Sports

'Zona holds on to No. 1; UT falls in Kansas

Ernest Salas
Menis Top 25

There was a time, not that long ago (about five weeks), when Alabama had a rightful claim to being the best team in the nation. But the Crimson Tide is far from being a basketball powerhouse.

A series of setbacks has sent ‘Bama reeling -- and barely clinging to life in The Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Tide was ranked No. 1 just before Christmas but has since dropped all the way to No. 23. It can thank a three-game losing streak for that.

iZona

Is this year the Wildcats finally do it for Bobbi?

Arizona head coach Lute Olsen won the national championship in 1997 and has been on the brink of guiding ‘Zona back to the title game almost every year since then.

Personal tragedy (losing wife Bobbi to cancer during the 2000-01 season) may have diminished national championship hopes during the 2001 NCAA Tournament, but the current team is loaded and should be favored to make it at least to the Final Four in Atlanta.

The Wildcats, led by seniors Jason Gardner and Luke Walton (son of Bill), reclaimed the No. 1 spot last week. It doesnit look like theyill let it go anytime soon. 

Sips choke

The Kansas Jayhawks built a 20-point lead against No. 1 Arizona and then allowed the Wildcats to not only come back, but also to humiliate them in Lawrence, Kan. So who would have guessed the Jayhawks would be anything but ready for another big test?

Texas was moving up the ranks and beginning to be talked about as a legitimate top-five team, and for the first half of Mondayis game against Kansas, the Longhorns looked ready to step into the big time. They had a lot to prove. They were 0-6 in Kansas and 2-10 against the Jayhawks overall.

Make that 0-7 and 2-11.

T.J. Ford was his usual self, scoring 25 points (albeit off 8-of-23 shooting), but other than Brian Boddicker, no one on the team stepped up. The Longhorns went into halftime leading 48-43. But they apparently couldnit stand the pressure of getting close to being a top-flight program and collapsed in the second half.

Nick Collison (24 points, 23 rebounds) and the Jayhawks came back and outscored them by 12 in the second frame to win 90-87. It wasnit a monumental upset, but Texas had a golden opportunity. And itis not going to get any easier.

Texas hosts No. 9 Oklahoma State on Saturday. The Cowboys are coming off of a win over Texas Tech in Lubbock and are riding a 14-game winning streak.

DCis Bakeris Dozen
Why is Creighton in our top 10, when it really hasnit played anyone? Aside from beating Texas Christian, we just really like the name. Mondayis win over the Sips propelled Kansas back into our poll. But the Jayhawks still arenit the best team in the Big 12. Thatis OSU.

Comments regarding the Bakeris Dozen poll may be sent to the sports desk at dcsports@mail.uh.edu.

1.) Arizona

2.) Florida

3.) Pittsburgh

4.) Oklahoma State

5.) Louisville

6.) Duke

7.) Oklahoma

8.) Kentucky

9.) Texas

10.) Creighton

11.) Maryland

12.) Illinois

13.) Kansas

 Send comments to dcsports@mail.uh.edu