NCAA Basketball Rankings: Notre Dame Checks In At No. 23 In The Coaches Poll

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are ranked No. 23 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll.

College Basketball Rankings: Spartans At No. 5, Buckeyes At No. 10 In Latest AP Poll

The college basketball scene is beginning to boil into March Madness as the final hours of the February steadily pass -- and the latest AP Poll suggests the Ohio St. Buckeyes (23-6, 11-5) may be ready for February to end now.

Ohio State spent most of late January and early February fixed at No. 3 in the standings, but have since lost three times, slipping to No. 10 in Monday's rankings after losing 60-63 to the No. 14 Wisconsin Badgers (21-8, 10-6) Sunday night.

One of the other teams to take the Buckeyes down this month, the Michigan St. Spartans (24-5, 13-3) have eased up the rankings during Ohio State's crumbling. Michigan State -- who began the Preseason at No. 27 -- has not only won 7 straight games and reached the top of the Big Ten Conference standings, they have climbed yet another spot in the AP Poll to reach No. 5 overall.

Here is a look at the AP Poll Top 10 rankings for this week:

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College Basketball Rankings 2012: Big 10 With Only Team In Top 10 Of Coaches Poll

NCAA Basketball Rankings: Ohio State Continues To Tumble, Michigan Rising Fast

The latest college basketball rankings have the Ohio St. Buckeyes continuing their rather precipitous slide while the Michigan Wolverines begin to surge back toward the top.

The Buckeyes, fresh off of losses to the Michigan St. Spartans and the Wolverines, have fallen another three slots in the AP Poll, from No. 6 last week to No. 9, and two slots in the Coaches Poll, from No. 6 to No. 8. Ohio State had been ranked No. 2 in both polls for several weeks, but the recent losses have them trailing the Spartans in even their own conference as they are tied at second place with the Michigan Wolverines' 10-4 Big Ten record.

The Wolverines, meanwhile, jumped six spots in both polls, putting them at No. 18 in the Coaches Poll and No. 11 in the AP Poll. Michigan has struggled in the recent weeks, but their three-game winning streak, culminating in their 56-51 win over the Buckeyes, has them suddenly as one of the nation's fastest risers.

Here is a look at the latest top teams in the nation, according to the two major polls:

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College Basketball Rankings: Buckeyes Falling, Spartans Rising In Latest AP Poll

The No. 6 Ohio St. Buckeyes (21-4) fall three slots in the latest rendition of the college basketball AP Poll. After a crucial loss on Saturday to the now No. 7 Michigan St. Spartans (20-5), the Ohio State basketball team finds itself tumbling from its No. 3 ranking. This week, the Buckeyes will take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers (Tuesday night) and the No. 17 Michigan Wolverines (Saturday night), looking to regain ground in the Big-Ten-dominate Top 25.

Meanwhile, the Illinois Fighting Illini (16-9), who are sloughing through a three-game losing streak, received zero votes for the second straight week. They have a good shot, however, to play spoiler through the remainder of the year, facing the Buckeyes on Feb. 21, the Wolverines on Mar. 1, and the No. 15 Wisconsin Badgers (19-6) on Mar. 4.

For more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub.

College Basketball Rankings 2012: Big Ten Teams Move Upward In Coaches Poll

NCAA Basketball Rankings: Ohio St. Buckeyes Hold At No. 3

The latest AP college basketball Rankings have the top six teams unchanged through the latest rendition of the Top 25. Most significant for the Big Ten Conference is the sustained No. 3 ranking for the Ohio St. Buckeyes, whom have not lost since early January against the Illinois Fighting Illini (16-7).

The Michigan St. Spartans (18-5) drop from No. 9 to No. 11 after a surprise and low-scoring 41-42 loss to the spoil-happy Illinois Illini. Also moving in the rankings are the Wisconsin Badgers (No. 23, down from No. 19), the Michigan Wolverines (No. 22, moving up from No. 23) and the Indiana Hoosiers (No. 23, down from No. 20).

Here is a look at the AP Poll top 10 as of Monday morning:

For more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub.

College Basketball Rankings: Big Ten Teams Shuffle In Coaches Poll

College Basketball Rankings: Ohio State Climbs To No. 2, Illinois Down To 1 Vote

The latest AP Top 25 Poll has a trio of Big Ten teams on the rise, while two others fall back in the standings.

Climbing after a tough loss for No. 4 Missouri Tigers (19-2), the Ohio St. Buckeyes (19-3) hit the No. 3 spot in the AP Poll from their previous No. 4 standing. The Buckeyes, who only lost once all month, face their biggest challenge of the season in the first two weeks of February, facing the No. 19 Wisconsin Badgers (17-5) on Saturday, Feb. 4, and then facing the No. 9 Michigan St. Spartans (17-4) the following week.

