Last week's three big-time matchups caused plenty of movement in The Associated Press' college basketball poll yesterday, except at the top.

For the fourth straight week, North Carolina, Memphis and Kansas were the top three teams in the rankings. Then came the changes courtesy of the high-profile games that handed three teams their first losses of the season.

Pittsburgh's 65-64 victory over Duke in overtime last Thursday was the first of the marquee matchups with Memphis' 85-71 win over Georgetown and Michigan State's 78-72 victory over Texas, both on Saturday, capping the early season treats in a month usually reserved for mismatches.

Washington State, led by 'Iolani alum Derrick Low, moved up three spots to No. 4, the highest ranking in school history, while Mississippi (No. 22) and Rhode Island (No. 25) both cracked the Top 25 for the first time this season.

North Carolina, which beat Nicholls State and UC Santa Barbara last week, held the No. 1 spot as it has since the preseason poll. The Tar Heels (11-0) received 47 first-place votes and 1,774 points from the 72-member national media panel, easily ahead of Memphis (10-0), which was No. 1 on 24 ballots and had 1,740 points.

Kansas (12-0), which beat Georgia Tech and Miami of Ohio last week, had the only other first-place vote.

Washington State (11-0) was fourth followed by UCLA, Pittsburgh, Michigan State, Georgetown, Texas and Duke. Washington State's previous highest ranking was sixth earlier this season.

ELSEWHERE

North Carolina State: Point guard Farnold Degand is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Wolfpack coach Sidney Lowe said the sophomore tore the ligament in his left knee during N.C. State's win Sunday against Cincinnati. Lowe said the injury will require surgery. Degand has started all 10 games for the Wolfpack this season and is averaging 6.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 28.6 minutes per game.

WOMEN'S TOP 25

UCONN BACK AT NO. 1

After nearly a four-year absence, Connecticut is back at No. 1.

The Huskies received 49 of the 50 first-place votes yesterday in The Associated Press poll after being ranked second all season. Tennessee had been No. 1 since the preseason poll, but lost to Stanford, 73-69, in overtime Saturday night.

The Lady Vols fell to No. 3, while the Cardinal received the other first-place vote and moved up to No. 2.

It's the first time Connecticut has held the top spot since Feb. 23, 2004.

"This is going to be fun for our team because it is the first time for this group," Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma said. "I'm really proud of them and I'm anxious to see how we respond."

The Huskies (9-0) have been dominant this season, winning by an average of 40 points.

North Carolina and Maryland each fell a spot to fourth and fifth. Rutgers remained No. 6, followed by Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma and Baylor.

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