Joe Jackson and Ethan Carbone combine to give their Big Ten basketball power rankings for week 11.
Matchup of the week: Indiana vs. Illinois
Sneaky good matchup of the week: #23 Rutgers vs. Michigan State
All times listed are EST.
1) Purdue Boilermakers
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-)
Record: 17-1 (6-1)
Last week: Nebraska (W) 73-55, @ Michigan State (W) 64-63
This week: @ Minnesota (Jan. 19 – 7 p.m.), Maryland (Jan. 22 – 1 p.m.)
Best wins: Gonzaga, Marquette, @ Michigan State, Duke, Penn State, @ Ohio State, West Virginia
Worst losses: N/A
Purdue was able to tack on two more wins this week, beating Nebraska and MSU. They happened in very different fashions.
Against Nebraska, Fletcher Loyer hit a Purdue-freshman record 6 3s, and Purdue hit 11 overall. Zach Edey only took seven shots.
Against the Spartans, Edey put up a National Player of the Year statline of 32 points and 17 rebounds on 13-of-26 shooting while playing 37 minutes. Loyer was huge down the stretch of that game, as he and Tyson Walker were trading haymakers for a couple of minutes.
2) Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Last week’s ranking: 3 (+1)
Record: 13-5 (5-2)
Last week: @ Northwestern (W) 65-62, Ohio State (W) 68-64
This week: @ Michigan State (Jan. 19 – 6:30 p.m.)
Best wins: @ Purdue, Indiana, Wake Forest, @ Northwestern, Ohio State
Worst losses: Temple, Seton Hall
Rutgers bounced back from a loss to Iowa by getting close wins against both Northwestern and Ohio State. Their defense continues to come through, which is needed as they struggle at times on offense. Cam Spencer has really stepped up on this team and has been arguably the best player for Rutgers. He is often the bail-out on offense and holds his own on defense, allowing the rest of the elite defense for Rutgers to flourish.
3) Illinois Fighting Illini
Last week’s ranking: 6 (+3)
Record: 13-5 (4-3)
Last week: @ Nebraska (W) 76-50, Michigan State (W) 75-66, @ Minnesota (W) 78-60
This week: Indiana (Jan. 19 – 8:30 p.m.)
Best wins: UCLA, Texas, Michigan State, Wisconsin
Worst losses: N/A
Illinois may have finally turned the corner, albeit two of their three games were against the two worst teams in the Big Ten. Nonetheless, Illinois looked dominant against both Nebraska and Minnesota, and they were able to pull away from Michigan State toward the end of the game. T
his team seems to be more bought in on both ends, and both Terrence Shannon Jr. and Matthew Mayer are starting to produce consistently. Tom Izzo said Illinois is the most talented team in the conference, and they are starting to play like it.
4) Iowa Hawkeyes
Last week’s ranking: 12 (+8)
Record: 12-6 (4-3)
Last week: Michigan (W) 93-84, Maryland (W) 81-67
This week: Northwestern (Jan. 18 – 9 p.m.), @ Ohio State (Jan. 21 – 2 p.m.)
Best wins: Iowa State, @ Rutgers, Clemson, Indiana, Seton Hall, Michigan
Worst losses: Eastern Illinois, @ Nebraska
Iowa is another team that seems to be finding its rhythm, riding a four-game win streak after starting 0-3 in Big Ten basketball play. Kris Murray has been one of the best players in the conference. The defense is not good, but they have found success with their zone at times. Payton Sandfort has started to catch fire. After starting 0-for-19 from 3, Sandfort is now 10-for-18 and was a big reason Iowa forced OT against Michigan.
5) Michigan Wolverines
Last week’s ranking: 10 (+5)
Record: 10-7 (4-2)
Last week: @ Iowa (L) 84-93, Northwestern (W) 85-78
This week: @ Maryland (Jan. 19 – 7 p.m.), Minnesota (Jan. 22 – Noon)
Best wins: Penn State, Pittsburgh, Northwestern
Worst losses: Central Michigan
Michigan let a crucial one slip away against Iowa, losing a late lead and ultimately losing in OT. They let Payton Sandfort get loose towards the end of regulation, and they could not overcome it. They bounced back against Northwestern, utilizing a late run to put the game out of reach. Jett Howard had a great week, scoring 34 against Iowa and 16 points with 7 assists against Northwestern.
6) Penn State Nittany Lions
Last week’s ranking: 9 (+3)
Record: 12-5 (3-3)
Last week: Indiana (W) 85-66
This week: @ Wisconsin (Jan. 17 – 8:30 p.m.), Nebraska (Jan. 21 – 2:15 p.m.)
Best wins: @ Illinois, Iowa, Indiana
Worst losses: N/A
By how they play, Penn State will be a team that fluctuates in rankings consistently. When they are on, like in the Indiana game, it doesn’t look like many teams can beat them. In the Big Ten this season, that may be enough. Their upcoming game at Wisconsin will be another good test to see how this team responds.
7) Michigan State Spartans
Last week’s ranking: 7 (-)
Record: 12-6 (4-3)
Last week: @ Wisconsin (W) 69-65, @ Illinois (L) 66-75, #3 Purdue (L) 63-64
This week: #23 Rutgers (Jan. 19 – 6:30 p.m.), @ Indiana (Jan. 22 – Noon)
Best wins: @ Penn State, @ Wisconsin, Kentucky, Michigan, Oregon
Worst losses: @ Notre Dame
The biggest news of the week for MSU is that they will be without Malik Hall for multiple weeks after sustaining an injury against Illinois.
