Michigan State, Ohio State fall hard in latest AP Top 25 rankings

Wichita State Shockers forward Trey Wade (5) scores with a dunk against Connecticut. (Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire)

The AP Top 25 poll has transformed into a revolving door of powerhouses and mid-majors, as college basketball experiences unprecedented parity.

With the latest poll released this week, let’s take a look at the biggest risers and fallers in the rankings and those teams’ odds of finishing the season with an NCAA title.

Risers

West Virginia Mountaineers: up five spots to #12

Bob Huggins’ Mountaineers own just two losses—a two-point road defeat at St. John’s and a close setback at then-No. 3 Kansas on Jan. 4. Since that latest loss, West Virginia has notched three straight wins, including a 66-54 beatdown of No. 22 Texas Tech.

Through the first two games of conference play, Oscar Tshiebwe leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage (68.8 percent) while also ranking in the top ten in scoring (14.5 ppg) 🎯 pic.twitter.com/cxDBO2GyMe
— Gold and Blue Nation (@GoldAndBlueNtn) January 9, 2020

West Virginia should inch closer to the top 10 if it can down Kansas State on the road Saturday.

The Mountaineers remain a +4000 longshot to win the school’s first NCAA title.

Wichita State Shockers: up seven spots to #16

The Shockers boast a 15-2 record and sit atop the AAC. Wichita State’s losses came at home to West Virginia in a 75-63 rout and on Wednesday at Temple.

Gregg Marshall’s squad had been on a hot streak since the West Virginia defeat and reeled off nine consecutive victories, including a 76-67 ousting of No. 21 Memphis. The Shockers jumped to No. 16, though they are a +6000 shot to become NCAA champions.

Wichita State's balance is inspiring.

There's no Fred VanVleet or Ron Baker with these Shockers, but they're still plenty capable.

Control Memphis from tip to finish at the Roundhouse.

Six players score between eight and 16 points.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 10, 2020

The Shockers missed the tournament last year but have been a tough out in the postseason in the past. They made the Final Four in 2013 but fell to Louisville by just four points.

Fallers

Michigan State Spartans: down seven spots to #15

The No. 1 team from the preseason suffered its fourth loss of the season Sunday, when Michigan State dropped the ball in a 71-42 slaughter at Purdue, which snapped an eight-game win streak for the Spartans.

Home Warriors!

Purdue dominates #8 Michigan State from tip to finish, 71-42. The Boilermakers are not to be messed with at Mackey Arena. Spartans were one of the hottest teams in the country coming in.

Trevion Williams: 16 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST

pic.twitter.com/JFsXT4rgUx
— CollegeBB News (@CollegeBBNCAA) January 12, 2020

Tom Izzo’s team went from eighth to 15th following the drubbing but is still a +1400 choice to make a run to the title in April.

Next up for Sparty is an 11-6 Wisconsin unit that upset Ohio State on the road, 61-57, Jan. 3.

Ohio State Buckeyes: down 10 spots to #21

It’s been an up-and-down season for the Big Ten squad. The Buckeyes started the season ranked 18th, then they won 11 of 12 and climbed to No. 2.

Then came the Buckeyes’ undoing, as the team lost four in a row from Dec. 29-Jan. 11. Ohio State faced some tough competition, including West Virginia and No. 12 Maryland in that stretch, but the losses to Wisconsin and Indiana helped drag the Buckeyes down in the rankings.

Ballgame!@IndianaMBB takes down No. 11 Ohio State, 66-54. pic.twitter.com/bZ5vC97nOZ
— Indiana On BTN (@IndianaOnBTN) January 11, 2020

They sit at +1800 to win the national title and will visit former top 25 member Penn State on Saturday.

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