Michigan enters coaches' poll; Memphis falls from rankings

Dec 29, 2008 - 6:51 PM MCLEAN, Virginia (Ticker) -- John Beilein's second season in Ann Arbor is off to a smashing start.

Beilein's Michigan squad entered the USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll, which was released Monday, for the first time in nearly three years.

The 24th-ranked Wolverines (9-2) boast an impressive four-game winning streak, which includes a victory over then-No. 4 Duke on December 6. That win helped vault Michigan to its first national ranking since February 6, 2006.

It has been quite a turnaround for Beilein, the former West Virginia coach who went 10-22 in his first season at Michigan. The 10th win did not come until the next-to-last game.

The Wolverines can match that win total with a victory over North Carolina Central on Monday.

While Michigan is new to the rankings, a familiar team has dropped out. Memphis remained 24th in the rankings despite losing to Syracuse on December 20.

But despite last Monday's blowout of Drexel, the Tigers (6-3) fell from the rankings for the first time since the 2004-05 season.

The top six teams remain unchanged, with No. 1 North Carolina (12-0) receiving all 31 first-place votes. Connecticut (11-0) retained the No. 2 spot following an impressive 88-83 win over Gonzaga in Seattle last Saturday.

Pittsburgh (12-0) is third, followed by Oklahoma (12-0), Duke (10-1) and Wake Forest (11-0). Texas (10-2) and Georgetown (9-1) move up one spot each to seventh and eighth, respectively. UCLA (10-2) and Notre Dame (9-2) rounded out the top 10.

Purdue (11-2) and Syracuse (11-2) are tied for 11th, while Villanova (11-1), Arizona State (10-1), Michigan State (9-2) and Clemson (12-0) are the next five.

Gonzaga (8-3) fell 10 spots to 17th following Tuesday's stunning home loss to Portland State.

Louisville (8-2) and Tennessee (8-2) are tied for 18th, with Baylor (10-1), Minnesota (12-0), Xavier (9-2), Ohio State (9-1), Michigan and Marquette rounding out the poll.