Hall falls to No. 16 in college poll
Seton Hall took the week’s biggest tumble in the AP college basketball poll, falling eight spots to No. 16 after losses to Villanova and Creighton to end the regularseason schedule. The thirdseeded Pirates play sixthseeded Marquette in the Big East Tournament Thursday at the Garden.
Meanwhile, Kansas maintained its grip on the No. 1 ranking in the poll, while fourth-ranked Florida State grabbed its highest ranking in nearly five decades.
The Jayhawks received all 65 first-place votes Monday to remain at the top for a third straight week and fourth overall this season, with the past two weeks coming as the unanimous choice ahead of Gonzaga and Dayton.
Kansas (28-3, 17-1 Big 12) wrapped up another conference regular-season championship over the weekend at Texas Tech. The Jayhawks have won at least a share in 19 of 24 seasons and open play in the Big 12 Tournament in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
The Seminoles (26-5, 16-4) rose three spots after wrapping up the first Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title in program history. FSU spent two weeks at No. 5 in January and now has its highest ranking since No. 2 in December 1972.
The Seminoles open play in the ACC Tournament as the top seed in Thursday’s quarterfinals in pursuit of their second title, the other coming in 2012.
HOFSTRA IN TITLE GAME
Eli Pemberton scored 24 points and Hofstra secured its second straight trip to the championship game of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament with a 7561 victory over Delaware on Monday night.
Hofstra will be looking to secure its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2001 tonight.
Jalen Ray added 19 points for Hofstra (25-8). Tareq Coburn scored 13 points with 12 rebounds and Desure Buie scored 10 points.
Hofstra got out to a fast start, opening the game on a 14-4 run, and kept its lead by making 12 of 23 3-pointers and dominating the points in the paint, 38-12.
Justyn Mutts scored 13 points with four blocks for the Blue Hens (22-11). Nate Darling added 13 points and eight rebounds, and Ryan Allen scored 11 points.
CREIGHTON’S ZEGAROWSKI DOUBTFUL
Marcus Zegarowski is doubtful for Creighton’s first game in the Big East Tournament because of a right knee injury.
The school announced Monday night that the sophomore guard has a meniscus injury. The Bluejays’ next game is Thursday against Georgetown or St. John’s.
Zegarowski got hurt during Saturday’s 77-60 victory over Seton Hall and left the arena on crutches. He didn’t have crutches while attending practice Monday, but he walked with a noticeable limp.