Top three unchanged in men’s Top 25 poll

Villanova, Virginia and Purdue are making themselves comfortable atop the AP Top 25.

The Wildcats are ranked No. 1 in Monday’s latest poll, followed by the second-ranked Cavaliers and the third-ranked Boilermakers. It marked the fourth straight week with the trio sitting 1-2-3 in the poll as they continue extended winning streaks.

Villanova (22-1, 9-1 Big East) has won nine straight and hasn’t lost in the 2018 calendar year.

Virginia (22-1, 11-0 ACC) has won 14 straight and leads the rest of the tradition-rich league by at least three games in the loss column.

Purdue (23-2, 12-0 Big Ten) has the nation’s longest winning streak at 19 games

Michigan State climbed a spot to No. 4, followed by No. 5 Xavier.

Sixth-ranked Cincinnati moved to its highest ranking since January 2004, followed by No. 7 Texas Tech reaching its highest ranking since March 1996. And eighth-ranked Auburn has its highest ranking since January 2000.

Auburn: The NCAA denied the Tigers’ appeal of a ruling declaring center Austin Wiley ineligible for the rest of the season.

The NCAA announced on Jan. 11 that Wiley won’t be eligible until next season, and also said Auburn self-reported violations involving recruiting, extra benefits and agent-related activity. Wiley enrolled early last season and played in 23 games as a freshman.

No. 19 West Virginia at No. 17 Oklahoma: Late

Syracuse 78, (at) Louisville 73: Tyus Battle scored 25 points, Frank Howard added 22, and Oshae Brissett had 16 points and eight rebounds as the Orange (168, 5-6 ACC) held off the Cardinals (16-8, 6-5). Ray Spalding led Louisville with 18 points and nine rebounds.

Women’s AP Top 25: UConn (22-0) was still the unanimous No. 1 by the 32-member national media panel after routing No. 7 South Carolina on Thursday and Cincinnati on Sunday.

The first five teams were unchanged in the poll with Mississippi State, Baylor, Louisville and Notre Dame following UConn. The Bulldogs hosted the Gamecocks late Monday night in a key Southeastern Conference clash.

Texas moved up two spots to sixth while UCLA, Oregon and Maryland round out the first 10 teams in the poll. The Ducks dropped three places after losing to then-No. 24 Stanford on Sunday night.