Wisconsin basketball, with a record of 13-3 and 3-2 in the Big Ten, narrowly missed the top 25 in the latest USA TODAY Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll released on Monday. The Badgers received 29 votes, a big jump from the previous week, and tied for the 27th position with Arizona.
The team is on a winning streak, having won five games in a row after a tough stretch in early December where they lost three straight to teams like Michigan, Illinois, and Marquette. Recently, they defeated Rutgers and Minnesota, allowing only 122 points over those two games. This solid defensive effort has marked Wisconsin as a much more competitive team overall.
According to various rankings, Wisconsin sits at No. 21 in KenPom and No. 27 in ESPN’s BPI. Their upcoming match against Ohio State is on January 14, and a win there could propel them back into the top 25.
At the top of the coaches poll, Auburn leads with a record of 15-1, followed by teams like Iowa State, Duke, Florida, and Alabama. Tennessee also made headlines as they dropped five spots after a loss to Florida.
In terms of Big Ten representation, Michigan State, Oregon, Purdue, Michigan, and Illinois remain in the top 25. UCLA, previously at No. 21, slipped out of the rankings after losing two games. Maryland and Indiana are also receiving votes alongside Wisconsin.
As they prepare to face Ohio State, the Badgers hope to extend their winning streak. Success in that game could mean a return to the coaches’ top 25.
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