Both the Badgers and Spartans eased up in the standing this week also, as the Spartans moved up one slot from No. 10 to 9, while the Badgers jumped from No. 25 to 19 after pushing their win streak to five-straight.

The Illinois Fighting Illini (15-6), however, join the No. 23 Michigan Wolverines (16-6) as one of the two Big Ten teams to fall this week, as the Wolverines drop three slots from No. 20, while the Fighting Illini -- losers of three straight -- received a single vote, their lowest total of the season.

For more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub.

2012 College Basketball Rankings: Big 10 Shows Up In Bottom Of Poll

Ohio State, as they have all season, paces the Big 10 in the most recent edition of the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, sticking at No. 3 and only four points behind the Syracuse Orange who come in at No. 2. The Buckeyes are followed by the Michigan State Spartans, who are up a spot to No. 10 after the Georgetown Hoyas fell in the rankings.

College Basketball Rankings: From 22 To Not Ranked, Illinois Basketball Tumbles In AP Poll

The latest college basketball AP Poll has the Kentucky Wildcats in first place and the Illinois Fighting Illini (15-5, 4-3) hitting a new recent low. The Illini have lost two consecutive Big Ten Conference games, received a paltry 11 points in the latest AP Poll, and have a tough task ahead of them to regain their former prowess.

Meanwhile, the Ohio St. Buckeyes (17-3, 5-2) -- whom the Illini beat on January 10th -- have pushed up from their 6th place standing to an impressive No. 4 ranking.

Other Big Ten fellows in the Top 25 of the AP Poll include the Michigan St. Spartans (No. 10, down from No. 9), the Michigan Wolverines (No. 20 again this week) and the Wisconsin Badgers (No. 25, cracking the Top 25 this week with a 16-5 record).

Here his how the top group shakes out heading into the final week of January:

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NCAA Basketball Rankings: Illlini Falling Fast In Coaches Poll

The Illinois Fighting Illini, fresh off a pair of Big Ten Conference losses, have dropped to nearly inconsequential levels in the latest USAToday Coaches Poll.

College Basketball Rankings: Illinois No. 22 In Latest AP Poll

After a big win over Ohio State last week, the Fighting Illini are back in the AP top 25. The Buckeyes, however, remain the highest-ranked Big Ten team at No. 6, and the Syracuse Orange lay claim to the No. 1 spot once again.

Elsewhere in the Big Ten, Michigan State slid from sixth to ninth after a road loss to Northwestern, and Indiana fell from seventh to 11th following an 0-2 week. Michigan is two spots ahead of Illinois at No. 20, while Wisconsin and Northwestern both received votes.

The full poll:

For more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub.

College Basketball Rankings: Illinois Fighting Illini Back In Coaches Poll Top 25

The Illinois Fighting Illini (15-3) return to the Top 25 of the USAToday Coaches Poll following their win over the Ohio St. Buckeyes (16-3).

NCAA Basketball Rankings: Michigan St. Spartans Crack Top 10 In AP Poll

The latest AP Poll has the Ohio St. Buckeyes (13-2) falling from their perch atop the No. 2 slot, while the Michigan St. Spartans (13-2) make their first appearance in the AP Poll Top 10.

Ohio St., after having spent much of the 2011-2012 NCAA Basketball Season at the No. 2 spot, fell to No. 6 after their Big Ten rivals, the No. 12 Indiana Hoosiers (13-1) defeated them on New Year's Eve. Meanwhile, the Michigan St. Spartans have stretched their winning streak to 13 games, lifting them to a No. 10 ranking.

The Illinois Fighting Illini (12-3) have struggled of late, leaving them entirely point-less in the latest AP Poll. Here is the latest Top 10 in both polls, as of Monday, January 2:

For more breaking news and updates on the 2011 College Basketball Rankings, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago or drop by SB Nation's College Basketball hub.

College Basketball Rankings: Illini Nearly Disappear, Ohio St. Falls To No. 7 In Coaches Poll

The Illinois Fighting Illini have nearly entirely disappeared from the Top 25 USAToday / Coaches Poll while the Big Ten front runner, Ohio State, finds itself slipping out of the top five.

NCAA Basketball Rankings: Illinois Fighting Illini Fall From AP Poll

The Illinois Fighting Illini (11-2) have not only exited the Top 25 of the Coaches Poll, but now they find themselves out of the Top 25 in the AP Poll as well.

