Big 10 Power Rankings

Last week, I provided my Big XII Power Rankings.  The week before, I did my Big East Power Rankings.  Today, I will do my Big 10 Power Rankings.

1. Michigan State- The Spartans are 18-3, 8-0 in Big 10 play, and currently are on a 9 game winning streak.  Michigan State is ranked 6th in my Top 25 and is 2.5 games ahead of 2nd place Wisconsin in the Big 10.  Led by coach Tom Izzo, guard Raymar Morgan, and Kalin Lucas, the Spartans, while not being extremely impressive, have a stranglehold on the Big 10 with just over 1 month until conference tournaments start.  Michigan State’s 3 losses were to Florida, North Carolina, and Texas, ranked 9th in my Top 25.

2. Purdue- Although the Boilermakers do trail Wisconsin by .5 games in Big 10 play, Purdue beat Wisconsin last night in a thriller at Mackey Arena (the season series is a 1-1 tie).  The game was back and forth all night, with both teams appearing to take control of the game at multiple points.  However, the game came down to the final seconds, with the Badgers trailing by 1, when a floater off the glass just would not fall for Trevon Hughes.  Purdue won by 3.  Purdue is 5-3 in conference but is perfect out of conference, with a 17-3 record.  Led by Robbie Hummel and E’twaun Moore, Purdue is a team that, while it is just coming off a 3 game losing streak in a 7 day stretch 2 weeks ago, is very explosive and can play with a lot of teams.  I think that Purdue is a Sweet 16 team at this point, but no more, although that differs from the opinions of many pundits nationally.

3. Wisconsin- The Badgers are that team that no one likes to play.  Bo Ryan has built an unbelievable program at Wisconsin.  Wisconsin has made the tournament each of Ryan’s 8 years coaching, and has never finished worse than 4th in the Big 10 under Ryan.  The Bo Ryan system is based upon defense, taking time off the clock, and spreading the ball around the floor.  This system is very difficult to defend against and to prepare for, and for this reason Wisconsin has consistently given teams trouble that may be more talented.  The Badgers are in 2nd place in the Big 10 by .5 games, and have a 16-5 record.  However, my concern with the Badgers is the fact that they haven’t had recent success in the NCAA tournament under the Bo Ryan system.  In 8 consecutive seasons under Bo Ryan, the Badgers have made the NCAA tournament each year, but have only advanced to the Elite 8 once, and have never advanced past it.

4. Ohio State- Two weeks ago, the Buckeyes would have been much lower in this list of power rankings.  Prior to January 12th, Ohio State was 11-5 and had lost every game played against a decent team.  The best win prior to 1/12 was over Florida State.  The Buckeyes had fallen from the rankings and looked to be a potential bubble team down the stretch.  However, on January 12th, Ohio State defeated Purdue on the road, amidst Robbie Hummel’s best game of his career when he posted 35 points, and E’Twaun Moore posted 19.  Then, on January 16th, Ohio State beat Wisconsin 60-51, and these wins propelled the Buckeyes back into most rankings, although they are not ranked in my Top 25.  The Bucks mounted this streak due in part to Evan Turner’s speedy return to the court after what was a serious injury earlier in the season.  If Turner can continue to pick up the Ohio State play over the course of the year, the team could be a strong contender to go to the Elite 8 in the NCAA tournament.

5. Northwestern- I know, Minnesota has a better record in conference, and Minnesota just beat Northwestern, but hear me out.  Northwestern has a better overall record than Minnesota (14-6 vs. 13-7), and Northwestern has much more respectable losses than Minnesota.  Other than losses to Minnesota and Illinois, Northwestern has lost its games to all ranked teams.  In addition, Northwestern has wins over Notre Dame, Iowa State, Purdue, and NC State.  Therefore, Northwestern is a team that has had an up and down season, but has a chance with a good month stretch to make the NCAA tournament.  I will analyze both Illinois and Minnesota’s schedule strength of schedule and resume after I rank them.

6. Illinois- At this point it gets really difficult to rank these teams.  Each of these teams have had very inconsistent seasons and few if any impressive wins.  However, Illinois is the next best team behind Northwestern.  Illinois is 13-8 and 5-3 in Big 10 play.  The Illini has lost a few bad games, such as Bradford and Utah, but most of the losses have come against solid (not great) teams.  Illinois’ best wins were against Clemson and against Vanderbilt.

7. Minnesota- The Golden Gophers are 13-7 and 4-4 in Big 10 play.  However, Minnesota has been one of the most inconsistent and streakiest teams in college basketball.  After starting 4-0, the team went 0-3 in its next 3 games against decent, not great, competition (Portland, Texas A&M, Miami).  Then the Gophers reeled off 7 straight, although without a true big win in that stretch.  The Gophers have been on a 2-4 streak since and remain in the middle of the pack in the Big 10, with an outside chance of making the NCAA tournament.  Led by head coach Tubby Smith, Minnesota relies on its defense and timely offense to win games in the defense heavy Big 10 conference.

8. Michigan- The Wolverines are a team that has potential to beat great teams on any given night, but also has a chance to drop a game against the Little Sisters of the Poor.  The team lives and dies by the 3 point shoot under coach John Beilein, who has yet to successfully implement the system that worked so effectively for him at West Virginia.  Led by All-American candidate Manny Harris, Michigan has had a very rocky season at 10-10 and 3-5 in conference play.  Michigan has beaten teams such as UConn and Ohio State, but has also lost to teams such as Indiana and Utah.  Michigan is quite simply an inconsistent team with talent that hasn’t put it all together yet.

9. Iowa- I know what most are thinking right now.  How could Iowa be above Indiana in my power rankings? Indiana may be down, but nonetheless can not be worse than Iowa.  Well, the fact is that while Indiana may have a slightly better record, Iowa is the better team right now.  Although the Hawkeyes’ record is 8-13, 9 of these losses came to quality teams, and the Hawkeyes beat Indiana on the road by 15 points.  Quite simply, Iowa is a better team right now.

10. Indiana- It is not Indiana’s year.  Tom Crean is still trying to get the program off the ground, and the Hoosiers post a 9-10 record.  The Hoosiers’ lone solid win was against Pittsburgh, although this game was played before Pittsburgh got its injured players back in the lineup which led to the team’s recent hot streak.

11. Penn State- My beloved Nittany Lions have simply had everything go wrong this year.  After the departure of Stanley Pringle and Jamelle Cornley after last year’s NIT victory, the Lions have not been the same.  The team now lacks an inside presence or a consistent second scorer to support All American candidate Talor Battle.  Chris Babb has stepped up recently to try to fill the void.  The Lions are the only current winless Big 10 team at 0-8, two games behind 2nd to last placed Iowa.  However, the Lions have a young crop of talent, as the team will not graduate anyone this year, and will return the entire roster unless Talor Battle decides to leave for the NBA.