The Big Ten race is really starting to take shape, with the top contenders more than well-established. With several top teams preparing to face off over the next several weeks, this edition of the Big Ten power rankings will definitely show who the best teams are in this conference. The Michigan Wolverines lead the way not only here, but also atop the National Polls, as they are currently the number one team in the AP Poll.
Can anyone else catch them in the Big Ten Championship race? Who knows in this conference, but let’s look at how all 18 teams stand.
It’s Michigan’s World atop the Big Ten Power Rankings
1. Michigan (24-1)
Since losing a shocker to Wisconsin on their home floor in early January, Michigan has only gotten better and better. This team isn’t backing down from anyone. They have faced several challenges and took them head-on, only to score blowout wins every time. Yaxel Lendeborg has been the clear leader in every facet of the game, but LJ Cason has shown a huge step in providing energy and a great outside shot. His 18 points in a come-from-behind win at Northwestern were most impressive. Good luck stopping the Wolverines the rest of the way.
Up next: @ Purdue, tonight 6:30 pm, vs. Duke (D.C.) Saturday, Feb 21st
2. Illinois (21-5)
Despite a slip-up with back-to-back losses against Michigan State and Wisconsin. The Illini have been right on pace, trying to hang with Michigan. They have the ultimate chance to still get a piece of the Big Ten, especially with a head-to-head with the Wolverines on the schedule. Keaton Wagler has become that guy. It’s impressive to say the least, given that many others didn’t offer him. Getting Kylan Boswell back soon is only going to help the team.
Up next: @ USC, Wednesday, Feb 18th, @ UCLA, Saturday, Feb 21st
3. Purdue (21-4)
A late January three-game slide didn’t stop Purdue from keeping pace with the rest of the top teams in the Big Ten. Purdue has needed some guys to step up, and senior Fletcher Loyer has been huge in scoring the ball in the last four games. In fact, he’s been the leading scorer in three of the four games. That included a 29-point performance in a win at Maryland. This group, led by seniors, isn’t done making noise in the Big Ten and nationally.
Up next: Michigan, tonight 6:30 pm. Indiana, Friday, Feb 20th
4. Wisconsin (18-7)
This Badgers team has become a real threat. They have beaten three top 10 teams this season, including being the only team to beat No. 1 Michigan this season. Wisconsin is back in the AP Poll, and fresh off a week where they knocked off both Illinois and Michigan State. Nick Boyd has quickly become a pure scorer, and that makes this team dangerous, alongside John Blackwell.
Up next: @ Ohio State, Tonight 8:30 pm, Iowa, Sunday, Feb 22nd
5. Nebraska (22-3)
A Cornhuskers team that has been near the top of the standings all season. They have cooled off a bit with three losses in their last five games. Pryce Sandfort had a great game against Northwestern, as Nebraska had to give it their all. He had 29 points in that game. They are still on pace for a top-four seed in the Big Ten Tournament, but they have some challenges still ahead.
Up next: @ Iowa, Tonight 9:00 pm, Penn State, Saturday, Feb 21st
6. Michigan State (20-5)
Jeremy Fears Jr has been playing pretty well, averaging over nine assists per game this season. He’s really picked it up as of late, as he leads the country in that category. However, the Spartans have been on a bit of a slide, having lost three of their last four games. That included two games on the road against Minnesota and Wisconsin. Michigan State has all but dropped out of the Top Three hunt for a chance at repeating as Big Ten regular-season champs. Not to mention their bigs, Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper have not played like themselves for almost a month. The finish to the season is even tougher.
Up next: UCLA, Tonight 8:30 pm, Ohio State, Sunday, Feb 22nd
7. UCLA (17-8)
Mick Cronin is either a smart guy or he’s just plain crazy. When his teams is not finding ways to win, he’s griping about something in the postgame. Who knows, he probably does that even if the Bruins win. They are coming off a double-digit loss at Michigan and have another game in the State of Michigan yet to play. It’s no secret that UCLA has struggled when they have come east since moving to the Big Ten.
Up next: @ Michigan State, Tonight 8:30 pm, Illinois, Saturday, Feb 21st
8. Iowa (18-7)
It has been an impressive first season for Ben McCollum at Iowa. He has Hawkeyes in the top 10 of the Big Ten. However, they will need to get out of their current two-game slide with four games against ranked foes still ahead on the schedule.
