Notre Dame earns points in AP Top 25 for second straight week as NCAA tournament comes further into view
The byproduct of Notre Dame men’s basketball’s rise into the NCAA tournament picture is a climb onto the periphery of AP Top 25 conversation.
The Irish (16-7, 9-3 ACC) have earned votes in the poll in consecutive weeks, long an insignificant feat for a team used to NCAA tournament contention, but one that was overdue for this roster and this program to prove worthy of receiving. They picked up three points in Monday’s refresh following a 2-1 week that began with a loss to No. 7 Duke and featured road wins over Miami and N.C. State. They earned four points in the Jan. 31 poll update.
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All told, they’re unofficially 38th and barely there. That’s worth more than a passing glance, though, when considering last week was the first time since Dec. 2, 2019 anyone put them on a ballot. This is the latest into the season they have received a vote since Jan. 15, 2018.
The support comes from one voter, Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times. He ranked Notre Dame 22nd on Jan. 31 and 23rd in Monday’s poll. For the record, he’s one of 62 voters and the only one deeming the Irish worthy of a spot in the top 25. They have more work to do to catch others’ attention.
Still, to have even one person place Notre Dame in the top 25 is another sign this season sure seems to be heading for a more promising ending than the last four. Earning a couple votes in late November or early December is barely worth acknowledging, with preseason expectations still carrying weight and most teams having played fewer than 10 games.
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Earning them in February, though? That’s usually a sign of realistic March Madness aspirations. And if Notre Dame ends the regular season in the AP poll – where they haven’t resided since Dec. 11, 2017 – they ought to make the tournament field without needing to sweat out Selection Sunday. That will likely require a 7-1 finish to ACC play at worst, but with a remaining schedule that features five home games, zero ranked opponents and one Quadrant 1 opportunity, it might not be entirely far-fetched.
Feb. 7 AP Top 25
1. Auburn (22-1)
2. Gonzaga (19-2)
3. Purdue (20-3)
4. Arizona (19-2)
5. Kentucky (19-4)
6. Houston (20-2)
7. Duke (19-3)
8. Kansas (19-3)
9. Texas Tech (18-5)
10. Baylor (19-4)
11. Providence (20-2)
12. UCLA (16-4)
13. Illinois (17-5)
14. Wisconsin (18-4)
15. Villanova (17-6)
16. Ohio State (14-5)
17. Michigan State (17-5)
18. Marquette (16-7)
19. Tennessee (16-6)
20. Texas (17-6)
21. USC (19-4)
22. Saint Mary’s (19-4)
23. Murray State (22-2)
24. UConn (15-6)
25. Xavier (16-6)
