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Illinois Basketball: Illini appear on the first AP Top 25 poll

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 05: Illinois Fighting Illini Head Coach Brad Underwood talks with Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andres Feliz (10) during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 5, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 05: Illinois Fighting Illini Head Coach Brad Underwood talks with Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andres Feliz (10) during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 5, 2019, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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For the first time in a long time, the Illinois basketball team is close to being in the top 25 among teams in college basketball.

The first rendition of the AP Top 25 poll was released on Monday afternoon and it featured many big-time teams, but the Illini didn’t quite make the cut for the 25 elite programs. They weren’t far off, though. You will find the Orange and Blue in the “Others receiving votes:” section.

Illinois ended up receiving 14 votes to be in the top 25. These are the most votes and, honestly, the first time I remember in the Illini being in consideration for the top 25 in a long time. The Big Ten is going to be loaded this season too.

The Illini will eventually play these teams, but the Big Ten has multiple teams donning the top 25 list. Michigan State leads the way with their No. 1 ranking, right ahead of Kentucky and Kansas. The next Big Ten team you will see is Maryland checking in at No. 7 on this list. That is a bit of a surprise.

You have to scroll down a little bit to find the next Big Ten team, which is Ohio State. The Buckeyes check in at No. 18 in the top 25. They are a good program and, I would bet, they finish in the top 15 by seasons end.

The Purdue Boilermakers round out the top 25 for the Big Ten. They come in at No. 23 after a surprisingly good year. But I wouldn’t be shocked if they have a down campaign after losing Carson Edwards to the NBA.

There are only two Big Ten teams receiving votes outside of the top 25. Illinois is one and Michigan is another. The Wolverines check in with two votes to get into that prestigious list of 25 teams.

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Illinois getting into the discussion for a top 25 spot is exciting. The last time we were ranked inside the top 25 was back in 2014-2015 when we landed at No. 24. Since then, the Illini haven’t been on this list. It has been a long time, but the wait will be worth it. Illinois will once again be a top 25 team this season.

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