Five Big Ten teams ranked in last AP poll before NCAA tournament

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The Big Ten landed seven teams in the NCAA tournament field, and five of those teams were ranked in the AP top 25 when the latest poll was released Monday.

Michigan State remained the No. 2 team in the country following its win in the Big Ten Tournament over the weekend. Despite that high ranking from media voters, though — including a pair of No. 1 votes — the selection committee didn't see the Spartans as one of the top four teams in the country, giving them a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. Michigan State starts NCAA tournament play Friday against Middle Tennessee State.

Big Ten Tournament runner up Purdue was the next highest-ranked team in the AP poll, coming in at No. 12, up one spot from last week. The Boilermakers impressed during their three-game stay in Indy. They received a No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament and begin play Thursday against Little Rock.

Big Ten regular-season champion Indiana was bounced in its first and only game of the conference tournament, upset by Michigan. That sent the Hoosiers down four spots in this week's poll to No. 14. Indiana is a No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament, playing Chattanooga on Thursday.

[SHOP BIG TEN: Get your Purdue gear right here]

Maryland stayed the No. 18 team in the country in this week's AP poll. The Terps defeated Nebraska but lost to eventual champion Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament. They are a No. 5 seed, as well, in the NCAA tournament and begin play Friday against South Dakota State.

Finally, Iowa is the No. 25 team in the AP top 25, down five spots from last week after getting embarrassed in an upset loss to Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament, the third straight first-game exit from the conference tournament for the Hawkeyes. Iowa is a No. 7 seed in the NCAA tournament and begins play Friday against Temple.

The other two Big Ten teams in the NCAA tournament, Wisconsin and Michigan, were not ranked in this week's poll.

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