Indiana Moves Up Two Spots to No. 16 in Associated Press Poll; Purdue Stays No. 1

Indiana moved up to No. 16 in the Associated Press top-25 poll released on Monday after claiming two nonconference victories last week. The Hoosiers are one of three Big Ten teams in the poll, topped by Purdue, who's No. 1 for the third week in a row.

© Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana won two nonconference games by 22 and 14 points last week, and that was good enough to move up two spots in this week's Associated Press top-25 poll that was released on Monday.

The Hoosiers check it at No. 16, passing Duke and Mississippi State, who both lost last week. Indiana is one of three Big Ten teams in the poll. Purdue (12-0) remains at No. 1 for the third straight week, and Wisconsin (9-2) is at No. 15. Illinois dropped out of the poll but is still receiving votes. So is Maryland, Ohio State and Michigan State. 

Indiana has been ranked in every poll this season, starting at No. 13 in the preseason and peaking at No. 10 in Week 4.

The top five remained the same this week, with Kansas staying at No. 4 and Arizona at No. 5. Indiana played them both in December and lost. 

Two teams that Indiana beat in November — Xavier and North Carolina — are back in the poll. Xavier is tied for No. 22 with New Mexico and North Carolina is at No. 25. North Carolina has won four straight games after losing four in a row prior to that. 

Indiana doesn't play again until Jan. 5, when it resumes Big Ten play with a road game at Iowa. The Hoosiers are home again on Sunday, Jan. 8 when they take on the Northwestern Wildcats. Indiana is 1-1 in Big Ten play so far, losing on the road to Rutgers and winning at home against Nebraska.  

Here's this week's top 25:

1. Purdue (12-0) (40 first-place votes)
2. Connecticut (13-0) (20 first-place votes)
3. Houston (12-1)
4. Kansas (11-1)
5. Arizona (12-1)
6. Texas (10-1)
7. Tennessee (9-2)
8. Alabama (10-2)
9. Arkansas (11-1)
10. Gonzaga (10-3)
11. UCLA (11-2)
12. Baylor (9-2)
13. Virginia (8-2)
14. Miami (12-1)
15. Wisconsin (9-2)
16. INDIANA (10-3)
17. Duke (10-3)
18. TCU (10-1)
19. Kentucky (8-3)
20. Auburn (10-2)
21. Mississippi State (11-1)
22. Xavier (10-3)
23. New Mexico (12-0)
24. West Virginia 10-2)
25. North Carolina (9-4) 

Others receiving votes: Charleston 102, Maryland 87, Memphis 74, Illinois 65, Ohio State 59, Virginia Tech 57, Missouri 57, San Diego State 39, Iowa State 19, Marquette 12, Texas Tech 10, Michigan State 7, Providence 6, Kansas State 5, USC 4, San Francisco 1.

Related stories on Indiana basketball

• ANTHONY LEAL'S GIFT: Indiana basketball player Anthony Leal and his teammates have all benefited from the new NIL opportunities afforded to college basketball players. Leal did something special with his money on Christmas morning, His gift to his older sister Lauren — his dearest friend and basketball idol — was to pay off her student loans with his NIL money. CLICK HERE
• HOOSIERS BEAT KENNESAW STATE: Tamar Bates scored 19 points and Jalen Hood-Schifino added 18 as the Indiana guards took over the game late to lead the Hoosiers to a hard-fought 69-55 win over Kennesaw State on Friday at Assembly Hall. CLICK HERE
• TOM BREW COLUMN: Indiana freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino is mature beyond his years, but the pressure is on with Xavier Johnson (foot) out for a while. It's Hood-Schifino's team now, and he has to run the show when the Hoosiers hit Big Ten play. CLICK HERE
• PHOTO GALLERY: Take a look at 20 action photos from inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall as the Hoosiers take down Kennesaw State in their final non-conference game of the season ahead of a 13-day break. CLICK HERE