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Illinois Up in Latest College Basketball Polls

The Gonzaga Bulldogs remained the clear-cut No. 1 on Monday, earning 62 of 64 first-place votes in The Associated Press poll after their latest win over a Top 25 foe, while the Big Ten placed nine teams in the poll, with Wisconsin and Iowa in the top 10.

 

The sixth-ranked Wisconsin Badgers began a run of Top 25 teams from the league, jumping three spots after wins over Nebraska and then-No. 12 Michigan State. The Hawkeyes dropped from fourth to 10th while surprising Rutgers began a run of four more Big Ten teams at No. 14 — Illinois, Michigan and the Spartans were right behind the Scarlet Knights.

 

No. 19 Northwestern and No. 21 Minnesota were newcomers to the poll and Ohio State rounded out the Top 25.

 

Second-ranked Baylor received the other two first-place votes, and the Jayhawks remained No. 3 after their rout of then-No. 7 West Virginia. Villanova and Houston each moved up a spot after Iowa’s overtime loss to Minnesota.

 

The Big Ten's newcomers to the polls will have their hands full over the next couple of weeks.

Northwestern’s next five games begin with trips to Iowa and Michigan, a home game against Illinois, a trip to Ohio State and the return game against the Hawkeyes. In fact, eight of their next nine are against ranked opponents.

 

Minnesota, whose lone loss came to Illinois and which was last ranked on Dec. 4, 2017, plays its next six against Top 25 teams: Michigan State, at Wisconsin, Ohio State, at Michigan, at Iowa and the Wolverines at home.

 

Florida State was the best-ranked team from the ACC at No. 18. Duke held steady at No. 20, and Virginia tumbled to No. 23 with Virginia Tech right behind, giving the conference four teams squeezed into the Top 25.

 

No. 21 Oregon was the only team from the Pac-12. The Ducks climbed four spots after pushing their winning streak to six.

 

Xavier was the first team outside the Top 25, falling four places after its loss to Creighton. North Carolina was the biggest loser, tumbling from No. 17 out of the poll after the Tar Heels lost a close game at North Carolina State.

 

 


The Illini check-in at No. 16 in this week's coaches poll. Rival Mizzou has jumped all the way to No. 12. Rutgers, who beat Illinois almost two weeks ago in New Jersey, continues their climb up the polls, at No. 13 this week. 

 

Gonzaga, Baylor, Villanova, Kansas and Houston make up the top 5 followed by Tennessee, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Texas and Creighton. 

 

Iowa (No. 11), Texas Tech (No. 14) and Michigan (No. 15) join Mizzou and Rutgers to round out the 11-15. 

 

Oregon is No. 17 in this week's coaches poll. Other Big Ten team's in the top-25 include Michigan State (No. 18), Ohio State (No. 20), Northwestern (No. 22), and Minnesota, who tied with Virginia for No. 24.

 

A tumultuous start to the season for Duke (3-2) has culminated with the program dropping out entirely of the latest USA Today Coaches Poll rankings. The Blue Devils were 25th in last week's poll but haven't played a game in nearly two weeks, which triggered the fall. They are one of three teams to drop out of the rankings this week along with North Carolina and Richmond.

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