Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Vols hit the top


Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl has taken the Volunteers to the top of the polls for the first time.Associated Press
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

It’s Tennessee’s turn to feel the pressure of playing as No. 1.

The Volunteers ascended to the top of the Associated Press college poll for the first time in the program’s 99-year history after their 66-62 win over previously unbeaten Memphis, which dropped from No. 1 to 2.

Volunteers coach Bruce Pearl said his team had “everything to gain and nothing to lose” playing the Tigers, who were feeling the pressure of preserving a perfect season and protecting the top ranking.

Now his Vols (25-2) are facing the same predicament as they prepare to face No. 18 Vanderbilt today in Nashville, a game that could hold the key to winning the Southeastern Conference.

“There’s always a big prize for Vanderbilt to beat Tennessee and Tennessee to beat Vanderbilt,” Pearl said during a Monday luncheon. “What we’ve done is we’ve made it a bigger prize coming in with a No. 1 ranking.”

Beyond the pressure of playing as No. 1, Tennessee is trying to grab its first outright SEC regular-season title since 1967. It won’t be easy as the Vols are in the middle of the toughest stretch of their schedule.

After facing the Commodores, Tennessee plays host to Kentucky and travels to Florida.

Memphis (26-1), which lost for the first time this season when Tennessee ended its 47-game home winning streak, had been ranked No. 1 for the past five weeks, the last three as a unanimous choice. The Tigers were No. 2 and received 1,682 points.

North Carolina (26-2), which was No. 1 in the preseason poll and for the first 10 weeks of the regular season, stayed third after wins over North Carolina State and Wake Forest. The Tar Heels received two first-place votes, while UCLA (24-3), which jumped from sixth to fourth after wins over Oregon State and Oregon last week, was No. 1 on one ballot.

Kent State (23-5) moved into the Top 25 for the first time. The Golden Flashes were No. 23 after their 65-57 victory at Saint Mary’s, which slipped to No. 25.

Kent State entered the poll having won nine of 10, the loss coming at Toledo. Two of the Golden Flashes’ losses this season were to North Carolina and Xavier.

Gonzaga (21-6) was the week’s other newcomer. The Bulldogs, who were 14th in the preseason poll, returned after a nine-week absence. They have won 12 of their last 15, with the losses coming to Tennessee, Memphis and Saint Mary’s.

Sampson must cooperate

Former Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson’s separation agreement with the university will not be finalized until March 17.

Sampson signed the deal Friday, but university spokesman Larry MacIntyre said the Hoosiers’ ex-coach has 21 days to revoke the deal that includes provisions that prevent Sampson from suing the university.

The agreement, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, also requires Sampson to continue cooperating with the NCAA investigation and bars him from interfering with any team activities.

(5) Texas 74, Kansas State 65: At Manhattan, Kan., D.J. Augustin had 24 points and A.J. Abrams scored all of his 13 in the second half, helping the Longhorns (24-4, 11-2 Big 12) beat the Wildcats (18-9, 8-5).

Freshman Michael Beasley had with 30 points and 15 rebounds for Kansas State.

(21) Marquette 85, Villanova 75: At Philadelphia, Dominic James scored 25 points and Lazar Hayward added 15 points and nine rebounds to lead the Golden Eagles (21-6, 11-5 Big East) to a victory over the Wildcats (17-10, 7-8).