So this is the reward for beating the two-time defending national champions AND being of only two unbeaten teams left in the country -- a No. 5 ranking in the latest Associated Press poll?

Auburn is still behind three teams with at least one loss. Those are the cold, hard facts. Makes you wonder what some voters are thinking. Let's take a closer look.

No. 1 UConn (19-0) -- Greatest women's team on the planet right now. Nobody's even close. If this poll were truly accurate, it would be the Huskies, then four or five vacant spots and then the rest.

No. 2 Oklahoma (16-2) -- Losses to UConn (understandable) and North Carolina, which used to be understandable, until the Tar Heels lost three games last week. Suddenly that loss -- which came at home, incidentally -- doens't look so hot.

No. 3 Duke (17-1) -- Hasn't lost since November. A fine streak, yes, but the Blue Devils' one blemish was a loss to Hartford. Yes, the currently 9-8 Hawks.

No. 4 Baylor (17-1) -- Only loss was to Wisconsin in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Not a terrible loss, but the Badgers, at 14-7, are still not ranked.

And finally ....

No. 5 Auburn (20-0) -- Longest current winning streak in the country with wins against No. 12 Florida, No. 13 Tennessee and No. 15 Ohio State.

What exactly is preventing the voters from putting the Tigers No. 2? The coaches poll comes out tomorrow. We'll see if Auburn fares any better in that.