AP Top 25 Poll

Illinois will open the 2020-21 season at No. 8 in the Associated Press Top 25.

This is Illinois' highest preseason ranking since starting off at No. 5 prior to 2004-05. It marks the first time Illinois enters a season ranked, meanwhile, since 2010-11 (No. 13). 

This is Illinois' highest ranking in any AP poll in more than 14 years, since also checking in at No. 8 the week of Feb. 20-26, 2006. 

Seven Big Ten teams appear in the initial AP Top 25 poll, including three in the top 10. 

?? FIRST AP POLL ??

1. Gonzaga
2. Baylor
3. Villanova
4. Virginia
5. Iowa
6. Kansas
7. Wisconsin
8. Illinois
9. Duke
10. Kentucky

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) November 9, 2020

The Illini ended last season at No. 21 in the final AP poll after going 21-10 overall and 13-7 in conference play. Illinois had secured a double bye to the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal round after finishing in fourth place, one game back of the league title, before the 2020 postseason was canceled due to COVID-19.

Illinois returns five players from last year's rotation and a total of eight letterwinners while welcoming a top 15-ranked recruiting class.