The Buckeye basketball team is in the midst of finals right now, and thanks to a number of tests passed this season — including a 74-49 win at No. 7 North Carolina on Wednesday — Ohio State (9-0) climbed to No. 3 in this week’s AP Poll.
The Buckeyes were ranked No. 6 last week and last played Saturday afternoon where they secured a 106-74 win over conference foe Penn State.
The Buckeyes are one of three Big Ten teams in the top five, as they are followed by Maryland (10-0) and Michigan (8-1) at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively. Louisville (9-0) still holds the top spot and Kansas (7-1) remains at No. 2.
North Carolina (6-3) has dropped to No. 17, which is one spot below Michigan State (6-3), who is the only other ranked Big Ten team.
The last time Ohio State was ranked in the Top 5 was January of 2014 when they were ranked No. 3 in the nation. Four weeks later, however, they were out of the rankings entirely following four consecutive losses, and losses in five of six games.
AP TOP 25 POLL
| RANK | TEAM | PV RANK | POINTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Louisville (9-0) | 1 | 1,591 | ||
| 2 |  | Kansas (7-1) | 2 | 1,486 | ||
| 3 |  | Ohio State (9-0) | 6 | 1,464 | ||
| 4 |  | Maryland (10-0) | 3 | 1,428 | ||
| 5 |  | Michigan (8-1) | 4 | 1,286 | ||
| 6 |  | Gonzaga (10-1) | 9 | 1,235 | ||
| 7 |  | Duke (9-1) | 10 | 1,232 | ||
| 8 |  | Kentucky (7-1) | 8 | 1,170 | ||
| 9 |  | Virginia (8-1) | 5 | 1,060 | ||
| 10 |  | Oregon (7-2) | 13 | 905 | ||
| 11 |  | Baylor (7-1) | 18 | 872 | ||
| 12 |  | Auburn (8-0) | 14 | 836 | ||
| 13 |  | Memphis (8-1) | 15 | 756 | ||
| 14 |  | Dayton (7-1) | 19 | 672 | ||
| 15 |  | Arizona (9-1) | 12 | 654 | ||
| 16 |  | Michigan State (6-3) | 11 | 637 | ||
| 17 |  | North Carolina (6-3) | 7 | 615 | ||
| 18 |  | Butler (9-0) | 24 | 529 | ||
| 19 |  | Tennessee (7-1) | 21 | 455 | ||
| 20 |  | Villanova (7-2) | 23 | 285 | ||
| 21 |  | Florida State (8-2) | 17 | 253 | ||
| 22 |  | Seton Hall (6-3) | 16 | 250 | ||
| 23 |  | Xavier (9-1) | 216 | |||
| 24 |  | Colorado (7-1) | 20 | 210 | ||
| 25 |  | San Diego State (10-0) | 197 | |||
Utah State 160, Washington 144, Purdue 130, Indiana 13, Marquette 11, Liberty 9, Saint Mary’s 8, Texas 6, Florida 5, Penn State 5, Georgia 4, West Virginia 3, Richmond 3, LSU 2, Duquesne 1, DePaul 1, Virginia Commonwealth 1
i suspect we can all agree that this pole ascension is… ‘unexpected’… and ‘unexpectedly fast’.
so far… suspect the tests will keep coming as surely as the pole will ‘get’… a lot shorter but a lot harder?
Questions for experts & fans: how much is coaches’ development of schemes, how much players’ underratings + their indidivual development
…how much is ‘synergy’, especially the teamwork on the floor through the ups & downs of competing?
final Q: as our ‘new’ players become ‘labeled’ this or that, honest, how quickly and well will our B1G opponents… ‘adapt’? I sure hope we do not ‘evolve’… as the fossil record is rather slow…. ;-{)}
p.s. i too ‘luv a winner’….
GO BUCKS!
Like everyone else, I love this team. I like stressing defense and sharing the ball. The improved shooting both from the field and at the foul line is just a bonus. Also key is how they all cheer for each other.
