(December 1, 2008)--After a 6-1 start that included a nine-point upset win over 14th-ranked Arizona State, the Baylor men's basketball team is ranked No. 24 overall in the latest Associated Press Top 25 Poll released Monday.

Monday's ranking marks the first time that Baylor is ranked in back-to-back seasons and is the highest ranking since the Bears were No. 19 on Feb. 11, 1969 (then the AP Top 20). Baylor (6-1) jumped into the Top 25 for the first time this season, receiving 272 points - nine behind No. 23 Florida and 51 ahead of No. 25 Marquette.

"It's an amazing compliment to our team, our fans and Baylor University," head coach Scott Drew said. "We've worked very hard to get to this point. To be ranked in the top 25 out of 344 Division I programs is a testament to how far we've come as a program."

Baylor's Top 25 ranking caps off a 3-1 week that saw the Bears defeat Jacksonville, Providence and No. 14 Arizona State. Sunday, the Bears suffered a tough 87-74 loss to No. 19 Wake Forest in the 76 Classic championship game.

Last season, Baylor was ranked in back-to-back weeks for the first time in school history, while breaking into the Top 25 for the first time in nearly 40 seasons.

The 24th-ranked Baylor Bears will defend its national ranking Saturday, Dec. 6, when they travel to Pullman, Wash., to face the Washington State Cougars as part of the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series. Tip-off is set for 10:30 p.m. (CT)/8:30 p.m. (CT) on FSN.

BAYLOR APPEARANCES IN AP TOP 25 POLL (courtesy AP Poll Archive)

Week Rank
Jan. 25, 1949 No. 18
Jan. 14, 1969 No. 18
Feb. 11, 1969 No. 19
Jan. 21, 2008 No. 25
Jan. 28, 2008 No. 25
Dec. 1, 2008 No. 24

ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 POLL (Dec. 1, 2008)

1. North Carolina (72) 7-0
2. Connecticut 6-0
3. Pittsburgh 7-0
4. Duke 7-0
5. Gonzaga 5-0
6. Oklahoma 6-0
7. Notre Dame 5-1
8. Texas 5-1
9. Purdue 5-1
10. Tennessee 5-1
11. Louisville 2-1
12. UCLA 4-1
13. Michigan State 4-1
14. Xavier 6-0
15. Wake Forest 6-0
16. Syracuse 6-0
17. Villanova 6-0
18. Memphis 4-1
19. Arizona State 5-1
20. Georgetown 401
21. Miami (Fla.) 4-1
22. Davidson 5-1
23. Florida 5-1
24. BAYLOR 6-1
25. Marquette 5-1

[CentralTexasVotes.com: Candidates, Campaigns And More ]
[More Local And State News]
[More National News]
[More Business News]
[Latest Religion News]
[Latest Health News]
[Latest Entertainment News]
[OffBeat News]
[News From Our Town]
[Latest Soldier Stories]
[Sports]
[Weather]
[Blogs]





Save some money! Save a tree! Click here to get your morning news delivered directly to your email