 Jonathan Cox drives to the basket in Saturday’s victory over Evansville. |
The Drake men’s basketball team moved to No. 14 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 college basketball poll, while remaining No. 15 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll for the second consecutive week.
It is the highest national rating for Drake since the Bulldogs were ranked No. 7 in the Dec. 29, 1970, Associated Press poll.
The Bulldogs, who stand 22-1, were ranked No. 15 in both the Feb. 4 Associated Press Top 25 and in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls.
It also marked the first time Drake has been ranked in the Associated Press poll four consecutive weeks since the 1970-71 season when the Bulldogs were ranked either No. 7 or 9 for five consecutive weeks from Dec. 8, 1970 through Jan. 5, 1971.
Drake, which is coming off a 73-65 home victory against Evansville Saturday, received 863 points in the Associated Press poll, moving up from a No. 15 ranking in the Feb. 4 poll when it received 617 points.
The Bulldogs were ranked No. 16 in the Jan. 28 poll with 616 points and No. 22 in the Jan 21 poll with 313 points.
Drake received 361 points in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll this week, collecting 27 more points than the Feb. 4 poll but still remained at No. 15. Drake was ranked No. 17 in the Jan. 28 USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches poll, which is made up of 31 head coaches from across the country, earning 220 points.
Drake, which is riding a 21-game winning streak, was ranked No. 22 in the Jan. 21 Associated Press poll, receiving 313 points.
The Bulldogs were ranked ahead of Saint Mary’s in both polls. The Gaels, who handed Drake its lone loss of the season, 72-66, Nov. 10, in Moraga, Calif., were No. 21 in the USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches poll and No. 25 in the Associated Press poll.
Memphis was ranked No. 1 in both polls for the fourth consecutive week.
It marked the ninth straight week the Bulldogs have received votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
Drake will continue Missouri Valley Conference action by playing at defending league champion Southern Illinois in a 7:05 p.m. tip off this Wednesday, Feb. 13.