HOW SWEET IT IS.
I was one year ahead of the Lucas/Havilcek/Sigfried/Nowell/Roberts championship team and they were all great players but they were always expected to win. Those were Fred Taylor’s first years as coach and he was really out coached the last two years in the finals against Cincinnati. I can’t see Holtman ever getting out coached. Taylor became a much better coach after these glory years and had many exciting over achieving teams.
how many track & field points do we ‘get’ for pole-vaulting in a basketball contest?!
how many poles can we diddle ourselves with be fore our next… ‘unexpected’ we are creating… ‘happens’?
where would we ‘be’ ‘if’ we hadn’t a done again, what we did before that we would never do again after that last ‘we shouldn’a done that’ game?
where do ‘i’ ‘make MY case’… for my ‘progress’ and ‘lesson learned’?
[movie Gladiator]: a man once told me that ‘death smiles on every man; the only thing he can do is…smile back.’
what IF ‘it’s hopeless but’ …but we have been given the means, motive, and opportunity to ‘do more’ ?
This team is already my favourite Ohio State team ever. The hustle is impressive. I wish I could have watched some of their video when I was still coaching. It’s not about the stars, it’s about the way the everyday players step up. Their weakness last year was outside shooting. When opponents double down low to take away the post game, the shooters didn’t respond. This year, double these guys down low and you will pay. It’s a total team effort. I’d much rather watch this team than a team dominated by a few future NBA hotshots.
Regardless of what happens in days to come, the start of the seasons been an absolute joy.
Norman… you ‘made me’ think of Mark Twain’s famous remark, “reports of my death are premature”.
…for IF in fact you “have reached”… “ever”… then your future is inevitably … less.
Similarly… my lusts always wanting ‘more’… i sure hope i haven’t reach “absolute” …yet. ;-{)}
No disrespect to you… just considering the logic put forth and my own ‘wants’….
Actually twain said, greatly exaggerated-not premature.
This is the first time we have seen a healthy Kyle Young. He reminds me a bit of Chris Jent. Known as a hustle player but he also has a great deal of skill and talent.
I really hope we can keep Holtmann as a long term coach. I love the way this team plays and I love the way guys develop under him.
I’ve only seen 4 games this year, and in all 4 the Buckeyes have looked crazy good. That dismantling of North Carolina on their home floor was off the hook amazing. The defense is literally smothering people. IF they can keep their shooting where it’s at this team will finally be competitive and dangerous in March.
The improvement in this year’s team is shared by an infusion of new talent (Walker, Liddell and Carton) and the progress made by regulars such as C. Wesson, Muhammed and Washington. But I can’t get over the new version of Young. He was kind of a non-factor last year and now he’s an indispensable cog in the wheel. Anyway, it’s great to see the basketball team back on the relevancy roadmap. We will be a load for ANY team to beat at home and will take several games on the road as well. Holtman has done a great job of teaching defense and in recruiting. I’m fired up for March already.
I love that the Buckeyes are undefeated. They’ve played well @ this early time of the season & not even truly been challenged. Kaleb Wesson has clearly escalated his game by recommitting himself in the off season. He definitely has an NBA body now & due to his B1G experience, is able to play even more aggressively without committing fouls. (Except for picking up 3 quick, ridiculously CHEAP offensive fouls in a game last week, which was more due to inconsistent BS officiating) Carton is an awesome addition to the team, & despite not starting, has offered some of the most productive minutes this season. It’s way to early to take this ranking seriously, as I’m certain Coach Holtmann has made clear to the team. This group of Buckeyes have really shown me something, especially in the last week, & I’m really excited about this season!!! Go Bucks!!!
WOW! I think the last time a football team was ranked as high as No. 2 and the same school’s basketball team was in the top 3 goes back to the Florida days when Urban was still there. Don’t know if it will stay that way, but so glad to see the basketball Buckeyes’ continuing resurgence under Holtmann.
GO BUCKS! Football and basketball.