Junior forward Xavier Tillman (23) shoots over Michigan center Jon Teske. The Spartans defeated Michigan, 87-69, at the Breslin Student Events Center on January 5, 2020.
Back-to-back impressive wins for Michigan State men's basketball against in-conference opponents Illinois and Michigan have boosted the green and white up six spots to No. 8 in week 10 of the AP poll.
High-scoring performances that have shown improvement all across the Spartan roster and a standout career high night for Cassius Winston on Sunday have put the Spartans in the top ten for the first time since week four. The green and white have also once again claimed the highest rank in the Big Ten sitting above No. 11 Ohio State, No. 12 Maryland, No. 19 Michigan and No. 20 Penn State.
The improvement ties with San Diego State for the second-largest jump of the week behind Florida State, which is up eight spots.
The top three teams did not move since last week and remain with No. 1 Gonzaga, No. 2 Duke and No. 3 Kansas.
