Illinois Basketball: AP Top 25 poll leaves Illini out once again

Despite going 1-0 this past week, the Illinois basketball team finds themselves on the outside of the AP Top 25 once again.

For the first three weeks of the season, the Illini managed to remain inside the top 15 nationally. But after back-to-back losses to Marquette and Cincinnati, the Orange and Blue were kicked out of the top 25.

Since those two defeats, Illinois has managed to win six out of their next seven games with the only loss coming in a close matchup with No. 11 Arizona. Even with this good run of play, the Illini still only received 49 votes to crack the national rankings.

There is plenty of opportunity ahead for the Illinois basketball program to get back in the AP Top 25.

Illinois received the fourth most votes to crack the top 25, so we aren’t too far out of the rankings. There are only two games left in the non-conference with both games being against below-average programs.

Missouri is the next team on the Illini schedule. The Tigers are sporting one of the worst teams they have had under Cuonzo Martin. They are sitting at 6-5 this season. Florida A&M is the final non-conference game for Illinois. The Rattlers are just 2-9 on the year, so that should be another win for the Orange and Blue.

If Illinois can win their final two non-conference games, then I think there is a chance we see the top 25. I would guess most likely No. 23-25, or somewhere in that ballpark.

I believe there could be a hot start to the Big Ten schedule as well. Illinois is already 2-0 in conference play, and their next four Big Ten games feature Minnesota, Maryland, Nebraska, and Michigan. The Golden Gophers have a 9-1 record, but the Terrapins, Cornhuskers, and Wolverines are all in the bottom five in the conference.

So, while Illinois isn’t ranked in the most recent rendition of the AP Top 25, I think there is plenty of time to make a splash in the coming weeks. It isn’t unrealistic to say the Illini could win their next six games and enter the big matchup against No. 3 Purdue with a record of 14-3. If that is the case, then that game on January 17 could be a battle of top 10 teams.