UNI basketball team cracks top 25

The UNI men's basketball team has made its debut in this year's top-25 polls, appearing at No. 20 in the Associated Press top 25 and at No. 22 in the USAToday Coaches' top 25 poll.

In the AP poll, UNI is ranked No. 20 in the nation. UNI is ranked ahead of No. 21 Ohio State, No. 22 Mississippi, No. 23 Mississippi State, No. 24 North Carolina and No. 25 Baylor.

In the coaches' poll, UNI is ranked ahead of No. 23 North Carolina, No. 24 Mississippi and No. 25 Ohio State. UNI is two points behind Connecticut in the Coaches poll for the No. 21 slot.

The Panthers are 16-1 overall and 7-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference. UNI will take on Wichita State Tuesday in Wichita, Kan., at 8 p.m. on ESPNU.

This marks the fourth time the UNI Panthers' men's basketball team has earned a spot in the national polls. UNI was ranked three times in the 2005-06 season with a high of No. 24 in the Jan. 30, 2006, USA Today Coaches' Poll.