Kansas returns to No. 1 in latest USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll

There’s a new leader atop the USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll. Well, OK, not exactly new. The team in question has already been there this season.

Kansas reclaims the No. 1 ranking, moving up from the No. 3 spot after the two teams ahead of the Jayhawks each took a loss last week. KU picked up 23 of 32 first-place votes heading into the final week of the Big 12 regular season. The previously were at the top spot for two weeks in January.

TOP 25: USA TODAY Sports coaches poll

UCLA, following its big win at Arizona, moved into a tie for second with Villanova, which bounced back from its mid-week loss to Butler. The Wildcats received five No. 1 votes to the Bruins’ three, but the two are deadlocked in overall poll points.

Gonzaga retained one first-place vote but tumbled to No. 4 following its first loss of the season at home to BYU. Surging North Carolina rounds out the top five.

The biggest riser in the poll is Butler. The Bulldogs moved up seven spots to No. 15. After a pair of losses, Wisconsin fell six places to No. 21.

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