Badgers crack Top 25 for 1st time this season

With just two losses by a combined four points, including in the last second to No. 3 Kansas, the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team has cracked the Top 25.

The Badgers (8-2) moved into the No. 22 spot in Monday’s latest AP poll.

Purdue (10-0) is the No. 1 team in the nation, followed by Virginia (8-0) and UConn (11-0).

Wisconsin’s only losses came to Kansas 69-68 in overtime — in the Bahamas — when the Jayhawks scored a controversial last-second bucket to win it, and 78-75 to Wake Forest (7-3), which is not in the Top 25. Kansas has since dropped to No. 8 in the poll.

The Badgers’ biggest win of the season could arguably have been over then-No. 13 Maryland 64-59 a week ago at the Kohl Center. The Terps (8-2) have since dropped to No. 20.

Wisconsin, which has La Crosse native Jordan Davis starting at shooting guard, also beat Marquette on the road 80-77 in overtime. The Golden Eagles (8-3) are sitting just outside the Top 25.

Other Big 10 teams in the Top 25 include Indiana (8-2) at 14, Illinois (7-3) at 18 and Ohio State (7-2) right behind Wisconsin at 23.