ASU basketball leaps to No. 5 in AP Poll after upset of Kansas

Dec 11, 2017, 10:35 AM | Updated: 11:49 am

Arizona State forward Romello White (23) and guard Shannon Evans II (11) celebrate after an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Arizona State defeated Kansas 95-85. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

(AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

BY ARIZONA SPORTS

Two weeks after appearing in the Associated Press Poll for the first time since 2009, Arizona State suddenly finds itself No. 5 in the nation.

The Sun Devils made the leap from No. 16 in last week’s AP rankings after beating St. John’s, 82-70, in Los Angeles and dropping No. 2 Kansas, 95-85, in Lawrence, Kan.

Arizona State received five first-place votes and ranks behind new No. 1 Villanova (41 first-place votes), No. 2 Michigan State (19), No. 3 Wichita State (0) and No. 4 Duke (0).

It’s ASU’s first top-10 ranking since 1981.

Arizona State’s resume and 9-0 start to the season now includes wins over four KenPom top-50 teams: Kansas (7), Xavier (11), Kansas State (43) and St. John’s (49). Those victories alone gave ASU a case to be ranked the No. 1 team in the nation after top-ranked Duke fell to Boston College over the weekend.

ESPN’s college basketball power rankings did just that, moving the Sun Devils all the way to the top of the board after their successful week.

Coach Bobby Hurley’s team got a 22-point performance out of redshirt freshman Romello White on Friday against St. John’s, while Tra Holder scored 29 points and added a team-high seven assists Sunday in Lawrence, Kan.

ASU should only be adding depth as the season progresses.

On Sunday, former four-star prospect and Ohio State transfer Mickey Mitchell debuted, playing six minutes. The team hopes freshman Kimani Lawrence will return from a foot injury sometime around conference play.

The Sun Devils open Pac-12 action at Arizona on Dec. 30 with games against Vanderbilt, Longwood and Pacific remaining on the nonconference schedule.

The Wildcats (7-3) returned to the AP Poll and come in 23rd.

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Arizona State forward Romello White (23) and guard Shannon Evans II (11) celebrate in front of Kansas head coach Bill Self after an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Arizona State defeated Kansas 95-85. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Arizona State forward Vitaliy Shibel (10) holds back a bench celebration during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Arizona State defeated Kansas 95-85. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Arizona State guard Remy Martin, top, steals the ball from Kansas guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, bottom, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Kansas head coach Bill Self yells about an official's call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona State in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Arizona State guards Remy Martin (1) and Shannon Evans II (11) celebrate after a basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Arizona State guard Tra Holder (0) drives to the basket past Kansas guard Devonte' Graham, bottom, and center Udoka Azubuike, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Arizona State defeated Kansas 95-85. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Arizona State guard Tra Holder (0) shoots over Kansas guard Devonte' Graham (4) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Holder scored 29 points in the game. Arizona State defeated Kansas 95-85. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Kansas guard Malik Newman holds his head after an injury during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona State in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Arizona State forward Romello White (23) and guard Shannon Evans II (11) celebrate after an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Arizona State defeated Kansas 95-85. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Arizona State guard Kodi Justice, right, hugs guard Remy Martin (1) during the final seconds of an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Kansas guard Devonte' Graham (4) shoots a three-point basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona State in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Kansas guard Lagerald Vick (2) dunks during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona State in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Kansas head coach Bill Self directs his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona State in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley pleads for a call during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Kansas guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (10) tips the ball to a teammate while covered by Arizona State forward Mickey Mitchell (3) and guard Tra Holder (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Kansas guard Malik Newman (14) splits Arizona State defenders Shannon Evans II (11) and Tra Holder (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Kansas guard Lagerald Vick dunks during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona State in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

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