Oklahoma Is Third No. 1 Team in 3 Weeks
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NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma basketball Coach Billy Tubbs, an admirer of great explorers such as Christopher Columbus and Magellan, has reached uncharted territory with his Sooners.
They’re ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press college basketball poll for the first time in the school’s history.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Tubbs said Monday. “I guess you could say it’s a dream come true.”
The Sooners (17-2), the third No. 1 team in as many weeks, were No. 4 a week ago but jumped to No. 1 after victories over Colorado and Nevada Las Vegas, and losses by the top three teams.
The Sooners received 32 of the 66 first-place votes cast by the nationwide panel of sportswriters and broadcasters and finished with 1,273 points to edge Illinois in the balloting.
Illinois, which became No. 1 for the first time in 37 years, held the top spot for just 1 week before losing to Minnesota, 69-62, before rebounding for a victory over Indiana.
It appeared then-No. 2 Georgetown would take the top spot, but the Hoyas were upset by Louisiana State, 82-80, Saturday.
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