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Mar 1, 2020; Champaign, Illinois, USA; (left to right) Illinois Fighting Illini guard Alan Griffin, forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili, guard Ayo Dosunmu, center Kofi Cockburn and guard Andres Feliz are seen during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

Men's Basketball

Illini Ranked No. 21 in Final AP Poll

First time Illinois in final AP Poll since 2006

Men's Basketball

Illini Ranked No. 21 in Final AP Poll

First time Illinois in final AP Poll since 2006

AP Top 25 Final Poll | Follow @IlliniMBB

Illinois is ranked No. 21 in the final Associated Press Top 25 for 2019-20. The Fighting Illini finished the regular season 21-10 overall and 13-7 in the Big Ten (4th place) before the postseason was canceled on March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

It marks the first time the Fighting Illini have been ranked in the final AP poll in 14 years, when they finished the 2005-06 season ranked No. 13.

The Illini appeared in eight AP polls this season, debuting on Jan. 13 and rising as high as No. 19 on Jan. 27.

In all, Illinois has been ranked in the AP poll 452 times dating back its origination in 1948-49. This is the 27th time Illinois has ended the season ranked in the final AP poll. 

2019-20 Final AP ranking - No. 21

2019-20 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

• Illinois (+10.0) owned the largest turnaround among schools from the six major conferences, going from 12-21 to 21-10. Illinois tied for seventh across all of Div. I for most improved teams.

• Illinois won 13 Big Ten games, its most since claiming the 2005 conference title with a 15-1 record.

• Illinois' .650 Big Ten winning percentage (13-7) was its best since the 2006 season (.688, 11-5).

• Illinois placed fourth in the Big Ten – one game out of first – marking its highest finish since 2011 (T-4th).

• Illinois' +6 win improvement in Big Ten play this year marked its biggest jump since 2009 (also +6).

• Illinois finished 30th in kenpom (adjusted efficiency margin), its highest final kenpom rating since 2011 (18). 

• Illinois ranked second in the Big Ten in scoring defense during league play, allowing 64.2 ppg. 

• Illinois led the Big Ten and ranked 11th in the NCAA in rebound margin (+7.5).

• Illinois ranked 11th nationally in offensive rebound percentage (35.6).

• Illinois had six Quad 1 wins, tied for 16th-most nationally. 

• Illinois was one of just 17 teams with at least four Quad 1 road wins.

• Illinois and Kansas were the only two teams in the country to notch four road wins over teams in the top 35 of the NET.

• Illinois won five league road games, tied with Maryland and Wisconsin for second-most in the Big Ten (behind Michigan State's 6), and the most by the Illini since also winning five B1G road games in 2010.

• Illinois went 15-3 at State Farm Center, its best home record since the 2014-15 season (14-2).

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