With just one game on the schedule last week, the Badgers made the most of it, defeating No. 7 ranked Purdue. It was enough to catapult them up five spots in the AP Top 25 poll, and Wisconsin now finds themselves ahead of the rest of the Big Ten.
Checking in at No. 11 this week pic.twitter.com/6FFWPWEsM9
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) February 17, 2025
Badgers leap over the rest of the Big Ten in Top 25 poll
The Badgers climbed up to No. 11 in this week's AP poll, and surprisingly lead the way for the Big Ten conference. Michigan follows the Badgers at No. 12, Purdue falls to No. 13, and Michigan State joins the group at No. 14. Maryland checks in at No. 20. It's the first time this season that Wisconsin has been the highest ranked team in the conference.
Despite ranking at the top of the conference in the AP Poll, Wisconsin still sits at fourth in the Big Ten standings, behind the three that follow them in the top 25. They are only two games back from first place, however, and have more than enough time to reach the top spot. They'll face Illinois, a team they've lost to nine straight times, on Tuesday.
Wisconsin has now reached the No. 11 ranking for the second time this season as it matches their season high slot. When the Badgers had the ranking in December, though, they quickly squandered it and fel out of the top 25 less than two weeks later. But this time feels different, as the Badgers are enjoying a four-game win streak and have their eyes on a Big Ten regular season championship.