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The Michigan Wolverines had a successful week in that they were able to clinch a regular season Big Ten championship, but also last two of three games to end the year. They fell to the No. 4 spot in the country in the release of this week’s AP top 25 college basketball poll.
Baylor moved back up to the No. 2 spot, while Illinois leapfrogged the Wolverines to take over the No. 3 ranking. Iowa rounds out the top five and stays at No. 5 for the second week in a row.
Other ranked Big Ten teams include Ohio State (No. 9) and Purdue (No. 20).
AP Top 25 — College Basketball 2020-21
| Rank | School | Conference | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | School | Conference | Previous |
| 1 | Gonzaga | WCC | 1 |
| 2 | Baylor | Big 12 | 3 |
| 3 | Illinois | Big Ten | 4 |
| 4 | Michigan | Big Ten | 2 |
| 5 | Iowa | Big Ten | 9 |
| 6 | Alabama | SEC | 8 |
| 7 | Houston | AAC | 9 |
| 8 | Arkansas | SEC | 12 |
| 9 | Ohio State | Big Ten | 7 |
| 10 | West Virginia | Big 12 | 6 |
| 11 | Kansas | Big 12 | 13 |
| 12 | Oklahoma State | Big 12 | 17 |
| 13 | Texas | Big 12 | 15 |
| 14 | Villanova | Big East | 10 |
| 15 | Florida State | ACC | 11 |
| 16 | Virginia | ACC | 21 |
| 17 | Creighton | Big East | 14 |
| 18 | Loyola Chicago | Missouri Valley | 20 |
| 19 | San Diego State | MWC | 19 |
| 20 | Texas Tech | Big 12 | 18 |
| 20 | Purdue | Big Ten | 23 |
| 22 | Virginia Tech | ACC | 22 |
| 23 | Colorado | Pac-12 | 24 |
| 24 | USC | Pac-12 | NR |
| 25 | Oklahoma | Big 12 | 16 |
The Big Ten Tournament kicks off this week with Michigan’s first game set for Friday at noon. They will be taking on the winner of the Thursday game between Maryland and Michigan State. The Wolverines, of course, are dealing with an ankle/foot injury to senior guard Eli Brooks that leaves his postseason status up in the air.
A good showing in Indianapolis may leave Michigan on the doorstep of a No. 1 seed, but there is now a little bit of anxiety over Brooks’ status and losses in two of the last three games. We’ll have to wait and see how it all shakes out.