Wisconsin Basketball Snubbed: Initial AP Top 25 Poll Shows Badgers Have Work To Do

Wisconsin Badgers Just Shy of Making 2023-24 AP Top 25: Can They Bounce Back?

Mar 2, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11) shoots the ball under coverage by Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Furst (1) and guard Ethan Morton (25) during the second half at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports / © Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports

The first poll of the season has been released and Wisconsin is on the outside looking in

Don't look now, but the 2023-24 college basketball season is right around the corner, which means it will not be long before the Wisconsin Badgers start a journey that they hope ends with them getting back into the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. The initial 2023-24 Associated Press College Basketball Top 25 Poll has been released, and the Badgers are currently on the outside looking in.

The Initial Poll

Here is the full Pre-Season AP Top 25 Poll:

Pre-Season AP Top 25 Poll / via AP News

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

Wisconsin 53, Colorado 49, UCLA 47, St. John's 47, Maryland 34, Virginia 27, Auburn 27, TCU 24, Mississippi St. 20, Kansas St 13, Xavier 8, Memphis 7, Missouri 6, Boise St. 4, Indiana 3, Florida 2, Coll of Charleston 2, New Mexico 1, Drake 1.

Projecting the 2023-24 Wisconsin Badgers Basketball Starting Lineup

Why it Matters

As you can see, the Badgers were snubbed from the initial Top 25 poll, but they certainly came close as they came in at No. 26. After being left out of the 2023 NCAA Tournament, the Badgers ended up making it to the Final Four of the NIT Tournament, before eventually losing a 2-point game to North Texas, who went on to win the title.

A Team On A Mission

After not being selected to compete in the 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, you can bet the Wisconsin Badgers are on a mission to get back to the Big Dance. Though the Badgers are not ranked in the initial AP Top 25 Poll, they are on the fringe, and considering the amount of experience they are bringing back, it may not be too long until they are a Top 25 team.

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