Indiana St. enters Top 25 poll for first time since 1979

Field Level Media|published: Mon 12th February, 14:00 2024

Dec 30, 2023; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Indiana State Sycamores head coach Josh Schertz shouts directions to his offense including Indiana State Sycamores guard Ryan Conwell (3), during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. credits: Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana State is in the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since Larry Bird, and UConn and Purdue remained 1-2, the only constants in a week that saw a lot of movement up and down the top 10.

UConn (22-2) received 45 first-place votes and Purdue (22-2) earned the other 16 to remain at No. 2 in the new poll released Monday.

Houston (21-3) moved up two spots to No. 3 followed by Marquette (18-5) and Arizona (19-5), both of whom moved up three spots each to crack the top 5.

They replaced Kansas (19-5) and North Carolina (19-5), who lost their foothold in the top 5 and this week fall in at Nos. 6 and 7 after losses last week. Tennessee (17-6) dropped two spots to No. 8, followed by Duke (18-5) and Iowa State (18-5), which rose four spots to enter the top 10.

But it's the Sycamores of Indiana State (22-3) taking the spotlight Monday. Riding a nine-game winning streak, Indiana State (No. 23) cracked the poll for the first time since ascending to No. 1 in 1978-79 behind Bird, who would lead them to the national championship game.

Wisconsin (16-8) was the week's biggest dropper, falling nine spots to No. 20 after two more losses last week. The Badgers own a four-game losing skid.

In addition to Indiana State, Saint Mary's (20-6) is back in at No. 18 and Virginia (19-5), in the midst of an eight-game winning streak, is back in at No. 19. Oklahoma (18-6) also returns at No. 25.

Dropping out of the poll this week are Utah State, Texas Tech and San Diego State and New Mexico.

The rest of the Top 25:

11. South Carolina

12. Baylor

13. Auburn

14. Illinois

15. Alabama

16. Dayton

17. Creighton

18. Saint Mary's

19. BYU

20. Wisconsin