Despite not playing a game since December 23, 2022, Indiana basketball finds itself up one spot in the Week 9 AP Top 25 to No. 15.
Thanks to a loss by No. 12 Baylor at now No. 25 Iowa State, the Hoosiers were able to put themselves in the top 15 of the AP Top 25 as the new year rears its head.
Obviously, the Hoosiers have a very tough test to open up in 2023, as they travel to Iowa City to take on a Hawkeyes squad that has lost three straight games to Eastern Illinois, Nebraska, and Penn State.
Three Big Ten teams rose in the rankings, with Wisconsin rising from No. 15 to No. 14, Indiana going from No. 16 to No. 15, and Ohio State going from unranked to No. 24 this week. Joining those three teams in the rankings this week is one of two undefeated teams remaining in Division I basketball, No. 1 Purdue.
The worst part of these rankings is that Purdue, holding strong at the No. 1 spot after No. 2 UConn lost their first game of the season, is receiving all of the first-place votes from the AP voters.
As of this Week 9 poll, Indiana basketball holds a record of 1-2 (.333) overall against top 25 opponents, with their two losses coming to No. 3 Kansas on the road and No. 5 Arizona in Las Vegas, and their lone win coming at No. 18 Xavier back on November 18.
Despite the lackluster performances in December by the Hoosiers, the fact that we are 10-3 overall and hold a road win over No. 18 Xavier, who just took down No. 2 UConn last week at home, Indiana basketball isn’t looking too shabby after all.
As of right now, the Hoosiers seem to only have two ranked opponents on their schedule in January, facing No. 14 Wisconsin on January 14, and No. 24 Ohio State on January 28, but both Illinois (Jan. 19) and Michigan State (Jan. 22) are receiving votes this week so that could change as soon as next week for Indiana basketball.
With a win at Iowa this week and a home win against Northwestern, could the Hoosiers build themselves up to being a potentially top-10 team in the second of 2023? Might need some help from other teams as conference play across the country begins!