Category: NCAA Basketball

Auburn and Duke remain 1-2 atop The Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll for the third straight week, while Maryland is back in the rankings for the first time in nearly two years. Bruce Pearl's Tigers (20-1) held the No. 1 ranking for the fourth consecutive week in Monday's poll and the third in a row as the unanimous choice. Auburn has claimed 246 of 248 first-place votes over the past month while remaining unbeaten in a rugged Southeastern Conference with nine ranked teams.

Auburn and Duke maintained their positions at the top of the USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll but the rest of the top 10 looks very different.

As Bob Knight used to say, Michigan basketball under head coach Dusty May is 'in position to be in position' halfway through Big Ten play.

Texas Southern Tigers (9-10, 8-0 SWAC) at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions (3-15, 1-7 SWAC) Pine Bluff, Arkansas; Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Texas Southern visits UAPB after Jaida Belton scored 21 points in Texas Southern's 82-69 win against the Prairie View A&M Panthers. The Golden Lions have gone 3-4 at home.

Colorado State Rams (15-7, 6-3 MWC) at New Mexico Lobos (13-10, 6-4 MWC) Albuquerque, New Mexico; Tuesday, 10:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Colorado State takes on New Mexico after Emma Ronsiek scored 27 points in Colorado State's 75-71 loss to the Air Force Falcons. The Lobos have gone 9-7 in home games.

North Carolina Central Eagles (6-14, 3-2 MEAC) at Norfolk State Spartans (19-4, 6-0 MEAC) Norfolk, Virginia; Monday, 4 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Norfolk State will attempt to prolong its eight-game win streak with a victory over North Carolina Central. The Spartans are 10-0 in home games.

NC State hosts No. Duke. The Wolfpack are 12-0 on their home court.

Davidson Wildcats (13-8, 3-5 A-10) at Dayton Flyers (15-7, 5-4 A-10) Dayton, Ohio; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Enoch Cheeks and Dayton host Reed Bailey and Davidson in A-10 action. The Flyers have gone 12-1 in home games.

Alcorn State Braves (4-17, 4-4 SWAC) at Grambling Tigers (6-15, 3-5 SWAC) Grambling, Louisiana; Monday, 9 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Tigers -3.5; over/under is 129.5 BOTTOM LINE: Djahi Binet and Alcorn State visit Mikale Stevenson and Grambling in SWAC action. The Tigers are 4-3 on their home court.

Murray State is fifth in the MVC in team defense, allowing 70.9 points while holding opponents to 46.5% shooting. The Bulldogs have gone 10-2 against MVC opponents. Drake ranks sixth in the MVC scoring 32.8 points per game in the paint led by Stirtz averaging 8.2.

La Salle Explorers (12-10, 4-6 A-10) at VCU Rams (17-5, 7-2 A-10) Richmond, Virginia; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: VCU plays La Salle after Max Shulga scored 20 points in VCU's 90-49 victory against the Richmond Spiders. The Rams have gone 11-0 in home games.

Arizona Wildcats (15-6, 9-2 Big 12) at BYU Cougars (15-6, 6-4 Big 12) Provo, Utah; Tuesday, 11 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Arizona visits BYU after Caleb Love scored 27 points in Arizona's 81-72 win against the Arizona State Sun Devils. The Cougars have gone 11-1 at home.

Indiana Hoosiers (14-8, 5-6 Big Ten) at Wisconsin Badgers (17-5, 7-4 Big Ten) Madison, Wisconsin; Tuesday, 9 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: No. Wisconsin takes on Indiana after John Tonje scored 27 points in Wisconsin's 75-69 victory over the Northwestern Wildcats.

North Carolina Central Eagles (10-12, 3-2 MEAC) at Norfolk State Spartans (15-8, 5-1 MEAC) Norfolk, Virginia; Monday, 7 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Spartans -9.5; over/under is 145.5 BOTTOM LINE: Norfolk State takes on North Carolina Central after Terrance Jones scored 20 points in Norfolk State's 67-65 overtime victory over the South Carolina State Bulldogs. The Spartans are 8-1 on their home court.

The Shockers have gone 1-7 against AAC opponents. Wichita State ranks fifth in the AAC with 34.0 rebounds per game led by Quincy Ballard averaging 8.5. Charlotte scores 71.5 points per game, 2.7 fewer points than the 74.2 Wichita State allows.