The Wisconsin Badgers fell out of the USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll after the third week of the 2025-26 season.
The team is 4-1 to start the year, fresh off a blowout loss to No. 9 BYU. All four of its triumphs have come against inferior competition by decisive margins. The loss, as noted, was the exact inverse; plus became the team’s first 20-point defeat since a road loss to Arizona on Dec. 9, 2023. The Badgers are still highly ranked in KenPom and ESPN’s Basketball Power Index. However, they will need some resume-boosting performances before they can sneak back into the coaches’ top 25.
Big Ten teams in the updated poll are No. 1 Purdue, No. 6 Michigan, No. 12 Michigan State, No. 14 Illinois, No. 19 UCLA and No. 24 Indiana. Wisconsin, Oregon, USC, Nebraska, Ohio State and Iowa are also receiving votes.
The Badgers continue their nonconference slate with a contest against Providence in the Rady Children’s Invitational on Thursday. The winner of that contest will face the winner of Florida vs. TCU. Wisconsin then begins Big Ten play with a home matchup against Northwestern on Dec. 3.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin drops out of USA TODAY Sports coaches poll after BYU loss
Reporting by Ben Kenney, Badgers Wire / Badgers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
