IU returns to No. 1 ranking

IU is again ranked No. 1, according to the Associated Press poll and USA Today coaches poll on Monday afternoon. The Hoosiers are the fifth different No. 1 team in as many weeks.

Such a development was not a surprise. The ascent appeared likely after No. 2 Kansas lost Saturday afternoon and IU defeated then-No. 1 Michigan 81-73 several hours later in Assembly Hall.

In the closing minutes of the win, IU fans could be heard chanting “We’re No. 1.”

This is IU’s second time at the top spot in the polls this season. The Hoosiers began the season at the top but dropped after an 88-86 loss to the Butler Bulldogs on Dec. 15.

So far this season, IU has been as low as No. 7 in the AP poll due to a home loss to Wisconsin but climbed back to No. 3 in last week’s poll.

The team received 58 of 65 possible first-place votes in this week’s AP poll. No. 2 Florida  earned the remaining seven votes, and Michigan fell to No. 3 after losing to IU.

Five Big Ten teams appear in the top 18 of the AP poll with Ohio State at No. 10, Michigan State ranked No. 12 and Minnesota coming in at No. 18.

Former IU opponents Butler and Georgetown are No. 14 and No. 20, respectively, while Wisconsin received votes but is not ranked.

— Max McCombs