Oklahoma Is Third No. 1 Team in 3 Weeks

Oklahoma basketball Coach Billy Tubbs, an admirer of great explorers such as Christopher Columbus and Magellan, has reached uncharted territory with his Sooners.

They’re ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press college basketball poll for the first time in the school’s history.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Tubbs said Monday. “I guess you could say it’s a dream come true.”

The Sooners (17-2), the third No. 1 team in as many weeks, were No. 4 a week ago but jumped to No. 1 after victories over Colorado and Nevada Las Vegas, and losses by the top three teams.

The Sooners received 32 of the 66 first-place votes cast by the nationwide panel of sportswriters and broadcasters and finished with 1,273 points to edge Illinois in the balloting.

Illinois, which became No. 1 for the first time in 37 years, held the top spot for just 1 week before losing to Minnesota, 69-62, before rebounding for a victory over Indiana.

It appeared then-No. 2 Georgetown would take the top spot, but the Hoyas were upset by Louisiana State, 82-80, Saturday.