For months, AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll voters seemed reluctant to get too high too soon on Illinois.

In the latest rankings released Monday afternoon, despite a 1-1 week for the Illini, those voters seemed to finally trust their own eyes.

Illinois, unranked in the preseason and sitting at No. 19 last week, moved up two spots – to No. 17 – in what turned out to be a big week for the Big Ten.

Purdue and Wisconsin both leapt six spots – the most of any teams in the rankings – to No. 11 and No. 18, respectively. Michigan State, which nipped the Illini 80-78 in East Lansing on Sunday, moved up four spots, from No. 12 to No. 8.

The two-spot climb for the Illini was likely a reflection of three things: 1) their destruction of Indiana in Bloomington last Tuesday, 2) a strong road performance against the Spartans in a narrow, highly circumstantial loss, and 3) L’s all around for much of the rest of the top 25 last week.

Guard Kasparas Jakucionis returned from a two-game injury absence last week, and center Tomislav Ivisic is on the mend. With a healthy roster and two home games this week – including Sunday’s rematch with Northwestern, which outdueled the Illini in Evanston last month – Illinois appears to have the footing to continue its slow climb up the rankings.

AP Top 25: 1. Auburn, 2. Duke, 3. Iowa State, 4. Alabama, 5. Florida, 6. Tennessee, 7. Houston, 8. Michigan State, 9. Kentucky, 10. Marquette, 11. Purdue, 12. Kansas, 13. Texas A&M, 14. Mississippi State, 15. Oregon, 16. Ole Miss, 17. Illinois, 18. Wisconsin, 19. UConn. 20. St. John’s, 21. Michigan, 22. Missouri, 23. West Virginia, 24. Memphis, 25. Louisville.

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