Big Ten teams in updated coaches, AP polls

On By Littum

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With Ohio State appearing in College Football Playoff championship gameThe Big Ten finds itself in a ton of headlines across the country.

The same can be said for the conference’s basketball team.

After no. 19 Michigan that pulled off a 94-75 upset of then-No. 22 UCLA at Pauley Pavilion, a historically difficult venue for a road team to win in, Bruins coach Mick Cronin went on a postgame rant calling his team “soft” and “delusional.” Vladislav Goldin finished with a career-high 36 points for the Wolverines in the win.

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Things wouldn’t get any better for UCLA or Cronin by the end of the week. Cronin was ejected in the second half of the Bruins’ 79-61 loss to Maryland on the road after discussing a foul with one of the officials. UCLA has lost three in a row since beating No. 14 Gonzaga at the Intuit Dome on Dec. 28.

Illinois suffered its second setback in conference play on Saturday after being upset at home at State Farm Center 82-72 to USC. It’s the first signature win for Eric Musselman’s Trojans, while the Illini were without starting point guard Kasparas Jakucionis for the second straight game.

Michigan State enjoyed a stress-free week with convincing wins against Washington and Northwestern and moved up to No. 12. Tom Izzo’s squad sits atop the Big Ten standings undefeated at 5-0 for the first time since the 2021-22 season. The Spartans have also won nine straight since losing to Memphis in the Maui Invitational on Nov. 26.

Elsewhere, Oregon and Wisconsin won both their games this week. The Ducks took down Ohio State and Penn State on the road, while the Badgers are coming off wins against Rutgers and Minnesota.

Here’s how last week’s Big Ten results were reflected in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 Poll:

College basketball rankings for January 13

USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Big Ten teams are cool. First place votes in brackets.

  1. Auburn (25)
  2. Iowa State (5)
  3. Duke
  4. Florida
  5. Alabama
  6. Tennessee (1)
  7. Marquette
  8. Houston
  9. Kentucky
  10. Kansas
  11. Texas A&M
  12. Michigan State
  13. UConn
  14. Oregon
  15. Purdue
  16. Gonzaga
  17. Memphis
  18. Mississippi State
  19. Michigan
  20. Illinois
  21. Miss Ole
  22. Utah
  23. Georgia
  24. Baylor
  25. West Virginia

Others receiving votes: John’s Church 52; Wisconsin 29; Arizona 29; New Mexico 19; Oklahoma 14; UCLA 12; Maryland 8; Texas Tech 6; Clemson 5; Saint Mary’s 4; Louisville 3; Indiana 3; San Diego State 2; Missouri 2; UC Irvine 1;

AP Top 25

Big Ten teams are cool. First place votes in brackets.

  1. Auburn (60)
  2. Iowa State
  3. duke (1)
  4. Alabama
  5. Florida (1)
  6. Tennessee
  7. Marquette
  8. Kentucky
  9. Kansas
  10. Houston
  11. Texas A&M
  12. Michigan State
  13. Oregon
  14. UConn
  15. Mississippi State
  16. Gonzaga
  17. Purdue
  18. Memphis
  19. Illinois
  20. Michigan
  21. Miss Ole
  22. Utah State
  23. Georgia
  24. Wisconsin
  25. Baylor

Others receiving votes: St. John’s 83, Oklahoma 63, West Virginia 61, Arizona 26, Louisville 17, Texas Tech 12, Maryland 11, Clemson 8, Missouri 8, Cincinnati 4, San Diego State 4, Saint Mary’s 3, UC Irvine 2, New Mexico 2.