Gators top AP poll; ’Cuse falls

The Florida Gators are taking their turn as the newest No. 1 in what coach Billy Donovan calls a revolving door atop the Associated Press college basketball poll, their first time on top of the rankings since they repeated as national champions in 2007.

The Gators (252) moved up one place Monday, replacing Syracuse (252), which lost twice last week and dropped to fourth.

Wichita State (290) and Arizona (252) both moved up one place each to second and third. Florida, the fifth school to hold the No. 1 spot this season, received 47 firstplace votes from the 65member national media panel. The Gators were ranked No. 1 for eight weeks in 2007. Wichita State was No. 1 on 14 ballots with Arizona receiving the other four firstplace votes.

Donovan called the rankings a revolving door before his Gators took over the top spot, and he said being No. 1 is an honor and compliment.

“But let’s be honest right now: The only reason we have garnered No. 1 and we would have never, ever been No. 1 if it had not been for the teams in front of us losing,” Donovan said.

To Donovan, a lot of teams could be considered the nation’s best right now with undefeated Wichita State having a strong argument. Donovan also said he’s impressed by Syracuse winning 25 straight games.

“It’s not like all of a sudden Florida is No. 1 or you get a ranking and we’re the best team in the country,” Donovan said. “We’ve been given a number, and that’s about the extent of it.”

These Gators have won a school record 19 straight games coming off a 7571 win at Mississippi where they shut down Marshall Henderson in the second half. They can clinch at least a share of the Southeastern Conference title on Tuesday night with a win at Vanderbilt before having a chance to wrap up the championship against LSU on Saturday.

Kansas jumped three places to fifth and was followed by Duke, Louisville, Villanova, Creighton and Saint Louis.