2023-24 Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings: Week 2

Ethan Carbone gives his Big Ten basketball power rankings heading into week 2 of the 2023 season.

Matchup of the week: Michigan State vs Duke

Sneaky good matchup of the week: Georgetown vs. Rutgers

All games listed are EST

1. Purdue Boilermakers

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Record: 2-0

Last week: W vs. Samford (98-45)), W vs. Morehead State (87-57)

Next week: vs. Xavier (Nov. 13 – 8:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: N/A

The Boilermakers played two opponents whom they were expected to dominate, which they did by a combined 83 points. Zach Edey has only had to play 22 minutes per game in which he’s averaged All-Big Ten numbers of 17.0 PPG and 9.5 RPG.

2. Illinois Fighting Illini

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Record: 2-0 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Eastern Illinois (80-52), W vs. Oakland (64-53)

Next week: vs. Marquette  (Nov. 14 – 8 p.m.), vs. Valparaiso (Nov. 17 – 8 p.m.), vs. Southern (Nov. 19 – 8 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: N/A

Illinois started the year off with a dominant showing in their second half against Eastern Illinois as well as Oakland. In both they showed weaknesses however they were able to stay strong off the backs of veteran players such as Quincy Guerrier who’s averaging 8.5 PPG and 5.5 RPG and Terrance Shannon Jr. who’s averaging 15.5 PPG. 

3. Michigan Wolverines

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Record: 2-0 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. UNC Asheville (99-74), W vs. Youngstown State (92-62)

Next week: at St Johns (Nov. 13 – 6:30 p.m.), vs. Long Beach State (Nov. 17 – 7 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: N/A

Michigan started off a supposed rebuilding year with two big wins over top-tier mid-major teams as their new additions are coming together for Juwan Howard. Olivier Nkamhoua has been dominant putting up 21 points a night for Big Blue. 

4. Michigan State Spartans

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Record: 1-1 (0-0)

Last week: L vs. James Madison (79-76), W vs. Southern Indiana (74-51)

Next week: vs. Duke (Nov. 14 – 7 p.m.), vs. Butler (Nov. 17 – 6:30 p.m.), vs. Alcorn State (Nov. 19 – 6 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: James Madison

Michigan State had about the worst start to their season they could’ve. They lost their first game as the number four team in the country to an unranked James Madison team. The Spartans are beatable, however many teams have hiccups and this coming week will show how legit or not the Spartans are with them heading to Chicago to take on Duke.

5. Iowa Hawkeyes

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Record: 2-0 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. North Dakota (110-68), W vs. Alabama State (98-67)

Next week: at Creighton  (Nov. 14 – 10 p.m.), vs. Arkansas State (Nov. 17 – 8 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: N/A

Iowa has played two games off the start of the season where the Hawkeyes have played phenomenally. Five Hawkeyes have averaged double figures in scoring and heading into a top-ten team hostile environment will show exactly how legit they are.

6. Wisconsin Badgers

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Record: 1-1 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Arkansas State (105-76), L vs. Tennessee (80-70)

Next week: at Providence (Nov. 14 – 6 p.m.), vs. Robert Morris (Nov. 17 – 6 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: N/A

Wisconsin started off their season strong with a win against Arkansas State and outscored them by 29 while scoring over 100 points. Then after that Wisconsin played a close game against a top-tier SEC team in Tennessee showing that they can play close with the best of the best.

7. Northwestern Wildcats

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Record: 2-0 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Binghamton (72-61), W vs. Dayton (71-66)

Next week: Western Michigan (Nov. 14 – 7 p.m.), at Rhode Island (Nov. 18 – 2:30 p.m.) 

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: N/A

Northwestern played closer than they may would’ve liked to against Binghamton and Dayton however the players have been coming together, most notably their trio of Boo Bouie, Ryan Langborg, and Brooks Barnhizer who are all averaging double figures, and are all upperclassmen. If Northwestern can continue to win even if it’s ugly they have a good path to conference season

8. Indiana Hoosiers

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Record: 2-0 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Florida Gulf Coast (69-63), W vs. Army (72-64)

Next week: vs. Wright State (Nov. 16 – 8 p.m.), vs. UConn (Nov. 19 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: N/A

The Hoosiers played close with FGCU and Army even so the stars of the show have been super senior point guard Xavier Johnson and star transfer Kel’el Ware have averaged 16.5 PPG each. Two more tough games come up this week as the Hoosiers will be tested even more.

9. Ohio State Buckeyes

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Record: 1-1 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Oakland (79-73), L vs. Texas A&M (73-66)

Next week: vs. Merrimack (Nov. 15 – 7 p.m.), Western Michigan (Nov. 19-– 4 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: N/A

Another Big Ten team with a close win over Oakland and coming out of that they took on a tough Texas A&M team and took them to the ropes only losing by seven after they were in it all game. Sophomore Bruce Thornton has looked incredible averaging 20.5 PPG and 3.5 APG so far. 

10. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Record: 2-1 (0-0)

Last week: L vs. Princeton (68-61), W vs. Boston University (69-45), W vs. Bryant (66-57)

Next week: vs. Georgetown (Nov. 15 – 8:30 p.m.), Howard (Nov. 18 – 6 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: Princeton

For Rutgers’ opening game, they took on in-state rival Princeton whom they lost when they were favored by six points. Then they took on two opponents who they were able to dismantle. Freshman Gavin Griffiths has looked terrific and if his play continues he will be an all-conference freshman.

11. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Record: 2-0 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Lindenwood (84-52), W vs. Florida A&M (81-54)

Next week: vs. Stony Brook (Nov. 15 – 8 p.m.), Oregon State (Nov. 18 – 4 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: N/A

Nebraska is 2-0 and has looked good beating their opponents like it is nothing. Rienk Mast an all-MVC transfer has been their leading scorer and rebounder averaging 16.5 PPG and 11 RPG for the Cornhuskers. If their winning streak continues and they look like a threat it’s easy to see coach Hoiberg moving up these rankings.

12. Penn State Nittany Lions

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Record: 2-0 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Delaware State (79-45), W vs. Lehigh (74-65)

Next week: vs. Saint Francis PA (Nov. 14 – 7 p.m.), Morehead State (Nov. 17 – 7 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: N/A

Penn State demolished a bottom-30 team to start off their season and then from there played a close game where they were tied at the half with the 262nd ranked team in the country and squeaked out a nine-point win. The lone bright spot has been Kanye Clary who has been shooting extremely efficiently with 60/50/69 shooting splits.

13. Minnesota Golden Gophers

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Record: 2-0 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Bethune Cookman (80-60), W vs. UTSA (102-76)

Next week: vs. Missouri (Nov. 16 – 9 p.m.), South  Carolina Upstate (Nov. 18 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: N/A

Minnesota isn’t last in this edition, as somehow as they’ve managed to go 2-0 and have looked good doing it. Dawson Garcia has played up to his ranking, averaging 22.5 PPG and 10 RPG. 

14. Maryland Terrapins 

Last week’s ranking: N/A

Record: 1-2 (0-0)

Last week: W vs. Mount St. Mary’s (68-53), L vs. Davidson (64-61), L at UAB (66-63)

Next week: at Villanova (Nov. 17 – 8:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: N/A

Maryland is on the verge of having two bad losses two bad losses however with both being within or just outside the top 100 teams on KENPOM and with one being a neutral site and one being away Maryland will get the benefit of the doubt but sit in the bottom of the barrel unless they can put up a fight against Villanova.