Illinois basketball dropped a spot to No. 7 in the newest USA TODAY Network coaches poll, released Monday, Feb. 9.
Illinois (20-4, 11-2) looks to start a new win streak after two Big Ten Conference games this past week, at home versus Northwestern and at Michigan State. They have a big home game Sunday against Indiana.
The Illini are one of six Big Ten teams ranked in the poll. The Illini are behind No. 2 Michigan, while ahead of No. 8 Nebraska, No. 10 Michigan State, No. 12 Purdue and No. 25 Iowa.
Illinois basketball goes 1-1 last week
- Illinois 84, Northwestern 44: Andrej Stojakovic (17 points), Keaton Wagler (13 points), Ben Humrichous (13 points), Zvonimir Ivisic (13 points) and David Mirkovic (12 points) led five Illini players in double figures to their 12th win in a row, defeating the Wildcats at State Farm Center in Champaign. Illinois is now 12-1 overall at home and 5-1 in Big Ten play.
- Michigan State 85, Illinois 82 (OT): The Spartans went on a seven-point run in the extra frame, snapping Illinois’ 12-game win streak. Mirkovic (18 points), Stojakovic (17 points), Wagler (16 points) and Ivisic (12 points) paced the Illini, which shot 27.8 percent (10-of-36) from 3-point range.
Illinois basketball schedule this week
- Tuesday, Feb. 10: 7 p.m. vs. Wisconsin, State Farm Center, Champaign
- Sunday, Feb. 15: 12 p.m. vs. Indiana, State Farm Center, Champaign
Illinois KenPom rankings: No. 4 | Last week: No. 5
All rankings entering Monday.
- Offensive efficiency: No. 1
- Defensive efficiency: No. 21
Illinois Net rankings: No. 4 | Last week: No. 6
All rankings entering Monday.
- Quad 1 record: 6-4
- Quad 2 record: 4-0
- Quad 3 record: 3-0
- Quad 4 record: 7-0
USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll for Feb. 9
Poll as of Feb. 9, 2026. First-place votes in parentheses.
- Arizona (31)
- Michigan
- Houston
- Iowa State
- UConn
- Duke
- Illinois
- Nebraska
- Kansas
- Michigan State
- Gonzaga
- Purdue
- North Carolina
- Florida
- Virginia
- Texas Tech
- St. John’s
- Clemson
- Saint Louis
- Vanderbilt
- Arkansas
- BYU
- Louisville
- Miami (OH)
- Iowa
Others receiving votes
Kentucky 30; Alabama 24; Villanova 13; North Carolina State 13; Tennessee 10; Utah State 8; Texas A&M 7; Georgia 3; Santa Clara 1.
Who votes in the college basketball coaches poll?
The USA TODAY Sports Board of Coaches is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The board for the 2025-26 season: Adrian Autry, Syracuse; John Becker, Vermont; Randy Bennett, Saint Mary’s; Jeff Boals, Ohio; Alvin Brooks, Lamar; Pat Chambers, Florida Gulf Coast; Scott Drew, Baylor; Dan Earl, Chattanooga; Jonas Hayes, Georgia State; Donte’ Jackson, Alabama A&M; Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa; James Jones, Yale; Greg Kampe, Oakland; Eric Konkol, Tulsa; Brad Korn, Southeast Missouri State; Anthony Latina, Sacred Heart; Jim Les, UC Davis; Greg McDermott, Creighton; Nick McDevitt, Middle Tennessee; Mike McGarvey, Lafayette; Dan Monson, Eastern Washington; Chris Mooney, Richmond; Mike Morrell, UNC Asheville; Nate Oats, Alabama; Eric Olen, New Mexico; Matt Painter, Purdue; Paul Sather, North Dakota; Patrick Sellers, Central Connecticut State; Zach Spiker, Drexel; Brett Tanner, Abilene Christian; Stan Waterman, Delaware State.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: College basketball rankings: Illinois drops in coaches poll