The Times’ rankings

*--* Rk. Team (Rec.) Comment (last week’s rank) 1 UCLA (6-0) Texas should be Bruins’ best test yet.

2

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NORTH

CAROLINA (5-0)

Ty Lawson’s ankle uncertain for Ohio State

game tonight. 3 MEMPHIS (6-0) Derrick Rose bounces back after sub-par game. 4 KANSAS (5-0) It sure looked as if Brandon Rush’s knee was OK against Arizona.

5

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DUKE

(7-0)

Blue Devils look vastly improved

over last season.

6

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GEORGETOWN

(3-0)

We’ll know more about the Hoyas on

Dec. 22 at Memphis.

7

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WASHINGTON

STATE (6-0)

Cougars are 13-0 in November

under Tony Bennett. 8 TEXAS (5-0) Kevin Who? 9 TEXAS A&M (6-0) Freshman DeAndre Jordan shoots 87.9% from field--and 18.2% from the line. 10 PITTSBURGH (6-0) Panthers will finally get some challenges in December.

11

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MICHIGAN

STATE (4-1)

Sophomore Raymar Morgan is

Spartans’ leading scorer. 12 MARQUETTE (4-1) Golden Eagles’ only loss is by four to Duke. 13 INDIANA (5-1) Xavier held Eric Gordon . . . to 20. 14 TENNESSEE (6-1) Chris Lofton’s shooting runs hot and cold. 15 OREGON (5-1) Loss to St. Mary’s came with guard Bryce Taylor out because of injury.

16

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BRIGHAM

YOUNG (5-1)

Cougars beat Louisville and played

North Carolina tough. 17 LOUISVILLE (4-1) Injuries spell disappointment for Cardinals. 18 BUTLER (6-0) Three starters make more than 50% from three-point range. 19 XAVIER (4-1) Musketeers beat Indiana with defense. 20 USC (5-1) Trojans’ difficult next three: Oklahoma, Kansas, Memphis. 21 N.C. STATE (4-1) Freshman forward J.J. Hickson averages 18 points. 22 CLEMSON (6-0) Last season’s undefeated start ended with NIT trip.

23

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KANSAS STATE

(5-1)

Freshman Michael Beasley still leading nation in scoring and

rebounding. 24 GONZAGA (5-1) Freshman Austin Daye is leading scorer. 25 ST. MARY’S (5-0) Oregon upset says Randy Bennett’s team might challenge for the WCC title. *--*