2022-23 Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings: Week 10

Joe Jackson and Ethan Carbone combine to give their Big Ten basketball power rankings for week 10.

Matchup of the week: Indiana vs. Penn State

Sneaky good matchup of the week: Rutgers vs. Northwestern

All times listed are EST.

1) Purdue Boilermakers

Last week’s ranking: 1 (-)

Record: 15-1 (4-1)

Last week: Rutgers (L) 64-65, @ #24 Ohio State (W) 71-69, Penn State (W) 76-63

This week: Nebraska (Jan. 13 – 7 p.m.), @ Michigan State (Jan 16 – 2:30 p.m.)

Best wins: Gonzaga, Marquette, @ Ohio State, Duke, Penn State, West Virginia

Worst losses: Rutgers

In the past week, the Boilermakers showed precisely why they’re one of the country’s best teams, but that they are also vulnerable. Zach Edey had a double-double in each game this week and Braden Smith helped lead the team past a difficult Ohio State squad.

As for the Rutgers loss, Purdue seemingly likes to play it close with the Scarlet Knights and it ended up being one of the best games of the year.

2) Ohio State Buckeyes

Last week’s ranking: 5 (+3)

Record: 10-5 (2-2)

Last week: #1 Purdue (L) 69-71, @ Maryland (L) 73-80

This week: Minnesota (Jan. 12 – 6:30 p.m.), @ Rutgers (Jan. 15 – Noon)

Best wins: Rutgers, Texas Tech, Cincinnati

Worst losses: N/A

Ohio State had a week where they didn’t get the wins they wanted, however, they proved that they can compete with the best of the Big Ten.

Brice Sensabaugh has really come into his own averaging about 20 points over his last five games. Although they are now just 2-2 in the conference, the Buckeyes are pulling together as a team and looking ahead to the rest of their Big Ten basketball battles.

3) Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Last week’s ranking: 9 (+6)

Record: 11-5 (3-2)

Last week: @ #1 Purdue (W) 65-64, Maryland (W) 64-50, Iowa (L) 65-76

This week: Northwestern (Jan. 11 – 9 p.m.), Ohio State (Jan. 15 – Noon)

Best wins: @ Purdue, Indiana, Wake Forest

Worst losses: Temple

After beating Purdue in one of the best finishes to a basketball game this season, Rutgers’ style of play has been confirmed to beat some of the best teams in college basketball. The evened-out scoring of the Scarlet Knights’ offense and tenacious defense helps them win close games even if they don’t score a ton.

Against Iowa, nobody could buy a bucket, as it was just one of those games offensively. 

4) Wisconsin Badgers

Last week’s ranking: 4 (-)

Record: 11-3 (3-1)

Last week: Minnesota (W) 63-60, Illinois (L) 69-79

This week: Michigan State (Jan.  10 – 7 p.m.), Indiana (Jan. 14 – 1 p.m.)

Best wins: @ Marquette, @ Iowa, Maryland, USC, Dayton

Worst losses: Wake Forest

The Wisconsin Badgers come off a week where they lost Tyler Wahl shortly into the Minnesota game. That was part of the reason they played Minnesota so close, as Steven Crowl had to step up as the leading scorer.

The loss of Wahl also directly affected the Illinois game allowing them to give up easier buckets, especially inside.

5) Northwestern Wildcats

Last week’s ranking: 12 (+7)

Record: 12-3 (3-1)

Last week: Illinois (W) 73-60, @ #15 Indiana (W) 84-83

This week: Rutgers (Jan. 11 – 9 p.m.), @ Michigan (Jan. 15 – Noon)

Best wins: @ Michigan State, @ Indiana, Illinois, Liberty

Worst losses: N/A

Northwestern is coming off one of their best weeks of the past few years in basketball dominating their rival Illinois and going into Indiana and beating them at assembly hall as Boo Buie and Chase Audige led the Wildcats to currently be tied for second in the Big Ten.

6) Illinois Fighting Illini

Last week’s ranking: 2 (-4)

Record: 10-5 (1-3)

Last week: Northwestern (L) 60-73, #14 Wisconsin (W) 79-69

This week: @ Nebraska (Jan. 10 – 9 p.m.), Michigan State (Jan. 13 – 9 p.m.)

Best wins: Texas, UCLA, Wisconsin

Worst losses: N/A

After starting 0-3 in Big Ten basketball play, Illinois was able to take on a ranked Wisconsin team and beat them.

Illinois’ starting point guard Skyy Clark took a leave of absence from the team and although playing without their third leading player in minutes, they were able to take it to Wisconsin in dominant fashion after the loss to their rival Northwestern.

7) Michigan State Spartans

Last week’s ranking: 10 (+3)

Record: 11-4 (3-1)

Last week: Nebraska (W) 74-56, Michigan (W) 59-53

This week: @ #18 Wisconsin (Jan. 10 – 7 p.m.), @ Illinois (Jan. 13 – 9 p.m.)

