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It’s been 1,869 days since Illinois cracked the top 25 in the AP poll, but the wait is over.
The Illini were listed at No. 24 in the AP poll on Monday afternoon after a string of three straight wins against Purdue, Wisconsin and Rutgers in the past eight days. They were last ranked on Dec. 1, 2014 after a 6-0 start and a Las Vegas Invitational Championship.
11. Louisville
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) January 13, 2020
12. West Virginia
13. Dayton
14. Villanova
15. Michigan State
16. Wichita State
17. Maryland
18. Seton Hall
19. Michigan
20. Colorado
21. Ohio State
22. Memphis
23. Texas Tech
24. Illinois
25. Creighton
For the first time since Dec. 1, 2014, the #Illini are ranked in the @AP_Top25. #JointheFight pic.twitter.com/JrX5QdcEby
— Illinois Basketball (@IlliniMBB) January 13, 2020
Illinois currently sits in second place in the Big Ten and just one game back of Michigan State after its loss at Purdue. Awaiting the Illini on Saturday is a favorable matchup at home against a middling Northwestern team.
Four other Big Ten teams joined the Illini in this week’s AP poll, Michigan State being the highest at No. 15.