Illinois has made a notable comeback, landing back in the top 10 of the latest Coaches Poll after securing impressive victories. The Fighting Illini, now ranked at No. 10, are on a remarkable nine-game winning streak, dating back to a previous win over Missouri on December 22. This includes significant wins, particularly against Purdue, which has recently fallen to No. 12 after experiencing two losses in the Big Ten.

In an outstanding performance, freshman Keaton Wagler set program records by scoring 46 points in one game, demonstrating exceptional shooting with 9 out of 11 from the three-point range. Meanwhile, Texas Tech has also seen success, climbing to No. 11 after a victory over Houston, marking its second win against a top-15 team this season.

The Coaches Poll on January 26 reveals the following top teams:

1. Arizona (31 votes)
2. Michigan
3. UConn
4. Duke
5. Nebraska
6. Gonzaga
7. Houston
8. Michigan State
9. Iowa State
10. Illinois
11. Texas Tech
12. Purdue
13. BYU
14. Kansas
15. Vanderbilt
16. Arkansas
17. Virginia
18. North Carolina
19. Clemson
20. Louisville
21. Florida
22. Saint Louis
23. Alabama
24. St. John’s
25. Miami (OH)

These rankings hint at competitive matchups as the season continues.