The Times’ Rankings: TOP 25

No. School: Comment

1. Duke (9-0): Back on top, and UNC game isn’t until Feb. 5.

2. N. Carolina (9-0): Unbeaten Guthridge chasing Smith’s record.

3. Kansas (10-1): Maryland loss was an aberration.

4. Arizona (6-2): NCAA champs already beaten by Duke, Kansas.

5. Kentucky (7-1): Lost NCAA title rematch to Arizona in Maui.

6. Utah (8-0): Overlooked Hanno Mottola has Finnish finesse.

7. Purdue (6-2): No shame in losses to North Carolina, Kentucky.

8. South Carolina (5-0): The other Carolina has its guards up.

9. Stanford (5-0): Psst. Big man is Mark Madsen, not Collins twins.

10. UCLA (3-1): Top 10 with asterisk: Returns of Johnson, McCoy.

11. Arkansas (7-0): Best start since 1994 NCAA title team.

12. Florida State (6-1): Loss to Kansas in Preseason NIT final.

13. Connecticut (8-1): Keep eye on freshman guard Khalid El-Amin.

14. New Mexico (6-1): In search of Kenny Thomas after UCLA game.

15. Xavier (5-1): Big demerits for in-state loss to Miami of Ohio.

16. Iowa (6-1): Ditto. Lost to a directional school, Northern Iowa.

17. Clemson (5-2): Good Gonzaga! Other loss was to Kentucky.

18. Temple (5-1): Apollo of Temple weirdest arena name since Pond.

19. Maryland (4-3): Upset Kansas, then lost to George Washington.

20. Mississippi (4-1): Stumbled against Ball State.

21. Princeton (7-0): Tigers play at North Carolina on Saturday.

22. Georgia (6-2): Kentucky games a Smith family reunion.

23. Georgia Tech (5-1): Pressure on Bobby Cremins this season.

24. Wake Forest (6-1): Atlantic Coast representative No. 7.

25. Fresno State (3-2): Check back when Chris Herren returns.