N. Carolina moves to No. 1 in AP poll

North Carolina is No. 1 in The Associated Press' college basketball poll for the first time in almost six years. The wait has been quite a bit longer for Washington State, which is ranked for the first time in almost 24 years.

The Tar Heels (14-1) moved into the top spot Monday after three weeks at No. 2 following UCLA's loss at Oregon last weekend.

It is North Carolina's first time at No. 1 since a two-week run in February 2001, and it's the first time the Tar Heels are there in the three-plus seasons, including the 2005 national championship, under coach Roy Williams.

Williams is no stranger to having a top-ranked team. In seven of 15 seasons at Kansas, the Jayhawks reached No. 1, including a 15-week stretch in 1996-97.

Washington State (14-2) is having an unexpected stretch, and the quick start has the Cougars tied for 22nd in the poll, their first ranking since a one-week stint in February 1983.

North Carolina received 64 first-place votes and 1,788 points from the 72-member national media panel to easily outdistance No. 2 Florida (14-2).

-- AP