Sports

Candygate threatens to tear iZona apart

Ernest Salas
Menis Top 25

Dukeis been out-duked, Florida took advantage of Arizonais fascination with confections and Texas ended a long streak. Such was the week of college basketball.

Once considered unbeatable, the Blue Devils are now 14-3 and suffering through a tailspin. Dukeis lost three consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference games and slumped to 4-3 in the league. Sundayis 75-70 loss to Florida State is proof that no team can stay atop the mountain forever.

Of course, no team that shoots less than 35 percent from the field has a good shot of winning.

After seeing fellow Southeastern Conference school Alabama grab hold of the No. 1 spot earlier in the season, the Florida Gators made a four-team leap to the top of The Associated Press Top 25 poll, replacing the Wildcats, who lost to Stanford on Thursday.

The Gators are No. 1 for the first time in the schoolis history. They are unbeaten in the SEC and 18-2 overall. Let Gators head coach Billy Donovan savor the moment. If one looks at how this season has gone, the Gators reign isnit likely to last. Besides, until March Madness starts, a No.1 slot doesnit mean much.

Arizona barely edged out Texas for the No. 2 spot. Only a nice little 95-80 win over California was enough to keep the Wildcats from slipping any further.

Lou-uh-vul

There is no greater force in college basketball than the mighty Louisville Cardinalsi program. The Cardinals have lost only one game and thereis nothing than can keep them from going into the NCAA Tournament with a No. 1 spot -- unless itis the Houston Cougars on Saturday.

Along with Marquette, Louisville is keeping Conference USA in the national spotlight. Future Hall of Famer Rick Pitino has quietly built that other school in Kentucky into a powerhouse. Unstoppable? Yes -- until it meets up with Houston on Saturday.

The Cardinals received four first-place votes in the poll this week. Of course, that vote was taken a mere six days before their game against the red-hot Houston Cougars on Saturday, but recognition is recognition.

Let us hope that the Cougars will take it easy on the Cardinals.

They want candy

It probably wonit make it into an advertisement for the rich and gooey chocolate bar, but itis funny how a serious craving for Snickers can lead some people into a life of crime.

Arizona senior forward Luke Walton denied his involvement in the candy-snatching scandal thatis threatening to rip the very fabric of the Arizona Wildcats basketball program. 

A hotel guest in Lawrence, Kan., alleged that he saw members of the Wildcats breaking into the hotelis vending machine Jan. 25. Whatis worse, Walton, one of the countryis best players, was accused of being involved in the candy-pilfering operation gone wrong. Walton is the son of NBA legend and ESPN commentator Bill Walton.

"I got my grandma calling me, people like that asking all these questions," Walton told The Associated Press. "It is frustrating knowing I didnit do anything and I have to answer all these questions."

You see? Stealing candy, no matter if itis from a baby or from a hotel vending machine, may sound like no big deal. But in Waltonis case, itis clearly beginning to tear his family apart.

It even affected the teamis performance. The Wildcats couldnit withstand the pressure of being the No. 1 team in the country -- or the burden of having to deal with $80 worth of stolen candy -- and lost to Stanford on Thursday.

Were those few minutes of satisfaction and chewy goodness worth it? The answer is no.

The Sips report

So the Texas Longhorns came back from a collapse against Kansas to end Oklahoma Stateis 15-game winning streak. So what? Whatill they do against perennial Big 12 basketball powerhouses Texas A&M and Colorado? Hmm?

Right. Theyill probably roll. Any team with T.J. Ford on its roster can beat just about anybody. Texas shouldnit have any more problems in the conference and should cruise to a No. 1 spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Horns go on the road to play the Buffaloes today and the Aggies on Saturday.

The DC Bakeris Dozen

The Florida Gators didnit lose last week, but the Arizona Wildcats are still the best team in the country, even if itis filled with players who go on illegal chocolate binges. Louisville will keep its top-five position until it meets the Cougars on Saturday.

Remember, this poll isnit scientific. Readers can submit comments or offer their own picks for top 13 by e-mailing dcsports@mail.uh.edu.

1.) Arizona (16-2)

2.) Florida (18-2)

3.) Louisville (16-1)

4.) Texas (14-3)

5.) Pittsburgh (15-2)

6.) Oklahoma (15-3)

7.) Kentucky (16-3)

8.) Creighton (19-2)

9.) Wake Forest (15-2)

10.) Maryland (14-4)

11.) Oklahoma State (17-2)

12.) Kansas (15-5)

13.) Marquette (15-3)

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