For the first time in program history, the Baylor men's basketball team grabbed the No. 1 ranking in Monday's updated Associated Press poll.
The Bears (15-0), who join Gonzaga (15-0) as the only remaining major-college programs with undefeated records, climbed to the top spot after sweeping games last week against Iowa State and Oklahoma State. The top spot was available after previous No. 1 Villanova (15-1) fell to Butler, 66-58, on Wednesday night.
Baylor becomes the first team from the Lone Star State to hold the top spot since Texas climbed to No. 1 in consecutive polls in January 2010. Those Longhorns finished 23-8.
Baylor topped No. 2 Kansas (14-1), winner of the last 12 conference championships in the Big 12, in Monday's balloting. The Bears, unranked in the preseason, received 55 first-place votes. Kansas got eight. Villanova, which fell to No. 3, received one.
Baylor's tenure at the top will be tested quickly. The Bears meet No. 10 West Virginia (13-2) on Tuesday night in Morgantown, W.Va. During last week's conference call with league coaches, Baylor coach Scott Drew acknowledged that he could embrace the No. 1 ranking if it fell his way.
"Every coach would tell you they'd rather be ranked No. 1 than 351," Drew said at the time. "But everyone realizes the fluidity of college basketball and is more interested in where you are at the end of the season. We'll be happy to be recognized by whatever comes. But the end-of-the-year polls are more important."
The Bears' historic ascent to the top spot in the AP poll coincided with Monday's announcement that forward Johnathan Motley had been selected as the Big 12 player of the week for the second time this season. Motley, a 6-foot-10 junior, averaged 13 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks per game during the Bears' victories over Iowa State and Oklahoma State. He made a combined 10-of-15 shots from the field (66.7 pct.) in those contests.
Among other Texas schools, SMU was among the teams receiving votes in Monday's poll. The Mustangs (14-3), winners of 10 consecutive games, received five points from voters.