Michigan State has the talent to still be competitive, as shown against Purdue. After picking up a big road win against Wisconsin, they were not able to duplicate their success against Illinois and Purdue, although it looked like they might win both late into the respective games. Walker continues to have a season, scoring 30 against Purdue in the losing effort.
8) Northwestern Wildcats
Last week’s ranking: 5 (-3)
Record: 12-5 (3-3)
Last week: #23 Rutgers (L) 62-65, @ Michigan (L) 78-85
This week: @ Iowa (Jan. 18 – 9 p.m.), Wisconsin (Jan. 21 – Noon)
Best wins: @ Michigan State, Illinois, @ Indiana, Liberty
Worst losses: N/A
Northwestern struggled this past week, losing close ones to both Rutgers and Michigan. Michigan found success going with two bigs to counter Northwestern’s small-ball lineup, and they hit enough threes to punish Northwestern. The defense, although still very good, is slipping the slightest. For a team that relies on it as much as they do, this can make a big difference.
9) Wisconsin Badgers
Last week’s ranking: 4 (-5)
Record: 11-5 (3-3)
Last week: Michigan State (L) 65-69, @ Indiana (L) 45-63
This week: Penn State (Jan. 17 – 8:30 p.m.), @ Northwestern (Jan. 21 – Noon)
Best wins: @ Marquette, @ Iowa, Dayton, USC
Worst losses: N/A
The loss of Tyler Wahl has loomed large for the Badgers, and they will need him back as soon as he is healthy. They dropped a close home game to Michigan State. The lack of offense really showed against Indiana. If jumpers are not falling, it becomes really tough for this team to score, especially without Wahl.
10) Ohio State Buckeyes
Last week’s ranking: 2 (-8)
Record: 10-7 (2-4)
Last week: Minnesota (L) 67-70, @ #23 Rutgers (L) 64-68
This week: @ Nebraska (Jan. 18 – 7 p.m.), Iowa (Jan. 21 – 2 p.m.)
Best wins: Rutgers, Texas Tech, Cincinnati
Worst losses: Minnesota
Ohio State had probably the worst week in the Big Ten, dropping from what seemed like a legit number two in the conference to being near the bottom of the conference. Losing at home against Minnesota is absolutely the one loss a team cannot have during Big Ten basketball play this season, but Ohio State did just that. Followed by a loss at Rutgers and Ohio State is now on a 4-game losing streak.
11) Indiana Hoosiers
Last week’s ranking: 8 (-3)
Record: 11-6 (2-4)
Last week: @ Penn State (L) 66-85, Wisconsin (W) 63-45
This week: @ Illinois (Jan. 19 – 8:30 p.m.), Michigan State (Jan. 22 – Noon)
Best wins: @ Xavier, North Carolina, Wisconsin
Worst losses: N/A
Indiana got torched by Penn State as the Nittany Lions made 18 threes, but followed it up with an 18-point win against a Tyler Wahl-less Wisconsin. The defense was night and day in the Penn State and Wisconsin games. Indiana was able to at least temporarily stop the skid. If they can get their defensive level back closer to what was expected in the preseason, they will be able to compete. If not, it may end up being a long Big Ten basketball season for the Hoosiers.
12) Maryland Terrapins
Last week’s ranking: 11 (-1)
Record: 11-6 (2-4)
Last week: @ Iowa (L) 67-81
This week: Michigan (Jan. 19 – 7 p.m.), @ #3 Purdue (Jan. 22 – 1 p.m.)
Best wins: Miami (Fla), Ohio State, Illinois, Saint Louis
Worst losses: N/A
Maryland continues to have a hard time finding consistent success in the Big Ten with a loss at Iowa, a game they never were really able to get super close. They rely heavily on interior success with Jahmir Young, Julian Reese, and Donta Scott. All are talented but are finding it a lot more difficult to finish inside against Big Ten big men.
13) Nebraska Cornhuskers
Last week’s ranking: 13 (-)
Record: 9-9 (2-5)
Last week: Illinois (L) 50-76, @ #3 Purdue (L) 55-73
This week: Ohio State (Jan. 18 – 7 p.m.), @ Penn State (Jan. 21 – 2:15 p.m.)
Best wins: @ Creighton, Iowa, Boston College
Worst losses: N/A
Nebraska had one of the tougher scheduled weeks in the Big Ten, and it showed. First, they got throttled by an Illinois team that is looking like they are getting back to being themselves. Then they lost at Purdue in which they let Fletcher Loyer hit six threes.
Injuries have bit them, as both Juwan Gary and Sam Griesel were sidelined for the Purdue game. Gary is expected to be out for a while.
14) Minnesota Golden Gophers
Last week’s ranking: 14 (-)
Record: 7-9 (1-5)
Last week: @ Ohio State (W) 70-67, Illinois (L) 60-78
This week: #3 Purdue (Jan. 19 – 7 p.m.), @ Michigan (Jan. 22 – Noon)
Best wins: @ Ohio State, Cal Baptist, Central Michigan
Worst losses: DePaul, Nebraska, UNLV
Minnesota finally did it, they picked up a Big Ten basketball win! The Gophers looked solid against Ohio State and did enough to pick up a conference win. They were even competitive against Illinois for a half. Although this is clearly the worst team in the Big Ten, they may be starting to figure things out.