Duke unanimous No. 1, Gonzaga up to sixth
The first full week of conference play jumbled the Top 25 except for Duke.
The Blue Devils remained No. 1 in the Associated Press college basketball poll Monday, as they have all season, and they were a unanimous choice for the first time.
A week in which 15 members of the Top 25 lost meant the end of the second- and third-longest current poll streaks with Kentucky and Wake Forest out of the rankings. Wisconsin returned after a week out of the poll, and Cincinnati, an unsettled program under an interim coach, cracked the Top 25 for the first time this season.
Florida extended the best start in school history with wins over Morgan State and Georgia and moved up three spots to No. 2 with 1,702 points.
Connecticut was third, Villanova fourth and Memphis fifth. Gonzaga moved up two spots to No. 6, with Illinois, Texas, Indiana and Louisville rounding out the top 10.
“Once a regular in the AP women’s basketball poll, Missouri finally is back in – after a 21-year wait.
The Tigers got themselves noticed by beating Baylor to end the nation’s longest winning streak and joined the poll at No. 24. Missouri (12-2) has matched its best start through 14 games and is 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 1992-93.
Tennessee, Duke and LSU remained the top three teams.
College football
Vick in still more trouble
Former Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick, booted from the team last week for his behavior on and off the field, was charged with pulling a gun on three teenagers during an altercation in a restaurant parking lot.
Vick surrendered at the Suffolk magistrate’s office after three warrants were issued for his arrest Sunday, Magistrate Lisa Noel said.
The 21-year-old Vick was charged with three misdemeanor counts of brandishing a firearm, and was released on $10,000 bond.
If convicted of all three counts, Vick could be sentenced to up to three years in jail and a $7,500 fine, police spokeswoman Lt. Debbie George said in a statement.
“Wisconsin reserve running back Booker Stanley was charged in Madison, Wis., with sexual assault, battery and bail jumping in connection with a pair of alleged fights with his girlfriend.
Stanley already faces battery and disorderly conduct charges for his alleged role in a fight during a block party last April.
“Louisiana Tech running back Mark Dillard was arrested Friday and released Monday on $40,000 bond after an acquaintance accused him of rape, university police in Ruston, La., said.
“Carroll College head football coach Mike Van Diest was named the NAIA 2005 Rawlings-NAIA coach of the year.
“Georgetown hired Navy special teams coordinator and linebackers coach Kevin Kelly as its new football coach.
Winter sports
Miller chided for comments
The head of U.S. skiing called Bode Miller’s comments about drinking and racing “unacceptable” and “irresponsible,” and he plans to meet with the champion skier.
Bill Marolt, the president and chief executive of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, released a statement in response to the profile of Miller broadcast on CBS’ “60 Minutes” on Sunday night.
He said Miller’s remarks “relative to alcohol use in conjunction with competition are unacceptable within the values expected of U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association athletes.”
“Janne Korpi of Finland and Manuela Lara Pesko of Switzerland won the men’s and women’s World Cup snowboard halfpipe events in Murau, Switzerland.
“A judge in Elizabethtown, N.Y., will not decide until at least today whether to grant embattled U.S. skeleton coach Tim Nardiello’s request to have his suspension temporarily overturned.
Miscellany
Lagat to defend record
Former Washington State runner Bernard Lagat will defend his record at the 99th annual Millrose Games on Feb. 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
In breaking Eamonn Coghlan’s record, the 35-year-old Lagat won his third career Wanamaker title and earned the Fred Schmertz Trophy as the outstanding performer of the meet.
“Gunmen shot and killed Raatbek Sanatbayev, a wrestler from Kyrgyzstan who was seeking to head the ex-Soviet republic’s National Olympic Committee, police in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, said.
“Australian motorcyclist Andy Caldecott was killed in a crash during the ninth stage of the Dakar Rally in Kiffa, Mauritania.
“Former Wichita State basketball star and assistant coach Ron Heller died at the age of 68 in Wichita, Kan. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer 11 months ago.
“Elizabeth Toomes Petty, the mother of racing great Richard Petty and the widow of NASCAR pioneer Lee Petty, died at 88 in Level Cross, N.C.
“Elson Becerra, a forward on Colombia’s national soccer team, and a friend, were shot and killed in a Cartagena discotheque, police said.