Up next: Nebraska, Tonight 9:00 pm, @ Wisconsin, Sunday, Feb 22nd
9. Indiana (17-9)
The road hasn’t been very kind to the Hoosiers, especially after their 20-point loss at Illinois last week. This week is huge for Indiana as they have a rematch with in-state rival Purdue coming up. The Hoosiers pulled the upset in the first meeting. Lamar Wilkerson has shown himself to be a very impressive scorer. He had a 41-point performance two games ago against Oregon. If he can keep scoring like that, Indiana can keep rattling off wins.
Up next: @ Purdue, Friday Feb 20th
10. Ohio State (16-9)
Life on the bubble continues for the Buckeyes. Even when you think Ohio State has turned a corner, they take a step back. Now, with John Mobley Jr away from the team. It will be interesting to see if the Buckeyes can respond with two ranked opponents this week.
Up next: Wisconsin, Tonight, 8:30 pm, @ Michigan State, Sunday, Feb 22nd
11. USC (18-7)
The Trojans look to have put themselves in a good spot in contention for an NCAA Tournament berth. Alijah Arenas has been very impressive since making his debut. He’s scored 24 or more points in each of the last three games for USC. To think he’s been able to do that after missing most of the season with a leg injury. USC has a chance to make real noise with Arenas playing to his full ability.
Up next: Illinois, Wednesday, Feb 18th, Oregon, Saturday, Feb 21st
12. Washington (13-13)
The Huskies looked like they could be a tournament team prior to the start of the season, with the talent they had on the roster. It seems that was too bold, as Washington finds itself at .500 with five games left in the regular season. Unless they make a massive run in the Big Ten tournament, they aren’t going to be dancing in March. A win against Minnesota was huge, but the Huskies are all but trending in the wrong direction.
Up next: @ Maryland, Saturday Feb 21st
13. Minnesota (11-14)
A team whose record doesn’t show how tough they play. The Gophers have lost nine of their last 10 games, but most of those losses were in games that were very competitive. The most recent win was a huge one, as they upset Michigan State. Cade Tyson has been the top scorer for Minnesota, but they have seen a good amount of production from others like Bobby Durkin.
Up next: @ Oregon, Tonight, 10:30 pm, Rutgers, Saturday, Feb 21st
14. Rutgers (10-15)
It’s been yet another ugly season for the Scarlet Knights. They snapped a seven-game losing streak with their recent win against Maryland. Tariq Francis appears to have become the best scorer for Steve Pikiell’s team. He’s scored 12 or more points in each of his last five games. That also includes three games where he had more than 20. Not much hope for Rutgers the rest of the season, with four of their last six games being on the road.
Up next: @ Penn State, Wednesday, Feb 18th, @ Minnesota, Saturday, Feb 21st
15. Oregon (9-16)
At least Oregon has Nate Bittle back, but they are still not a good team right now. It’s been a very tough year for Dana Altman’s team. Injuries have been one thing, but the Ducks could at least find a way to win against similar-level foes. They did grab a win against Penn State in their last game, but things aren’t going well in Eugene.
Up next: Minnesota, Tonight, 10:30 pm, @ USC, Saturday, Feb 21st
16. Maryland (10-15)
The teams at the bottom could easily be interchangeable. It’s hard to believe that Maryland is this low, given that they made the Sweet 16 last season. However, that’s what happens when a coach leaves a team high and dry in the offseason. There was a brief moment where the Terps looked like they had found some consistency with back-to-back wins against Minnesota, and more surprisingly, Iowa.
Up next: @ Northwestern, Wednesday, Feb 18th, Washington, Saturday, Feb 21st
17. Northwestern (10-16)
The Wildcats have always shown toughness and grit, even in defeat. That has been the story this season for Northwestern. The schedule has been tough for the team over the last month. Yet they have given teams like Michigan and Nebraska a real challenge. They even had a 16-point lead against the conference-leading Wolverines before blowing it in the final 10 minutes of the game. Obviously, Northwestern won’t be dancing, but they are going to give every team they face their best.
Up next: Maryland, Wednesday, Feb 18th
18. Penn State (11-15)
A young team is going to face challenges, and that’s the story of Penn State this season. After starting the season 8-1, the Nittany Lions have only won three games since early December. Freddie Dillone V has been a great performer for the team, as has freshman Kayden Mingo. Both have shown they can score 20 points or more on a consistent basis. They may be at the bottom of these Big Ten power rankings, but they aren’t a team to mess with. They did go toe-to-toe with both Michigan and Michigan State earlier this season.
Up next: Rutgers, Wednesday, Feb 18th, @ Nebraska, Saturday, Feb 21st
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