There’s a new No. 1 team in the country this week in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today basketball polls.
That team is Illinois.
The No. 2 team, however — Kansas University — remains the same for the third straight week.
Illinois (6-0) on Monday vaulted from No. 5 to No. 1 in the rankings following last week’s victory over then-No. 1 Wake Forest.
The Fighting Illini received 25 first-place votes and 1,717 points in the AP poll compared to No. 2 KU’s 23 firsts and 1,700 points. Georgia Tech, which will visit KU on Jan. 1, came in third, Syracuse fourth, Oklahoma State fifth and Wake Forest sixth.
Illinois notched 18 first-place votes and 757 points in the USA Today/ESPN poll, compared to KU’s 10 firsts and 749 points. Georgia Tech was tapped third, Syracuse fourth, Oklahoma State fifth, UConn sixth and Wake seventh.
“Right now I think they’ve played the best of any team,” KU coach Bill Self said of the Illini.
“They had three big wins this week and all against good competition (Gonzaga, Wake, Arkansas). They’ve probably been as impressive as any team this year.
“They’ve got good players and played very well. I think Illinois, North Carolina and Georgia Tech have been impressive so far,” added Self, who said he had not yet seen Syracuse on TV.
Kansas was ranked No. 1 the first week of the season and has been No. 2 since despite not losing a game. Self coached the Fighting Illini two seasons ago.
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“When you leave a place, you’ve got to leave behind good players if the program is in good shape. It’s your job,” Self said.
“I talked to him (Rodrick) today and he told me, ‘I made my decision some time ago.’ It will not affect his decision at all,” said Stewart’s dad, Bull, indicating his son still wanted to transfer to Kansas. “He’s not looking back at all.”
Rodrick Stewart said he would be bound for KU as long as he qualified academically. He’s taking his last final exam this week and says his grades appear to be in order.
Stewart’s twin, Lodrick, is planning to stay at USC and playing for interim coach Jim Saia.
