Most newsworthy from the latest AP Poll is #1 Syracuse (25-0, 12-0) losing one of its unanimous first place votes from last week to #2 Florida (23-2, 12-0). Maybe I'm just paying more attention this year, but it seems like the voters are basing their rankings on who is currently playing the best basketball than who has the best overall body of work.

Undefeated in the ACC (significantly more competitive than Florida's SEC), Syracuse has had the best season in college basketball this year -- no one could argue against that, not even #3 Wichita State (27-0, 14-0). But they've pulled out two near-miracle wins in a row, the first via a 35-foot, buzzer-beating heave by freshman Tyler Ennis (to be fair, he did create a square look) for a one-point victory over then #25 Pittsburg (20-6, 8-5) and the second on Saturday, when, down by one with 10 seconds left, they forced a steal and converted a lay-up at the other end with a few seconds to play against North Carolina State (16-9, 6-6).

Probably the second most interesting team in the top 10 is #4 Arizona (23-2, 10-2), losers in two of their last four by Cuse-like margins. Keeping them in the top five may be the dual thoughts that with injured forward Brandon Ashley, the Wildcats would still be undefeated, and that the adjustment period his loss created might eventually correct itself close to old levels. With him, they were a team so stacked with talent you might have wondered if that depth would one day hurt them (slightly) if not for the fact of pg T.J. McConnell's distribution and the almost perfect makeup of their roster: Nick Johnson as the scorer/shooter, Kaleb Tarczewski as the intimidating post presence, Aaron Gordon and Ashely as the versatile forwards with range. The Wildcats had established chemistry with Ashley. They're going to need to create the same thing without him. By keeping them at #4, the pollsters believe it's still possible. At the same time, they probably had no choice; #6 San Diego State (22-2, 11-1) and their recent loss wasn't going to jump them nor was #5 Duke (20-5), whom Arizona beat and has exactly one loss too many to be in the top four over a two-loss team.

#8 Kansas (19-6, 10-2) continues to get significant respect from the voters (too much in my opinion) despite losing to Kansas State (17-8, 7-5) since the advent of the last poll. With three less losses, #9 Villanova (22-3, 10-2) should have been in that spot.

The Kansas of the north Midwest (if that is an acceptable regional description) has been #20 Michigan (18-7), a bad losing streak away from entering bubble status. Had their record been at 20-5, the Wolverines would likely be in Duke's place right now. Quite remarkable.

The dolls of last week's poll, SMU (20-6, 9-4), won their initial game as a ranked team, but lost away to a struggling Temple team (7-17, 2-10).