Ole Miss Breaks Into Poll

Mississippi, without seniors and no real basketball tradition, is off to its best start in 60 years.

But until a 73-69 victory over defending champion Kentucky demanded the attention of the voters, the Rebels had never been ranked in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll.

Ole Miss (11-3) was 20th in the poll released Monday, two days after beating Kentucky for only the ninth time in 91 tries. Kansas and Wake Forest were 1-2 for the seventh straight week. Oregon dropped seven places to No. 24 after losses to Washington State and Washington.

Connecticut led a top three that was unchanged in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll.

Old Dominion and Stanford remained second and third in the voting by a national media panel but were well behind Connecticut.