For the first time since 2013, Illinois basketball will spend consecutive weeks in the AP Top 25 Poll.

A week after entering the poll (at No. 24) for the first time since 2015, Illinois (13-5, 5-2 Big Ten) rose to No. 21 in the AP Poll this week — the Illini’s highest ranking in the AP Poll since it was No. 12 on Jan. 7, 2013. That season, Illinois spent six consecutive weeks in the top-15.

The Illini will have work to keep that ranking this week. The Illini, who are 11-1 at home this season, face tough road tests at Purdue and Michigan. Neither the Boilermakers (10-8, 3-4 Big Ten) or Wolverines (11-6, 2-4 Big Ten) are ranked this week. But both rank higher than Illinois in the NET Rankings, the metric the NCAA Tournament committee uses to sort through the 68-team field in March: Michigan at No. 29, Purdue at No. 36 and Illinois at No. 40.

The Illini still have plenty of basketball ahead of them, but they’re currently in the spotlight with a national ranking and a tie for second place in the Big Ten standings. They also have the longest active winning streak (four) in league play.

“We’ve heard enough talk about being ranked and first time since 2014. It’s the middle of January,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. “I understand the significance of it. To me, it’s mind-blowing — it really is — that it’s been that long. But it’s January.”

“You’ve got to keep plugging away to keep getting better. That’s happening. Our guys want to get better. The break has been very positive for us, in terms of guys in the gym and guys understanding what we’re doing.”

The number in front of the Illini’s name also means opponents certainly will not take Illinois lightly.

“Going from hunting to being the hunted,” Illini sophomore guard Ayo Dosunmu said. “I feel like early in the season we took some tough losses. We were hunting teams. But now, we’re the hunted. Being big dog, being at the top. Being in that category and just staying there. Not getting too high, not getting too low. Staying with the process and we’ll be fine.”

The Illini defended their ranking on Saturday — their only game last week — with a 75-71 win over Northwestern, the last-place team in the Big Ten.

On Tuesday, Purdue will be looking for revenge for a 63-37 blowout loss at State Farm Center on Jan. 5. The Illini haven’t won at Mackey Arena since 2008, a stretch of seven straight losses for Illinois with an average margin of defeat of 12.1 points. The Illini haven’t won at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor — where Illinois plays on Saturday — since 2010, a stretch of five games with an average margin of defeat of 9.8 points.

"At the end of the day, there's no upsets in this league anymore," Underwood said on Saturday. "Every win is a great win. It's conference play."

Illinois is one of five Big Ten teams ranked this week, none in the top-10. Michigan State rose to No. 11, up from No. 15 last week, while Maryland stayed steady at No. 17. Iowa (No. 19) and Rutgers (No. 24) both cracked the top-25 after not being ranked last week. Michigan and Ohio State fell out of the poll (to No. 28 and No. 30 respectively).

Eleven Big Ten teams received votes. Wisconsin is at No. 32, Penn State at No. 33, Purdue at No. 40 and Indiana tied for No. 41.