The Buckeyes are back in the AP Top 25.
After spending two weeks outside of the rankings, Ohio State climbed back to No. 21 in the AP poll Monday after wins over then-No. 1 Duke and Penn State over the past week. Ohio State started the season ranked No. 17, fell to No. 19 after a couple close calls against mid-major opponents to start the year, and then dropped out of the poll altogether following its first loss of the season to Xavier on Nov. 18.
But the Buckeyes have now won three of their past four games since that loss to the Musketeers, and their only other defeat this season came on a buzzer-beater three by Florida guard Tyree Appleby at the Fort Myers Tip-Off on Nov.