After losing to the Missouri Tigers (12-0) last Thursday, the Illini have dropped to 27th in both polls, earning 70 points in the AP Poll. That leaves only four Big ten teams left in the Top 25 -- the No. 2 Ohio St. Buckeyes, No. 13 Indiana Hoosiers, No. 16 Michigan St. Spartans, and No. 18 Michigan Wolverines.

The Top 10 in both polls look like this:

For more breaking news and updates on the 2011 College Basketball Rankings, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago or drop by SB Nation's College Basketball hub.

NCAA Basketball Rankings: Illinois Falls Out Of Top 25 Of Coaches Poll

The Illinois Fighting Illini drop off the Top 25 following their loss to the Missouri Tigers.

NCAA Basketball Rankings: Illinois Fighting Illini Drop To No. 24 In Coaches Poll

The latest USAToday / Coaches Poll has the Illinois Fighting Illini slipping five spots to No. 24. The Illini lost on Saturday to the UNLV Runnin' Rebels 48-64, and though the Rebels have since earned a No. 23 ranking in the Coaches Poll, the Illini have find themselves tottering on falling out of the Top 25.

Elsewhere around the Big Ten, the Ohio St. Buckeyes (10-1) continued their dominant ways, staying affixed to the No. 2 slot behind the Syracuse Orange (11-0). The No. 19 Michigan Wolverines (9-2) and No. 20 Michigan St. Wolverines (9-2) find themselves in reverse order than their AP Poll rankings, but nonetheless in the Top 20.

Here is a glimpse of this weeks Top 10 in both polls:

For more breaking news and updates on the 2011 College Basketball Rankings, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago or drop by SB Nation's College Basketball hub.

College Basketball Rankings: Illini Fall To No. 25 In AP Poll

The Illinois Fighting Illini drop six slots following their loss to an unranked UNLV team on Saturday.

NCAA Basketball Rankings: Undefeated Illinois Climbing The Polls

The Illini continue to climb in the polls, despite preseason predictions of the opposite.

2011 NCAA Basketball Rankings: Ohio St. Buckeyes Move To Number 2

The Big Ten Conference continues to surge up the college basketball rankings as now two Big Ten teams reside in the Top Ten, with one more on the brink.

The only ranked Big Ten team to gain ground in the latest polls, the Ohio St. Buckeyes (6-0) have eased forward one slot to No. 2 after the North Carolina Tar Heels slipped down to No. 5 following their loss to the then-unranked UNLV Runnin' Rebels (6-0, No. 18).

The Wisconsin Badgers (6-0, No. 9) also improved this week, jumping two slots from No. 11 to No. 9. They face an enormous test on Wednesday as they head to North Carolina to face the Tar Heels.

Elsewhere in the Big Ten, the Michigan Wolverines (5-1, No. 14) dropped a spot after losing to the Duke Blue Devils (7-0, No. 3) during the Maui Invitational. The Wolverines visit the Virginia Cavaliers (5-1) this Tuesday.

The Illinois Fighting Illini (6-0, unranked; No. 30 in AP Poll points) have slowly begun to garner more votes in the AP Poll, gaining a total of 13 points in the latest rendition of the polls:

For more breaking news and updates on the 2011 College Basketball Rankings, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago or drop by SB Nation's College Basketball hub.

NCAA Basketball Rankings: Wisconsin Badgers, Michigan Wolverines Move Up

The Big Ten did nothing but gain ground in the AP Poll this week as the conference went 13-1, losing only to the Tar Heels.

NCAA College Basketball Rankings: Fighting Illini Get 2 Points, Ohio State Gets 3rd Place

The polls agree. The North Carolina Tar Heels are the team to beat according to both the ESPN / USA Today and the AP Poll. The Big 10, however, does not shy away either poll. With a total of five Big 10 schools getting votes in the early rankings, the Ohio St. Buckeyes presently lead the way with an impressive No. 3 ranking.

The Illinois Fighting Illini made their first showing in the 2011 college basketball rankings, receiving two points and a tie for 44th place -- not great by any stretch:

Even the Wisconsin Badgers at No. 15 have a significant climb to the top five, which sit on a plateau of their own. Interestingly, the Big 10's official preseason favorites ranked the Michigan St. Spartans third in the conference, with the Michigan Wolverines un-ranked -- quite different from the AP poll's standings. The stately rivalry will no doubt enjoy this bit of fodder for the upcoming season.

The Fighting Illini schedule begins in two weeks with a home game against Loyola-Chicago. The Illini will not face Ohio State until January 10, 2012, featured on ESPN. They will face Wisconsin two weeks later on January 22, also at home.

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