THE TIMES RANKINGS: TOP 25

Team (Record): Comment

1. North Carolina (32-3): Only Dean Smith assistant standing.

2. Arizona (29-4): NCAA champion but no respect.

3. Duke (31-3): Worried about lack of experience.

4. Connecticut (31-4): Beast of East Regional?

5. Kentucky (31-4): UCLA wants the game in Rupp.

6. Stanford (28-4): Very real shot at Final Four.

7. UCLA (24-8): Michigan win was good to see.

8. Purdue (28-7): Keady might finally make it.

9. Utah (27-3): Can Van Horn get weekend off?

10. Michigan State (22-7): Cleaves is the key.

11. Princeton (27-2): Sad to see Tigers go.

12. Maryland (21-10): Arizona says thanks for stopping by.

13. Rhode Island (24-8): On Rhody to final eight.

14. Kansas (35-4): Was that Pierce’s last game?

15. West Virginia (24-8): Some turnaround.

16. Michigan (25-9): Ellerbe or not to be.

17. Oklahoma State (22-7): Gave Duke a run.

18. Cincinnati (27-6): Season suspended.

19. Clemson (18-14): Tigers in the tank.

20. Washington (20-9): Huskies can’t lose; Washington can.

21. Syracuse (26-8): Thought Orangemen lost to Iona.

22. Valparaiso (23-9): Pleasure meeting you.

23. Mississippi (22-7): Loathes the day.

24. Arkansas (24-9): How about weekend in Puerto Rico?

25. South Carolina (23-8): Locals call it the Chicken Curse.