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:
| Rank | Team (1st-place votes) | Record | Previous |
| 1 | Kentucky (61) | 19-1 | 2 |
| 2 | Missouri (2) | 18-1 | 5 |
| 3 | Syracuse (2) | 20-1 | 1 |
| 4 | Ohio State | 17-3 | 6 |
| 5 | Kansas | 16-3 | 7 |
| 6 | Baylor | 17-2 | 3 |
| 7 | North Carolina | 16-3 | 8 |
| 8 | Duke | 16-3 | 10 |
| 9 | Georgetown | 16-3 | 10 |
| 10 | Michigan State | 16-4 | 9 |
For more from around the world of college hoops, check out SB Nation's NCAA basketball news hub.