Dec. 31, 2001

McLEAN, Va. (Ticker) - Duke will start the new year where it's been for months - atop the USA TODAY/ESPN coaches' poll.

The Blue Devils again were the unanimous No. 1 choice in the latest poll, released Sunday, garnering all 31 votes and 775 points from a panel of Division I coaches. They extended the nation's longest winning streak to 21 games Saturday with a 92-79 triumph over San Diego State.

The top nine teams remain unchanged, with Florida (11-1), Kansas (10-1), Virginia (10-0), Oklahoma State (13-0), Maryland (9-2), Illinois (11-2), Kentucky (8-2) and Iowa (11-3) following the defending national champions.

Syracuse (10-2), which hosts Buffalo on Sunday night, jumped a spot to 10th. The Orangemen supplanted Missouri (18), which fell eight notches following Saturday's 63-62 loss at DePaul.

Oklahoma (10-1) moved up three spots to 11th, with Boston College (12) followed by Pac-10 Conference schools Stanford (7-2), Arizona (9-3) and UCLA (9-2). Cincinnati (12-1), Michigan State (9-4), Alabama (10-2) and unheralded Butler (13-0) filling out the top 20.

Unbeaten Miami (13-0), coming off victories over Louisiana State and St. Francis (Pa.), climbed two rungs to 21st. Gonzaga (11-2), Georgetown (9-3), Wake Forest (9-3) and Marquette (10-2) fill out the poll. Gonzaga remained 22nd for the second straight week.

With action limited during the holiday break, no schools dropped out of the top 25.

Rank  School          Record  Points  Last Week  1. Duke (31)           11-0    775        12. Florida             11-1    721        23. Kansas              10-1    699        34. Virginia             9-0    668        45. Oklahoma State      13-0    642        56. Maryland             9-2    601        67. Illinois            11-2    587        78. Kentucky             8-2    586        89. Iowa                11-3    508        910. Syracuse           10-2    436       1111. Oklahoma           10-1    420       1412. Boston College     11-1    365       1313. Stanford            7-2    346       1514. Arizona             8-3    317       1615. UCLA                9-2    307       1716. Cincinnati         12-1    293       2017.  Michigan State     9-4    270       1218. Missouri            9-3    231       1019. Alabama            10-2    215       2120. Butler             13-0    196       2421. Miami (Fla.)       13-0    175       2322. Gonzaga            11-2    166       22 23. Georgetown          9-3    129       1824. Wake Forest         9-3    125       2525. Marquette          10-2    105       19

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Western Kentucky 36, Saint Joseph's 18, Wyoming 14, Ball State 13, North Carolina State 12, Temple 11, Southern Illinois 9, Utah State 9, Memphis 8, Texas 8, Brigham Young 7, Connecticut 7, Bowling Green 6, Hawaii 6, New Mexico 5, South Florida 5, Notre Dame 4, Mississippi State 3, Pittsburgh 3, Dayton 2, Oregon 2, DePaul 1, Georgia 1, Texas Tech 1, Tulsa 1.