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For the first time since 2009, Northwestern is ranked in the AP Poll.
AP POLL ALERT: Gonzaga moves to No. 1 in men’s AP Top 25 hoops, followed by Baylor, Kansas, Villanova, Arizona. https://t.co/lB6trLjkPQ pic.twitter.com/NlKc9l7A9J
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) January 30, 2017
After a 2-0 week that included convincing home wins over Nebraska and Indiana, the Wildcats jumped from the de facto No. 28 in the AP Poll into the Top 25.
Northwestern hasn’t been ranked since Week 8 of the 2009-10 season when the team started 10-1 and squeezed into the AP Poll at No. 25. Prior to that, the Wildcats were last ranked in the 1968-69 season. Northwestern has been ranked in the AP Poll just 12 times total.
Joining Northwestern in the AP Poll from the Big Ten is Wisconsin (No. 10), Maryland (No. 17) and Purdue (No. 23). Chris Collins and his team are surely thrilled with the national recognition, but the AP Poll is just another step in the right direction on the path to an ever-elusive NCAA Tournament berth.
A matchup against Purdue, just two spots ahead of Northwestern, looms large on Wednesday as the Wildcats will look to move up in the rankings.