City of Basketball Love

Stephen Pianovich (@SPianovich)
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Villanova moved down two spots to No. 6 in this week's Associated Press poll after losing its first Big East game in more than a year on Sunday to Providence.

The Wildcats (17-3, 7-1 Big East) are still the top team from their conference, though Xavier and Providence are close behind. The Musketeers (17-2, 5-2) checked in at No. 7, while the Friars (17-3, 5-2) moved up six spots to No. 10. Villanova still is in sole possession of first place in the Big East, but has to face both Xavier and Providence on the road in the next month.

The full poll, which has Oklahoma narrowly leading North Carolina for the No. 1 spot, can be found here.

St. Joseph's was again without any votes in the poll, though the Hawks are 16-3, 5-1 in the Atlantic 10 and have won 12 of their last 13 games. St. Joe's, which received votes for two consecutive weeks earlier in the season, has not gotten a vote since falling to VCU on Jan. 5.

SMU, meanwhile, fell to 13th in the poll after suffering its first loss of the season to Temple on Sunday afternoon.