Illinois basketball dropped one spot to No. 19 in the newest USA TODAY Network coaches poll, released Monday, Dec. 22.
Illinois (8-3) is coming off an open week and plays in the Braggin’ Rights game Monday night vs. Missouri. The Illini are one of six Big Ten teams ranked in the Dec. 22 poll. The Illini are fifth in the league behind No. 1 Michigan, No. 5 Purdue, No. 9 Michigan State and No. 13 Nebraska and ahead of No. 23 Iowa.
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Illinois ranking: Preseason rankings, polls high on Illinois basketball’s chances in 2025-26
Illinois basketball scores last week
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Illinois was off last week.
Illinois basketball schedule this week
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Monday, Dec. 22: vs. Missouri in game at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
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Monday, Dec. 29: vs. Southern at State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.
Illinois KenPom rankings: No. 12 | Dec. 15: No. 14
All rankings entering Monday.
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Offensive efficiency: No. 4
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Defensive efficiency: No. 34
Illinois Net rankings: No. 13 | Dec. 15: No. 13
All rankings entering Monday.
Poll as of Dec. 22, 2025. First-place votes in parentheses.
Others receiving votes
St. John’s 32; Kentucky 32; Seton Hall 20; Utah State 15; Auburn 10; California 9; UCLA 8; Saint Louis 8; LSU 6; Yale 4; Oklahoma State 3; Saint Mary’s 1; Indiana 1; Clemson 1.
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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: Illinois basketball rankings: Where Illini sit in updated college polls
