Tribune News Services
Illinois was among three Big Ten teams dropping out of the Associated Press college basketball poll today, and Notre Dame also exited as a record-tying seven teams moved into the rankings.
Illinois (4-2 lost to Utah and Bradley in the Las Vegas Invitational to tumble from its No. 20 spot. Michigan and Minnesota were the other Big Ten teams to fall out of the top 25. And while Purdue moved up from sixth to fourth, Michigan State fell from second to ninth.
The only other time seven new teams entered the poll was Dec. 13, 1955, when it was still a Top 20.
Illinois was among three Big Ten teams dropping out of the Associated Press college basketball poll today, and Notre Dame also exited as a record-tying seven teams moved into the rankings.
Illinois (4-2 lost to Utah and Bradley in the Las Vegas Invitational to tumble from its No. 20 spot. Michigan and Minnesota were the other Big Ten teams to fall out of the top 25. And while Purdue moved up from sixth to fourth, Michigan State fell from second to ninth.
The only other time seven new teams entered the poll was Dec. 13, 1955, when it was still a Top 20.
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Best college hoops teams in Illinois right now? Northwestern, Illinois State, Bradley, Southern Illinois and DePaul. My Illini will get it together by the opening of the Big Ten season, but last weekend was quite an ego adjustment and a wake up call that they need to work and earn honors on the court. Meanwhile, I saw ISU's star (and Chicago native) Osiris Eldridge play this weekend, and he is the best basketball player in the state right now.
Go Cats.