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:
Rank | Team | Prev |
1 | Kentucky | 2 |
2 | Ohio State | 3 |
3 | Duke | 6 |
4 | Syracuse | 5 |
5 | North Carolina | 1 |
6 | Louisville | 7 |
7 | Baylor | 9 |
8 | Connecticut | 4 |
9 | Wisconsin | 11 |
10 | Florida | 10 |
11 | Xavier | 12 |
12 | Alabama | 13 |
13 | Missouri | 21 |
14 | Michigan | 15 |
15 | Kansas | 14 |
16 | Marquette | 16 |
17 | Pitt | 17 |
18 | UNLV | NR |
19 | Gonzaga | 19 |
20 | Vandy | 18 |
21 | Mississippi State | 24 |
22 | Memphis | 8 |
23 | St. Louis | NR |
24 | Cal | 20 |
25 | Texas A&M | 25 |
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.