Wisconsin makes huge jump in latest AP Top 25 poll

Wisconsin continues to impress the college basketball world this season, and in turn, continue to rise in the rankings. After two solid wins over the course of last week, the Badgers now sit at No. 12 in the latest release of the AP Top 25 poll—jumping ten spots from No. 22.

The Badgers (7-1, 1-0 Big Ten) started their week with a win at the Kohl Center against a previously unbeaten N.C. State team. Wisconsin trailed for much of the contest before rallying late to mount a 79-75 comeback win over the Wolfpack. A big contribution was made by redshirt sophomore D’Mitrik Trice as he poured in 18 points and tallied 6 assists.

Wisconsin opened Big Ten play on the road against another previously unbeaten squad in No. 14 Iowa on Friday evening. Late in the second half the Badgers again had to give a comeback effort as they fell behind by as eight points before eventually pulling ahead with a little over five minutes remaining. The two teams battled back and forth until redshirt junior guard Brevin Pritzl knocked home a vital three-pointer that helped spring the Badgers to a 72-66 victory in Iowa City.

Wisconsin’s 10 spot jump was the biggest of any team this week, propelling them up into the top 15. The Badgers now sit as the third-highest Big Ten team in the polls trailing only Michigan and Michigan State, who sit at 5 and 10, respectively. With Nebraska jumping into the polls this week but Purdue falling out, the Big Ten still leads with seven teams in the Top 25.

UW will have another opportunity this week to gain traction in the polls as the Badgers take on a 5-2 Rutgers team Monday evening at the Kohl Center.

Wisconsin will then travel to ‘rival’ Marquette to do battle with the Golden Eagles. The Big East program recently picked up wins over Louisville and Kansas State, and were one of the teams just missing out on cracking the Top 25 this week. If the Badgers are able to finish the week unscathed, they could crack the Top Ten by this time next week.