Duke still No. 1, but not a unanimous choice

Duke was still No. 1 in the Associated Press men’s college basketball poll Monday, as it has been all season. This week, however, the Blue Devils weren’t a unanimous choice.

One of three unbeaten teams in Division I, Duke (16-0) received all but one first-place vote from the 72-member national media panel. The other No. 1 nod went to No. 2 Florida (16-0) after a week in which 11 ranked teams lost, two of them twice.

Duke, which defeated Maryland and Clemson last week, and Florida, which beat Mississippi State and Auburn, held the top two spots for a second straight poll.

Arizona and Cincinnati, the two ranked teams to lose two games last week, dropped out of the Top 25. They were replaced by Syracuse and Iowa, two schools which were ranked earlier in the season.

With Syracuse replacing Cincinnati, the Big East still has six ranked teams, but Iowa coming in gives the Big Ten the same number. The record is seven, set twice each by the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big Ten. The ACC did it last season and has five ranked teams this week.

Connecticut and Memphis both moved up one spot to third and fourth. Texas went from No 8 to No. 5, Gonzaga and Illinois held on to Nos. 6 and 7, while Pittsburgh and Washington were Nos. 9 and 10.

“Make it a double for George Washington basketball.

The Colonials joined the Associated Press women’s poll at No. 25 as one of two newcomers, putting both the school’s teams in the Top 25. The men, now 16th, have been ranked all season.

BYU was the other newcomer in the poll, which had Tennessee leading a top four that was unchanged. The Cougars, off to their best start ever, broke in at No. 23.

Olympics

Hays back on bobsled team

Todd Hays narrowly missed Olympic gold four years ago. His next shot comes at the Turin Games, and he’ll have Pavle Jovanovic this time to help the cause.

Hays and Steven Holcomb were the two drivers selected for the U.S. men’s Olympic bobsled team Monday, headlining a lineup with few surprises.

Both will drive in the two- and four-man competitions at Turin next month, and Jovanovic – a talented brakeman who missed the Salt Lake City Games after testing positive for a banned steroid, despite claims he accidentally ingested the product through a tainted supplement – will likely be in Hays’ sled for both events.

Along with that trio, the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation picked 2002 Olympians Steve Mesler, Bill Schuffenhauer and Randy Jones, along with Brock Kreitzburg, Curt Tomasevicz and Lorenzo Smith III to complete the roster.

“The final budget for the Olympics was approved, covering a $96.3 million shortfall that caused months of delays.

The approved budget – covering the operating costs of the Feb. 10-26 games – totals $1.4 billion. Overall spending, including construction, is estimated at over $3.6 billion.

“Federico Fellini-inspired clowns, acrobats and high-wire acts will perform at the closing ceremony for the Turin Olympics.

The circus theme also will include aspects from Italy’s winter carnival, a masked celebration based in Venice each February.

miscellany

Armstrong case thrown out

A criminal court refused to hear a defamation suit brought by Italian cyclist Filippo Simeoni against Lance Armstrong.

Judicial officials in Paris said the statute of limitations had expired in the case and that Simeoni’s lawyers misinterpreted the law.

“Pitcher Dontrelle Willis avoided salary arbitration, agreeing to a $4.35 million, one-year contract with the Florida Marlins.

Willis went 22-10 with a 2.63 ERA in 2005, finishing second to St. Louis’ Chris Carpenter in N.L. Cy Young Award balloting.

“John Lackey agreed to a $3.76 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels, bypassing salary arbitration. The Angels also avoided arbitration with catcher Jose Molina, reaching a two-year deal.

“Relief pitcher Jeff Nelson agreed to a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, who need a middle man to replace injured Al Reyes.

“Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Oliver Perez bypassed salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth approximately $1.9 million.

“The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to one-year contracts with new first baseman Lyle Overbay and pitcher Scott Downs, avoiding salary arbitration with both players.

“Outfielder Austin Kearns avoided salary arbitration with the Cincinnati Reds by agreeing to a $1.85 million, one-year contract.