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Houston still No. 1, while North Carolina falls out of in USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll

Houston retains the No. 1 ranking in the USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll. But perhaps the bigger news this week involves the team the Cougars replaced at the top, as North Carolina has gone from No. 1 to unranked in just two weeks.

Houston received 21 of 31 first-place votes submitted this week. Texas holds at No. 2, picking up four top votes. Virginia remains at No. 3, but No. 4 Purdue is closing the gap. The Boilermakers move up a spot in the rankings and claimed six No. 1 nods. Connecticut also moves up a notch to round out the top five.

North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) dribbles the ball while defended by Indiana forward Jordan Geronimo during in the second half  at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) dribbles the ball while defended by Indiana forward Jordan Geronimo during in the second half at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Defending national champ Kansas is No. 6 this week, followed by Tennessee and Arkansas. Arizona, which dropped its first game of the year to unranked Utah, falls five positions to No. 9. Another SEC squad, Alabama, moves into the No. 10 slot. Unbeaten Maryland makes the week’s biggest jump, vaulting nine places to No. 13.

TOP 25: Complete USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll

North Carolina, meanwhile, dropped its fourth game in a row Sunday at Virginia Tech and is out of the Top 25 altogether after being picked first in the preseason. Michigan State, which also now has four losses in the season’s first month, also drops out.

Iowa enters at No. 24, and TCU rejoins the poll at No. 25.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Houston leads, North Carolina out of men's basketball coaches poll