<
        >

          Virginia climbs atop AP Top 25 for first time since 1982

          play
          Wilbon hopes Virginia isn't 'cursed' with No. 1 seed (1:47)

          Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser discuss the expectations Virginia will have to play with as being the No. 1 overall seed heading into the NCAA tournament. (1:47)

          • Associated Press
          Feb 12, 2018, 12:05 PM ET

          RALEIGH, N.C. -- Virginia has climbed to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the first time in more than 35 years.

          The Cavaliers earned 30 of 65 first-place votes in Monday's latest poll to outdistance No. 2 Michigan State. Virginia had suffered an overtime home loss Saturday to Virginia Tech, part of an upset-filled week that saw the top three teams lose.

          But Tony Bennett's Cavaliers rose above the turmoil at the top, climbing a slot to No. 1 for the first time since December 1982 -- the senior season of 7-foot-4 great Ralph Sampson.

          The Spartans climbed two slots after their win against Purdue. Last week's No. 1, Villanova, fell to third after a home loss to St. John's.

          Xavier and Cincinnati rounded out the top five.