The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team jumped from No. 21 to No. 16 in the updated top 25 poll unveiled Monday by The Associated Press.
The Gophers jumped into the top 25 poll for the first time since 2017 last week, with their rise fueled then by an upset win over then-fourth-ranked Iowa. They followed that win up this past week with wins over Michigan State and Ohio State, and a loss to Wisconsin.
At 10-2 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten, the Gophers are tied with Rutgers and Northwestern for fifth place in the Big Ten standings. Minnesota is one of seven Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25.
- Iowa – No. 5
- Wisconsin – No. 8
- Michigan – No. 10
- Illinois – No. 12
- Rutgers – No. 15
- Minnesota – No. 16
- Michigan State – No. 23
Minnesota has a chance to rise even higher this week when they face undefeated Michigan in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, followed by a date at Iowa on Sunday.
More importantly, wins on the road against higher-ranked opponents will help Minnesota in the NET rankings, which serve as a tool for the NCAA selection committee when choosing and seeding NCAA tournament teams. Minnesota is currently ranked No. 43 in the NET rankings.
