Indiana Drops in AP Top-25 Poll; Northwestern Earns First Ranking Since 2020

In this week's Associated Press Top-25 poll, Indiana dropped three spots to No. 17 after a loss at Northwestern and a win over Illinois. No. 5 Purdue and No. 21 Northwestern join the Hoosiers as the three ranked Big Ten teams, and Houston reclaimed the No. 1 spot after Alabama's loss. Here's the full top 25.

Indiana fell three spots to No. 17 in this week's Associated Press Top-25 Poll.

The Hoosiers started the week with a 64-62 loss at Northwestern on Wednesday. They overcame a 21-point deficit in the first half, but Wildcats' guard Boo Buie hit a game-winning floater in the final seconds. 

Indiana returned home to Assembly Hall on Saturday, where Illinois put up a fierce battle without leading scorer Terrence Shannon Jr. But behind 26 points and 12 rebounds from Trayce Jackson-Davis, plus clutch buckets from Jalen Hood-Schifino down the stretch, Indiana defeated Illinois 71-68.

Indiana has appeared in 13 of the 16 AP top-25 polls this season, peaking at No. 10 on Nov. 28. The Hoosiers are ranked for a fourth consecutive week after dropping out for three weeks following losses to Iowa, Northwestern and Penn State. 

Around the Big Ten, Purdue dropped two spots to No. 5 after a 14-point loss at Maryland, followed by a 27-point home victory over Ohio State. After one of the best stretches in program history, Northwestern earned a No. 21 ranking, its first appearance in the AP Top-25 poll since Dec. 28, 2020. Across three home games beginning on Feb. 12, the Wildcats defeated No. 1 Purdue, No. 14 Indiana and beat Iowa by 20 points on Sunday. 

Purdue leads the Big Ten with a 13-4 conference record, followed by Northwestern at 11-5 and Indiana at 10-6. Those are the three Big Ten teams in this week's rankings, with Maryland and Illinois receiving votes.

Houston moved back to the No. 1 spot for the fifth time this season after Alabama's 68-59 loss at Tennessee on Wednesday. Alabama and Kansas also received votes for the top spot.

As for Indiana's non-conference opponents, Kansas moved to No. 3 after outscoring Baylor 55-26 in the second half of Saturday's top-10 matchup. With home wins over Utah and Colorado, Arizona came in a No. 7. The Wildcats will need to win at UCLA on March 4 and see UCLA lose another game order to have a shot at the Pac-12 title.

Xavier remained at No. 16 this week after a one-point loss at No. 10 Marquette and a 14-point home win over DePaul. Marquette leads a heated Big East title race at 13-3, followed by Xavier, Providence and Creighton at 12-4. North Carolina's NCAA Tournament hopes are in serious trouble after a pair of eight-point losses to No. 13 Miami (FL) an NC State this week. 

Here's Monday's full AP top-25 poll.

1. Houston (25-2) (48 first-place votes)

2. Alabama (23-4) (seven first-place votes)

3. Kansas (22-5) (seven first-place votes)

4. UCLA (23-4)

5. Purdue (24-4)

6. Virginia (21-4)

7. Arizona (24-4)

8. Texas (21-6)

9. Baylor (20-7)

10. Marquette (21-6)

11. Tennessee (20-7)

12. Gonzaga (23-5)

13. Miami (FL) (22-5)

14. Kansas State (20-7)

15. Saint Mary's (24-5)

16. Xavier (20-7)

17. Indiana (19-8)

18. UConn (20-7)

19. Creighton (18-9)

20. Providence (20-7)

21. Northwestern (20-7)

22. San Diego State (21-5)

23. Iowa State (17-9)

24. TCU (18-9)

25. Texas A&M (20-7)

Others receiving votes: North Carolina State 54, Pittsburgh 34, Maryland 14, Oral Roberts 14, Kentucky 12, Boise State 12, Arkansas 6, Florida Atlantic 6, Charleston 4, Missouri 3, Duke 3, Illinois 2, Kent State 2, Nevada 1, Oklahoma State 1

Related stories on Indiana basketball

• KOPP BOUNCES BACK: Miller Kopp went 1-for-6 and was the target of hateful chants at Northwestern on Wednesday, but he bounced back in a big way on Saturday by knocking down four 3-pointers in Indiana's 71-68 win over Illinois. CLICK HERE
• GAME STORY: Jalen Hood-Schifino made big plays down the stretch and Trayce Jackson-Davis had 26 points and 12 rebounds as Indiana erased a nine-point second-half deficit and beat Illinois 71-68 on Saturday at Assembly Hall. CLICK HERE
• ILLINOIS REMAINS POSITIVE AFTER LOSS: Illinois suffered a 71-68 loss on Saturday at Indiana, but coach Brad Underwood said he believes in his team more right now than he has at any point this season. CLICK HERE
• WHAT WOODSON SAID: Indiana picked up a much-needed Big Ten victory on Saturday, beating Illinois 71-68 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mike Woodson met with the media afterward. Here's the full video of his press conference, plus the transcript. CLICK HERE
• WHAT PLAYERS SAID: Trayce Jackson-Davis scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in Indiana's 71-68 win over Illinois on Saturday. Miller Kopp bounced back with 12 points on 4-for-5 3-point shooting. Here's what Jackson-Davis said after the game, with video attached. CLICK HERE
• WATCH JACKSON-DAVIS CLIMB SCORING LIST: Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis passed his coach Mike Woodson for fifth on the Indiana all-time scoring list on Saturday against Illinois. CLICK HERE
• WATCH JACKSON-DAVIS TRIM LEAD: Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis came down with a loose ball and laid it in just before halftime of Saturday's game against Illinois. CLICK HERE