MADISON, Wis. — Following a nearly three-month hiatus, Wisconsin’s basketball team is back in the Associated Press top 25.
On the heels of three consecutive Big Ten victories, the Badgers checked in at No. 20 in the AP poll on Monday. Indiana retained the No. 1 ranking despite losing to Illinois on a buzzer-beating layup earlier in the week.
Wisconsin was ranked No. 22 on Nov. 12, the second week of the poll, but dropped out following a 74-56 loss to Florida. Although the Badgers shuffled around in the “others receiving votes” category, they didn’t break through again until this week.
Wisconsin (17-7) is the only team featured in the poll with seven losses. Kentucky, which entered at No. 25, is the only team with even six losses.
But the Badgers also have played one of the most difficult schedules in the country and own victories against No. 1 Indiana and No. 4 Michigan. According to college basketball statistics guru Kem Pomeroy, Wisconsin’s strength of schedule ranks No. 3 in the nation, behind only Minnesota and Illinois.
This season, Wisconsin is 4-4 against teams ranked in the AP top 25, including 4-2 against Big Ten teams. The four victories rank second in the country behind Indiana’s five top 25 wins. Syracuse also has four victories against AP top 25 teams this season.
On Thursday, Wisconsin travels to face Minnesota, which fell out of the top 25 poll and is 26th.
The full AP top 25 is listed below:
1. Indiana (21-3)2. Duke (21-2)3. Miami (Fla.) (19-3)4. Michigan (21-3)5. Gonzaga (23-2)6. Syracuse (20-3)7. Florida (19-3)8. Michigan State (20-4)9. Arizona (20-3)10. Kansas State (19-4)11. Butler (20-4)12. Louisville (19-5)13. Ohio State (17-6)14. Kansas (19-4)15. Georgetown (17-4)16. Pittsburgh (20-5)17. Oklahoma State (17-5)18. Marquette (17-5)19. New Mexico (20-4)20. Wisconsin (17-7)21. Notre Dame (19-5)22. Memphis (20-3)23. Oregon (19-5)24. Colorado State (19-4)25. Kentucky (17-6)
Follow Jesse Temple on Twitter.
