A day after starting the year on a winning note against Iowa, Penn State is beginning to gain some respect from the national polls. On Monday, Penn State received votes in the latest USA TODAY Sports men’s college basketball poll, but a spot in the top 25 continues to be a bit out of reach at this point in the season.
Penn State is the 11th team appearing this week’s “Others receiving votes” category outside of the top 25. Penn State’s 11 points in the coaches poll is 51 points away from the 62 received by No. 25 Iowa State. Mississippi State, the first team among the others receiving votes, received 47 points in this week’s coaches poll.
Purdue remains the top-ranked team in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll with 30 first-place votes received this week. Other Big Ten teams appearing in this week’s coaches poll include Wisconsin (no. 15), Indiana (no. 19), Ohio State (no. 23) and Illinois (no. 24). Michigan State and Maryland join Penn State among those who were others receiving votes. Maryland dropped out of the coaches poll this week after a blowout loss at Michigan on Sunday.
Penn State held off Iowa in the second-half for a win on Sunday, improving Penn State to 11-3 this season. Penn State will play its next game at Michigan on Wednesday evening.
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