An impressive victory over Michigan State last week has helped the Syracuse Orange rise to No. 5 in the just-released ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll for Week 6 in NCAA college basketball.
The Orange (10-0) are one spot behind another Big East team, Connecticut, in the rankings. Duke, Ohio State and Kansas occupy the top three spots.
Other Big East teams in the top 25 include Pittsburgh (No. 7), Villanova (No. 11), Georgetown (No. 13), Louisville (No. 21) and Notre Dame (No. 23).
Syracuse convinced early-season doubters that it is a top-flight team when it defeated Michigan State, 72-58, in the Jimmy V Classic last week. Both teams were in the top 10 at the time, though the Spartans have now fallen to 7-3 overall and the 15th spot in the coaches poll.
Syracuse is off until Saturday this week, when the Orange will host Iona at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse has games against Morgan State and Drexel before Christmas. The Orange open their Big East Conference schedule Dec. 28 at the Carrier Dome against Providence.