Playboy mag ranks 'Nova, Owls among top teams

Villanova is ranked No. 7 and Temple is ranked No. 13 in Playboy magazine's 2011 NCAA tip-off preview.

Playboy predicts the top 25 teams and picks a preseason All-America team in its December issue, which is now on newsstands. Two players with Philly connections are on the team: La Salle sophomore Aaric Murray is one of two centers and Kansas junior Marcus Morris (Prep Charter High) is one of four forwards.

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La Salle freshman point guard Tyreek Duren has been named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week, the league office announced today. Duren, of Ss. Neumann-Goretti High, had nine assists, the most by an Explorer in his debut in 11 years, and scored eight points in an 82-71 victory over Columbia on Friday.

The last time a La Salle player had as many assists in his college debut was on November 20, 1999 when Julian Blanks also had nine assists against Mount St. Mary's.

Duren played 31 minutes and added two steals, both of which led to layups in the first half.

La Salle will play Baylor at 2 o'clock on Tuesday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN as part of the network's 24-hour college basketball marathon.

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Villanova moved down and Temple moved up in this week's USA Today-ESPN men's college basketball poll that was released today.

Villanova dropped to seventh from sixth, while the Owls moved from 22nd to 20th. Both Big 5 teams opened with victories on Friday.

The top five remained the same: Duke, Michigan State, Kansas State, Pitt, Ohio State.