Wisconsin basketball remains unranked in the latest AP Poll.
After earning 18 votes in the poll’s Week 7 installation, Wisconsin remained outside of the top 25 in this week’s update. The Badgers played just one game during the Dec. 16-23 stretch — a 76-53 blowout win over the Detroit Mercy Titans at the Kohl Center.
While the win was a strong finish to the 2024 calendar year, it didn’t convince voters to alter Wisconsin’s position. In fact, Wisconsin received 9 fewer votes in the Dec. 23 version of the hierarchy.
The Badgers’ recent three-game skid, which included a home defeat against Michigan and a pair of road losses to No. 24 Illinois and No. 8 Marquette, still appears to have some pull in the minds of voters. While unranked, Michigan did receive 50 votes in the most recent poll.
Tennessee remains in the poll’s No. 1 slot after collecting its eleventh straight win, the latest a blowout over West Carolina. The Volunteers are followed by Auburn, Iowa State, Duke and Alabama. No. 10 Kentucky, which lost by 20 against Ohio State, fell six spots in this week’s installation.
Other Big Ten teams in the top 25 include No. 9 Oregon, No. 18 Michigan State, No. 21 Purdue, No. 22 UCLA and No. 24 Illinois.
Alongside Wisconsin and Michigan, Penn State, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio State and Indiana, were also ‘receiving votes.’
Here’s a look at the full updated AP Poll top 25:
https://twitter.com/On3sports/status/1871257949320147438
Wisconsin will receive ample opportunities to elevate in this hierarchy going forward. With 18 straight Big Ten games on the calendar to close the season, Greg Gard’s group is in for arguably its toughest stretch of basketball all season.
That Big Ten gauntlet begins with Iowa on Jan. 3 at the Kohl Center.
