Ohio State dropped four spots to No. 17 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll following Thursday’s 82-79 loss to Penn State, the Buckeyes’ first defeat in conference play this season.
Last week, the Buckeyes came in at 13th in the poll. It was their highest placement since they were ranked 12th on Dec. 15, 2014.
The Buckeyes (18-5, 9-1 Big Ten) are joined in the top 25 by three fellow Big Ten teams — No. 3 Purdue, No. 5 Michigan State and No. 24 Michigan. Ohio State beat Michigan State 80-64 at the Schottenstein Center on Jan. 7 and took down Michigan 71-62 at home on Dec. 4. It will take on the Boilermakers on Feb. 7 and will head to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to face the Wolverines for the second time this season on Feb. 18.
Ohio State will be back in action at 7 p.m. Tuesday against Indiana at the Schottenstein Center.
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