Kansas is back at the top spot in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll.

The Jayhawks, who were No. 1 in the preseason Coaches Poll before getting jumped by Duke, and later Gonzaga, reassumed the top spot Monday after Gonzaga's loss to Tennessee over the weekend. Kansas collected 26-of-32 first-place votes.

Playing without injured center Udoka Azubuike, Kansas All-America candidate Dedric Lawson saved the Jayhawks from a potential upset by scoring 20 points, including Kansas' last 14, in a 63-60 win over New Mexico State at Sprint Center. It fit this team's narrative: Kansas has come from behind in the second half of each of its last five games, yet remains undefeated thanks to the Jayhawks' ability to make plays when it matters most. Kansas will need to start significantly faster this Saturday, though, when the Jayhawks host Villanova. Both teams return two starters — though Azubuike will miss the game — from last year's game, when Villanova ended Kansas' season in the Final Four.

Duke moved up to No. 2 from No. 3 after Gonzaga's loss to Tennessee dropped the Bulldogs to No. 6. Unlike Kansas, the Blue Devils have handled most of their competition relatively easily, with eight of Duke's nine wins coming by double-figures. That includes Duke's last showing, a 91-58 win over Yale where RJ Barrett had 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists and Zion Williamson chipped in a loud 20-8-4. The Blue Devils are off this week and won't play again until next Tuesday.

But Duke isn't even the no-doubt top team in the ACC, with No. 3 Virginia hot on the Blue Devils' heels. All the Cavaliers have done this year is build off last year's regular season success with a team that's arguably even more balanced. With the way the Cavaliers defend, they don't need to be lights out on offense. And yet Virginia has KenPom's current No. 11 offense and a team that looks determined not to let Duke have an easy path to the ACC title.

Tennessee was the lone new entrant to the top five, using the strength of its 76-73 victory over Gonzaga to leapfrog into the No. 4 spot. After Grant Williams fouled out, Admiral Schofield hit three late three-pointers, as part of his 30-point effort.

Like Duke, Michigan has aced almost all of its tests. The lone exception was a tight 62-60 win at Northwestern this past week, though the Wolverines followed that game up with a 79-68 victory over South Carolina. With Jordan Poole melting nets and Ignas Brazdeikis scoring inside and out, Michigan is going to be awfully tough to beat. The Wolverines were the only team besides Kansas to collect more than one first-place vote, landing three.

USA TODAY Coaches Poll 12/10

1. Kansas (26 first-place votes)

2. Duke (1)

3. Virginia (1)

4. Tennessee

5. Michigan (3)

6. Gonzaga (1)

7. Nevada

8. Auburn

9. Michigan State

10. Florida State

11. Texas Tech

12. North Carolina

13. Virginia Tech

14. Ohio State

15. Buffalo

16. Villanova

17. Mississippi State

18. Kentucky

19. Wisconsin

20. Arizona State

21. Iowa

22. Houston

23. Maryland

24. Kansas State

25. Nebraska

Others Receiving Votes: Marquette 66; Cincinnati 51; St. John's 48; Furman 47; Purdue 45; Indiana 42; Syracuse 36; Oklahoma 27; Texas Christian 14; UCLA 13; Iowa State 11; North Texas 7; Central Florida 7; North Carolina State 7; Creighton 6; Florida 4; Arizona 2; Texas 1.