Illinois women enter AP Top 25 for first time since 2000

Off to probably the greatest begins at school historical past, Illinois cracked The Related Press Prime 25 girls’s basketball ballot for the primary time in 23 years on Monday.

The Illini (14-3) are ranked No. 24 of their first Prime 25 look since Nov. 27, 2000. It’s been a outstanding turnaround below first-year coach Shauna Inexperienced. The staff was 7-20 final season and simply 1-13 within the Large Ten. Illinois hasn’t had a profitable season since 2012-13.

“It means quite a bit. I perceive how far we’ve are available in a extremely quick time,” stated Inexperienced, who got here to Illinois after a profitable run teaching at Dayton. “A lot of the youngsters weren’t alive the final time we have been ranked. I used to be a sophomore in school.”

South Carolina remained the No. 1 staff, garnering all 28 votes from a nationwide media panel. The Gamecocks have been No. 1 for 29 consecutive weeks. They have been adopted within the ballot by Stanford and Ohio State, which rallied to beat Illinois on Sunday.

UConn moved up one spot to fourth. The Huskies had their recreation towards DePaul on Sunday postponed once they had solely six scholarship gamers accessible due to accidents.

LSU moved up two spots to fifth. It’s the primary time the Tigers have been that prime since Dec. 14, 2009, once they have been additionally fifth. LSU (16-0) is off to the most effective begin at school historical past, besting the mark held by the 2002-03 staff that received its first 15 video games.

South Carolina, Ohio State and LSU are the one remaining unbeaten groups within the nation. The Gamecocks and Tigers meet on Feb. 12 in South Carolina.

Indiana, Notre Dame, UCLA, Maryland and Utah rounded out the highest 10. The Utes misplaced their first recreation of the season, falling at Colorado final Friday.

The Illini, who haven’t made the NCAA Event since 2003, ended a 14-game dropping streak final week to Northwestern. That gave Illinois 14 wins in its first 16 video games, which was the most effective begin ever for the college. Its losses have come to Indiana, Ohio State and Delaware.

“For those who would have instructed me in the summertime we’d be up 17 at Ohio State and have an opportunity to win I’d inform you have been loopy,” Inexperienced stated. “Perspective adjustments actually shortly. (Getting ranked) is one thing we bought to be joyful about, Be pleased with it, It has to encourage us much more.”

Villanova additionally re-entered the ballot this week coming in at No. 25. The Wildcats had a five-week run within the ballot earlier this season.

St. John’s and Creighton fell out of the ballot.

RISING BEARS

Baylor moved to 3-0 within the Large 12 after knocking off then-No. 17 Oklahoma and No. 21 Kansas final week. Caitlin Bickle was a giant cause why, posting double-doubles in each video games. The Bears moved up 5 spots to No. 18 within the ballot this week.

THE TOP 25

1. South Carolina (28 first-place votes) 16-0

2. Stanford 16-1

3. Ohio St. 17-0

4. UConn 13-2

5. LSU 16-0

6. Indiana 14-1

7. Notre Dame 12-2

8. UCLA 14-2

9. Maryland 13-3

10. Utah 14-1

11. NC State 13-3

12. Iowa 12-4

13. Virginia Tech 13-3

14. Arizona 14-2

15. Iowa St. 10-3

16. Duke 14-1

17. Michigan 13-3

18. Baylor 12-3

19. Oklahoma 12-2

20. Gonzaga 16-2

21. Oregon 12-4

22. North Carolina 10-5

23. Kansas 12-2

24. Illinois 14-3

25. Villanova 14-3