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Utah Moves Up to No. 11 in AP Poll

Utah's dominance of the Pac-12 has not been lost on national pollsters.

Utah reserve center Dallin Bachynski scores on a nice reverse layup against Washington.
Utah reserve center Dallin Bachynski scores on a nice reverse layup against Washington.
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

After sweeping the Washington school from Salt Lake City, the Runnin' Utes climbed one in the AP Poll to No. 11. Clearly, national pollsters are taking note of Utah's over 24-point margin in their six Pac-12 wins this season. Utah has been ranked as high as No. 8 this season and are currently poised just outside the Top 10.

Utes head coach Larry Krystkowiak's squad will get a chance at another couple of statement wins in Los Angeles this week, starting in Pauley Pavilion on the campus of storied UCLA. The Bruins are struggling right now, and local fans are beginning the "fire Alford" grumbling, even while the coach's contract might prohibit pulling such a quick trigger. But UCLA is still one of the prominent name programs on the West Coast, and a win in the house that Wooden built will add that much more cachet to the Utes season. It could also add a rung or two on the AP ladder.

By all accounts, bracketology experts have Utah firmly in line for a top four seed in the NCAA Tournament. ESPN.com bracketology guru Joe Lundardi has Utah at a three seed in the South region, currently slotted to face 14-seed New Mexico State. If Lunardi's projects played out, the Runnin' Utes would face 2-seed Wisconsin in the regional semifinals or 1-seed Duke in the finals. CBSSports.com expert Jerry Palm has Utah as a three-seed in the Midwest, facing 14-seed Kent State, and then facing 2-seed Wisconsin in the semis and... don't look now, Utes fans... 1-seed Kentucky in the finals.

AP Top 25

RANK TEAM RECORD PTS
1 Kentucky Wildcats (64) 19-0 1,624
2 Virginia Cavaliers (1) 19-0 1,561
3 Gonzaga Bulldogs 20-1 1,476
4 Duke Blue Devils 17-2 1,402
5 Wisconsin Badgers 18-2 1,351
6 Arizona Wildcats 18-2 1,300
7 Villanova Wildcats 18-2 1,187
8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 19-2 1,139
9 Kansas Jayhawks 16-3 1,120
10 Louisville Cardinals 16-3 1,027
11 Utah Utes 16-3 996
12 Wichita State Shockers 18-2 893
13 North Carolina Tar Heels 16-4 878
14 Virginia Commonwealth Rams 16-3 734
15 Iowa State Cyclones 14-4 719
16 Maryland Terrapins 18-3 715
17 West Virginia Mountaineers 16-3 558
18 Northern Iowa Panthers 18-2 440
19 Texas Longhorns 14-5 431
20 Baylor Bears 15-4 407
21 Georgetown Hoyas 14-5 334
22 Indiana Hoosiers 15-5 165
23 Miami-Florida Hurricanes 14-5 164
24 Oklahoma Sooners 12-7 90
25 Butler Bulldogs 15-6 70
Others receiving votes: Colorado St 57, Arkansas 54, Ohio State 43, SMU 43, Providence 29, Dayton 28, Georgia 28, Stanford 16, Wyoming 14, Seton Hall 10, LSU 10, San Diego St 4, Tulsa 2, Texas A&M 2, Davidson 1, Saint Mary's 1, Stephen F. Austin 1, Green Bay 1