Illini MBB Still Just Short of AP Top 25

Missed Opportunity

The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team came close but fell short of cracking the AP Top 25 in this week's poll. Illinois received 35 votes in the poll, just 10 votes shy of No. 25 North Carolina. The Illini have now been receiving votes in the AP poll for three consecutive weeks, but they have yet to break into the top 25.

Impressive Record

Illinois is 11-2 this season, with their only two losses coming against No. 1 Purdue and No. 19 UCLA. The Illini have won their last five games, including a 79-69 win over No. 15 Wisconsin on Saturday. Illinois is currently ranked No. 26 in the NET rankings, which are used to determine the NCAA Tournament field.

Tough Schedule Ahead

Illinois has a tough schedule ahead of them, with games against No. 3 Michigan, No. 8 Indiana, and No. 11 Iowa still to come. The Illini will need to continue to play well if they want to make a run at the Big Ten title and earn an NCAA Tournament berth.

What's Next?

Illinois will be back in action on Tuesday, January 10, when they host No. 3 Michigan. The game will be televised on ESPN at 8 p.m. CT.