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.
AP Top 10
| Rank | Team (1st-place votes) | Record | Previous |
| 1 | Kentucky (63) | 25-1 | 1 |
| 2 | Syracuse (2) | 25-1 | 2 |
| 3 | Missouri | 23-2 | 4 |
| 4 | Kansas | 20-5 | 7 |
| 5 | Duke | 21-4 | 10 |
| 6 | Ohio State | 21-4 | 3 |
| 7 | Michigan State | 20-5 | 11 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 21-4 | 5 |
| 9 | Baylor | 21-4 | 6 |
| 10 | Georgetown | 19-5 | 12 |
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