Kansas’ Lead Shrinks

Kansas retained its lead over Wake Forest in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll, but the Demon Deacons are on the rise.

The Jayhawks (13-0) were still the No. 1 choice, but lost five first-place votes to Wake Forest (10-0). Kansas received 59 first-place votes and 1,739 points, while the Demon Deacons had 11 No. 1 votes and 1,685 points.

Kentucky, Iowa State, Clemson and Cincinnati held third through sixth. Arizona, Villanova, Utah and Duke round out the Top 10.

Northern Arizona guard Charles Thomas, who averaged 18 points in two wins, and Idaho State center Nate Green, who averaged 19.5 points and eight rebounds in two wins, were named co-Big Sky Conference players of the week.

Pittsburgh starting center Mark Blount is expected to miss at least two weeks after a teammate bit him on the wrist.

Blount, who leads the Big East in blocked shots with 3.4 a game and ranks third in the conference in rebounding at 9.1, was accidentally bitten by Andre Howard during practice last Thursday in New York.

The laceration became infected, and doctors operated on Blount’s right wrist Sunday.