Press Top 25




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