Best wins: Kentucky, @ Penn State, Michigan, Villanova, Oregon

Worst losses: N/A

Tyson Walker shined in the Nebraska win and stepped up in the battle for state dominance against Michigan. Izzo Ball shined against both teams holding them both in the ’50s as Michigan shot 3-of-20 from three compared to Michigan State’s 6-of-19. Malik Hall was up off the bench as the senior scored 15 of his team’s 59 points against Michigan.

8) Indiana Hoosiers

Last week’s ranking: 3 (-5)

Record: 10-5 (1-3)

Last week: @ Iowa (L) 89-91, Northwestern (L) 83-84

This week: @ Penn State (Jan. 11 – 7 p.m.), #18 Wisconsin (Jan. 14 – 1 p.m.)

Best wins: @ Xavier, North Carolina, Nebraska

Worst losses: N/A

Indiana is coming off a week where they were expected to go 2-0 and instead went 0-2 as Kris Murray and Trayce Jackson-Davis battled it out. In the end, Iowa’s home-court advantage and coaching were able to outduel the Hoosiers.

Jalen Hood-Schifino has really come into his own. Despite the losses, he put up 21 and 33 points against the Hawkeyes and Wildcats respectively.

9) Penn State

Last week’s ranking: 7 (-2)

Record: 11-5 (2-3)

Last week: @ Michigan (L) 69-79, #1 Purdue (L) 63-76

This week: Indiana (Jan. 11 – 7 p.m.)

Best wins: @ Illinois, Iowa, Butler

Worst losses: N/A

After looking like one of the better Big Ten teams, Penn State dropped two games last week as Michigan’s entire team stepped up and Zach Edey dominated against smaller defenders.

On a positive note, Jalen Pickett continues to play like an All-American. Penn State has an opportunity to play against another team in a situation like that in Indiana on Wednesday.

10) Michigan Wolverines

Last week’s ranking: 11 (+1)

Record: 9-6 (3-1)

Last week: Penn State (W) 79-69, Michigan State (L) 53-59

This week: @ Iowa (Jan. 12 – 7 p.m.) Northwestern (Jan. 15 – Noon)

Best wins: Penn State, Pittsburgh, Maryland

Worst losses: N/A

Michigan’s entire team dominated Penn State as everyone stepped up, as Hunter Dickinson and Jett Howard got some assistance to beat the Nittany Lions.

Against Michigan State, Michigan couldn’t buy a bucket as they struggled to shoot and couldn’t do anything against the Spartans’ defense.

11) Maryland Terrapins

Last week’s ranking: 6 (-5)

Record: 11-5 (2-3)

Last week: Rutgers (L) 50-64, Ohio State (W) 80-73

This week: @ Iowa (Jan. 15 – 4:30 p.m.)

Best wins: Miami (Fla), Ohio State, Illinois, Saint Louis

Worst losses: N/A

After originally looking like one of the top-tier teams in Big Ten basketball, Maryland took a step down and on their spiral, completed by losing to Rutgers. The key factor was free throws, as Maryland went 4-of-9 and Rutgers went 12-of-14 from the line.

Against Ohio State, they took a step in the right direction as Jahmir Young drew a ton of fouls and shot 8-of-18 from the field, knocking off the Buckeyes in the process.

12) Iowa Hawkeyes

Last week’s ranking: 8 (-4)

Record: 10-6 (2-3)

Last week: #15 Indiana (W) 91-89, Rutgers (W) 76-65

This week: Eastern Illinois (Dec. 21 – 8 p.m.)

Best wins: Iowa State, Clemson, @ Rutgers, Indiana, Seton Hall

Worst losses: @ Nebraska

After starting out weak, the Hawkeyes came back ready to play. Kris Murray was back to his usual self, scoring 30 and Filip Rebraca added 19 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Indiana. Against Rutgers, Iowa’s defense stepped up and held the Scarlet Knights to 38.1% shooting from the field.

13) Nebraska Cornhuskers

Last week’s ranking: 13 (-)

Record: 9-7 (2-3)

Last week: Michigan State (L) 56-74, Minnesota (W) 81-79

This week: Illinois (Jan. 10 – 9 p.m.), @ #3 Purdue (Jan. 13 – 7 p.m.)

Best wins: @ Creighton, Iowa, Boston College

Worst losses: N/A

The Cornhuskers fell to Michigan State as they couldn’t stop them from scoring nor could they keep up as they shot 2-of-16 from deep. Derrick Walker continues to impress, however, more players need to step up. Against Minnesota, that’s exactly what happened as the team shot 50.8% from the field and 33.3% from deep in an overtime win.

14) Minnesota Golden Gophers

Last week’s ranking: 14 (-)

Record: 6-8 (0-4)

Last week: @ #14 Wisconsin (L) 60-63,  Nebraska (L) 79-81

This week: @ Ohio State (Jan. 12 – 6:30 p.m.), Illinois (Jan. 16 – 6 p.m.)

Best wins: Cal Baptist, Central Michigan, Western Michigan

Worst losses: DePaul, Nebraska

When it came to the Wisconsin game, the Golden Gophers couldn’t guard the paint in crunch time as well as allowing Wisconsin to shoot 40% from deep. Against Nebraska, it was a battle until the end as crucial mistakes in overtime cost them a chance at Big Ten win number one.