Statement made: Michigan basketball has highest national ranking since 1997

By Nick Baumgardner University of Michigan Sports Reporter

Posted on Mon, Feb 20, 2012 : 2:21 p.m.

The Michigan basketball team is on a roll.

After snapping a six-game losing skid against Ohio State on Saturday and moving to 15-0 at home, the Wolverines received more national respect Monday than they have in 15 years.

Michigan moved up six spots to No. 11 in The Associated Press Top 25, its highest national ranking since the 1996-97 squad sat at No. 8 in January of that season.

John Beilein and his Michigan basketball team are ranked No. 11 in the Associated Press poll. It's the highest ranking for the Wolverines since 1997.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

It marked the second consecutive week that Michigan has jumped six spots in the AP poll, and it's the 16th straight week the Wolverines have appeared in the poll.

Michigan (20-7, 10-4) also moved up six spots in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, coming in at No. 13.

After grabbing a fifth win over a ranked opponent Saturday, Michigan had an RPI of 14 on Monday, per CollegeRPI.com. In ESPN "Bracketologist" Joe Lunardi's latest NCAA Tournament projection, the Wolverines sat with a No. 3 seed, playing No. 14 Drexel in Nashville, Tenn.

Michigan and Ohio State are the only two Big Ten teams to hold national rankings every week this season.

And, with the Wolverines jump, the Big Ten once again has three top 15 squads in the AP poll.

Michigan State leads all conference members at No. 6, while Ohio State came in at No. 8. Wisconsin earned a No. 16 ranking, and Indiana dropped to No. 23.

Kentucky (26-1), Syracuse (27-1), Missouri (25-2), Kansas (22-5) and Duke (23-4) made up the top five, while North Carolina, Georgetown and Marquette joined the Spartans and Buckeyes in the top 10.

Ex-Michigan coach Steve Fisher saw his San Diego State squad drop to No. 24 in the AP poll, while falling out of the coaches poll completely.

Michigan returns to action Tuesday at Northwestern (8 p.m., BTN).

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Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.