PowerMizzou.com - Bears move into the AP Top 25

January 12, 2009

It took just 17 games under first-year head coach and Pac-10 coaching legend Mike Montgomery for the Golden Bears to move into both the AP Top 25 and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Top 25 polls. The Bears, who are off to a record tying 15-2 start, were ranked No. 22 and No. 23, respectively.

With 9 straight wins overlapping a perfect 4-0 Pac-10 start, including wins over streaking Arizona State and Washington, Cal has had a Program changing start to the 2008-09 season (Premium Article).

Cal's latest victory, an 88-85 triple-overtime effort in Seattle over Washington, came with tremendous team will-power (Premium Article) and a never say die attitude (Premium Article). Junior shooting guard Patrick Christopher has been as hot as any player in the Pac-10, and earned his second consecutive Pac-10 Player of the Week honor today as well.

Here is the first-release of the AP Poll. Also, below is the USA TODAY/ESPN Poll that was released today.

Jan. 12, 2009

1. Pittsburgh (29) 15-0 773 1
2. Duke 14-1 729 2
3. Wake Forest (2) 14-0 725 4
4. Connecticut 14-1 660 5
5. Oklahoma 15-1 617 6
6. North Carolina 14-2 611 3
7. UCLA 13-2 576 7 (tie)
8. Syracuse 16-1 560 9
9. Clemson 16-0 528 11
10. Michigan State 13-2 503 12
11. Texas 12-3 421 7 (tie)
12. Georgetown 11-3 365 10
13. Notre Dame 12-3 363 13
14. Marquette 15-2 353 15
15. Arizona State 14-2 328 16
16. Xavier 13-2 279 18
17. Minnesota 15-1 262 19
18. Butler 14-1 256 20
19. Purdue 12-4 182 14
20. Louisville 11-3 173 21
21. Baylor 13-2 159 23
22. Villanova 13-3 110 17
23. California 15-2 109 NR
24. Michigan 13-3 78 NR
25. Saint Mary's 15-1 62 NR

Dropped out: No. 22 West Virginia, No. 24 Boston College, No. 25 Tennessee.

Others receiving votes: Arkansas (12-2) 51; Illinois (14-2) 47; Memphis (12-3) 42; Brigham Young (13-2) 37; Gonzaga (10-4) 17; Dayton (14-2) 14; Tennessee (10-4) 11; Utah State (15-1) 11; Wisconsin (12-4) 10; Florida (14-2) 9; Illinois State (14-2) 9; West Virginia (11-4) 7; Boston College (13-4) 6; Davidson (11-3) 6; Ohio State (11-3) 5; Miami (Fla.) (12-3) 4; Washington (11-4) 3; Missouri (13-3) 2; Texas A&M (14-2) 1; UNLV (13-3)

Look for more coverage of Cal men's and women's hoops this week, including a feature on Montgomery's much-anticipated return to Stanford.

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