COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Ohio State men’s basketball team may have missed out on a preseason ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, but after it’s season opening victory over No. 19 Texas in Las Vegas last week, it didn’t take pollsters long to reward them for their efforts.
According to the latest AP poll, which was released Monday at noon, the Buckeyes moved up to No. 21 and are now 2-1 against ranked opponents during Jake Diebler’s short tenure as head coach.
The Buckeyes downed the Longhorns, previously ranked No. 19, 80-72 on Nov. 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as part of the Hall of Fame Series. That victory helped moved OSU up 12 spots, from 33rd, or eight places behind No. 25 in “other teams receiving votes”, to No. 21.
Associated Press Poll
| 1 | Kansas (44) |
| 2 | Alabama (6) |
| 3 | UConn (7) |
| 4 | Gonzaga (3) |
| 5 | Auburn (2) |
| 6 | Duke |
| 7 | Iowa State |
| 8 | Houston |
| 9 | Arizona |
| 10 | North Carolina |
| 11 | Tennessee |
| 12 | Baylor |
| 13 | Purdue |
| 14 | Creighton |
| 15 | Marquette |
| 16 | Indiana |
| 17 | Cincinnati |
| 18 | Arkansas |
| 19 | Kentucky |
| 20 | Florida |
| 21 | Ohio State |
| 22 | St. John’s |
| 23 | Texas A&M |
| 24 | Rutgers |
| 25 | Mississippi |
Ohio State hosts Youngstown State tonight before facing another team from The Lone Star State, when it travels to College Station, Texas Friday to face the A&M Aggies, who are ranked No. 23 in the AP Poll.
Among Ohio State’s other notable non-conference opponents are Pittsburgh, No. 11 Auburn, and No. 23 Kentucky. The Buckeyes join No. 13 Purdue, No. 16 Indiana, and No. 24 Rutgers as one of four teams representing the Big Ten in the AP rankings.
Kansas, Alabama, Connecticut, Gonzaga and Auburn round out the top five teams in the nation.
