The Times’ Rankings / Top 25 College Basketball

Team (Record) Comment

1. Duke (18-1) “D� is for Dominant.

2. Connecticut (16-0) Oh my, Miami forces OT.

3. Maryland (17-2) Next shot at Duke is Feb. 3.

4. Cincinnati (16-1) Conference USA rues the error.

5. Stanford (15-2) Free-throw shooting still a concern.

6. Kentucky (16-4) Took the bite out of Tigers.

7. Michigan State (14-4) Pivotal game against Iowa.

8. St. John’s (16-3) Will try to Duke it out.

9. Auburn (17-1) Still a contender.

10. UCLA (13-4) Bruin defense no longer an oxymoron.

11. Iowa (13-2) Okey-dokey, he’s ready to go.

12. North Carolina (15-4) May not be able to upset Duke.

13. Minnesota (11-3) Lewis blazes the trail.

14. Ohio State (14-5) Jim O’Brien for coach of the year.

15. Miami (11-4) Gave Connecticut a good run.

16. Indiana (16-5) Recker’s crew.

17. Kansas (12-4) Loss was a UMess.

18. Purdue (14-5) Really reeling.

19. New Mexico (16-3) Stumbled against New Mexico St.

20. Arizona (12-2) Oregon trip is no “gimme.�

21. Wisconsin (17-3) Winning old-fashioned way.

22. Oklahoma State (11-4) Baylor a good tonic.

23. Syracuse (12-4) A little blood couldn’t stop Rutgers.

24. Texas Christian (14-3) Only four 100-point games.

25. Louisville (10-3) Next few days might KO Cardinals.

GAME OF THE WEEK

DUKE (18-1) at ST. JOHN’S (16-3)

When--Sunday. Time--9 a.m. PST TV--Ch. 2.

* Story line--Sure, Duke plays North Carolina on Wednesday, but that’s not No. 1 vs. No. 2 anymore, so at least this is a fresh challenge. St. John’s is Duke’s best test since Maryland, and has Ron Artest on the inside and freshman Erick Barkley at the point. But stopping Duke’s inside-outside tandem of Elton Brand and Trajan Langdon is a tall order, especially with William Avery capable of scoring from the point.