Voters had no new movie to watch over the holiday break thanks to Iowa basketball, but they also had no reason to switch the Hawkeyes. As a result, Iowa maintained its position at No. 23 in the most recent USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll, which was released on Monday, December 29.
With a 10-2 overall record and a 1-1 record in Big Ten play, the Hawkeyes were idle going into Christmas week. A large portion of the poll focused on stability because there were no games scheduled during that time. The rankings from December 22 were essentially mirrored by the panel of coaches, and Iowa’s position demonstrated that methodical approach. As the season approaches its most challenging stage, there will be no rise or fall—just a persistent presence inside the Top 25.
Michigan remained at the top of the poll, setting the national standard. With a perfect 11-0 record, 20 first-place votes, and 764 points overall, the Wolverines maintained their top spot. Iowa State completed the top three with a perfect 12-0 record, and Arizona trailed closely behind at No. 2, likewise undefeated at 12-0. Duke moved up to No. 5 after improving to 11-1, while UConn finished at No. 4 with a 12-1 record. Gonzaga, Houston, and Michigan State occupied positions seven through nine, while Purdue, one of several Big Ten teams crowding the top tier of the rankings, dropped one spot to No. 6. BYU remained at No. 10.
Duke moved up to No. 5 after improving to 11-1, while UConn finished at No. 4 with a 12-1 record. Gonzaga, Houston, and Michigan State occupied positions seven through nine, while Purdue, one of several Big Ten teams crowding the top tier of the rankings, dropped one spot to No. 6. BYU remained at No. 10. It was difficult to overlook the depth of the Big Ten. Nebraska came in at No. 13, Illinois at No. 19, Purdue and Michigan State in the top 10, and Michigan at the top. The league now has six teams in the Top 25 thanks to Iowa’s ranking of No. 23, highlighting how brutal conference play will be in January.
Illinois sat at 9-3 following a challenging schedule, while Nebraska continued one of the more unexpected early runs of the season at 12-0. Being ranked with those conference rivals only serves to intensify Iowa’s impending games, which will have league and national ramifications.
In other rankings, Louisville climbed one spot to No. 13 after improving to 10-2, North Carolina held No. 12 at 12-1, and Vanderbilt remained at No. 11 with a perfect 12-0 record. In the middle of the poll were Alabama, Texas Tech, Kansas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Virginia, and Florida, all of which had varying degrees of early-season inconsistency but were still performing well enough to be considered nationally. St. John’s returned to the Top 25 at No. 25 after going 8-4, while Georgia finished at No. 24 with an 11-1 record. The only team to fall out of the rankings this week was USC, which joined programs like Indiana and UCLA in the receiving votes category.
Iowa’s resume is still simple but powerful. In the eyes of poll voters, the Hawkeyes have performed well against teams they are expected to defeat and avoided protracted slumps, which frequently matter just as much as big victories. Recently, Iowa demonstrated this consistency in a commanding 94-39 victory over Bucknell. While this game did not alter the rankings, it did solidify Iowa’s reputation as a disciplined, defense-first team capable of defeating an overmatched opponent.
What comes next is the current challenge. Iowa remained steady in the poll due to their inactivity, but the Hawkeyes’ next games will determine whether they rise, fall, or remain on the periphery of the Top 25. There isn’t much room for error when playing in the Big Ten, and each week offers the chance to either build or lose a national profile. Iowa is still ranked, well-respected, and exactly where it was prior to the holiday break. The Hawkeyes will have the opportunity to demonstrate that No. 23 is merely a checkpoint rather than the ceiling as the calendar turns and the grind of conference basketball intensifies.
