After five consecutive weeks in which Illinois absorbed at least one loss, the Illini – ranked as high as No. 13 in early January and clinging to a No. 23 ranking as of last week – finally fell out of the AP Top 25 poll Monday.

Clemson, meanwhile, reaped the benefits of its win to enter the AP poll at No. 23. Elsewhere, UConn's stunning blown-lead loss to St. John's in Storrs drops the two-time reigning champions out of the poll,

Illinois men’s basketball dropped out of the AP Top 25 after another pair of push-and-pull games saw it drop a disappointing one at Rutgers and then hammer Minnesota Whac-a-mole style. It’s the first time in eight weeks that Illinois (16-8,