Ethan Carbone gives his Big Ten basketball power rankings heading into week 5 of the 2023 season.
Matchup of the week: Purdue vs Alabama
Sneaky good matchup of the week: Michigan vs Indiana
All games listed are EST
1. Purdue Boilermakers
Last week’s ranking: 1
Record: 7-1 (0-1)
Last week: W vs. Texas Southern (99 – 67), L @. Northwestern (92-88)
Next week: vs. Iowa (Dec. 4 – 7 p.m.), vs. Alabama (Dec. 9 – 1:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Xavier, Gonzaga, Tennessee, Marquette
Bad losses: N/A
Purdue played and dominated Texas Southern however the thing that stole the show was losing to Northwestern now twice in the year 2023. It was proven in this game that although Zach Edey may be the most dominating player in the country Purdue’s guards cannot handle playing with guards that outmatch them. Purdue is still the best team in the Big Ten however it goes to show that this season there’s not a top dog in the country and nobody is safe. Purdue has two games that have solid potential for an upset.
2. Illinois Fighting Illini
Last week’s ranking: 2
Record: 6-1 (1-0)
Last week: W @. Rutgers (76-58)
Next week: vs. FAU (Dec. 5 – 6:30 p.m.), @ Tennessee (Dec. 9 – 12 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
Illinois played the best game they have ever played in Piscataway New Jersey as they are now 3-4 in their history @ Rutgers. Terance Shannon Jr. played lights out as per usual scoring 23 points while shooting 61.5% from the field as he looked like the best wing in the country. The Illini’s defense is what stood out in their lone game this week as not a single Rutgers player scored in double figures. Something to make note of was how Rutgers dominated the paint as they blocked 9 shots to the Illini’s 4.
3. Wisconsin Badgers
Last week’s ranking: 4 – 1
Record: 6-2 (0-0)
Last week: W vs Western Illinois (71 -49), W vs Marquette (75-64)
Next week: @ Michigan State (Dec 5. – 7 p.m.), @ Arizona (Dec. 9 – 3:15 p.m.)
Quality wins: Virginia, Marquette
Bad losses: N/A
“but if Crowl and Wahl can continue to step it up they will have a punchers chance against Marquette.” That was what I stated last week. In any rivalry match, there is always seemingly a bigger chance that the favorite loses and that is precisely what happened. The Badger’s defense shut down Tyler Kolek as their entire starting lineup were workhorses averaging 32.4 minutes between the five of them against Marquette. Max Klesmit had the biggest game of his career with Wisconsin scoring 21 points. The Transfer Storr added 13, Crowl and Wahl added 16 and 10.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
Last week’s ranking: 3 – 1
Record: 5-1 (1-0)
Last week: W vs. Central Michigan (88-61), W vs. Minnesota (84-74)
Next week: vs. Miami OH. (Dec. 6 – 7 p.m.), @ Penn State (Dec. 9 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: Alabama
Bad losses: N/A
Bruce Thornton is going to be all Big-Ten first team if he keeps playing how he did this past week averaging 25.5 PPG and shooting over 64% from the field in both games. Ohio State was never down against Minnesota as their big three of Thornton, Gayle, and Battle showed us that when the Buckeyes have Battle step up they can win regularly. The Buckeyes can ease into conference season as they play Penn State although it is away.
5. Northwestern Wildcats
Last week’s ranking: 9 +4
Record: 6-1 (1-0)
Last week: W vs Northern Illinois (89-67), W vs Purdue (92-88)
Next week: vs Detroit Mercy (Dec. 10 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: Purdue
Bad losses: N/A
Northwestern may have the best set of guards in the Big Ten this year. The Wildcats took Purdue to overtime now for the second year in a row and managed to show them up with their shooting as they managed to double the Boilermakers three-point percentage nearly. Boo Bouie could not be stopped as he scored 31 points on 50% shooting. Ty Berry also shot well 7/11 and scored 21 points for Northwestern as he was a part of a guard trio that helped beat Purdue. Ryan Langborn the third part of that trio shot 4/5 from deep and scored 20 points in the win.
6. Michigan State Spartans
Last week’s ranking: 6
Record: 4-3 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. Georgia Southern (86-55)
Next week: vs. Wisconsin (Dec. 5 – 7 p.m.), @ Nebraska (Dec. 10 – 6:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses:
Michigan State did what was expected of them which was to dominate a Georgia Southern team. In the first half, Michigan State’s defense played Izzo ball allowing just 11 first-half points. The three-ball seems to still be a struggle as the starters combined went 1/12 from deep. Jaden Akins played well scoring 14 points on 60% shooting and grabbing 6 rebounds as well.
7. Iowa Hawkeyes
Last week’s ranking: 5 -3
Record: 5-2 (0-0)
Last week: W vs North Florida (103-78)
Next week: @ Purdue (Dec. 4 – 7 p.m.), @ Iowa State (Dec. 7 – 7:30 p.m.), vs Michigan (Dec. 10 – 4:30).
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
Iowa proved yet again what we already know which is that they can score the ball however they cannot defend. Perkins and Krikke scored 21 a piece with Krikke going 11-11 from the charity stripe. Patrick McCaffery scored 16 and the freshman Owen Freeman also added 16 off the bench.
8. Indiana Hoosiers
Last week’s ranking: 10 +2
Record: 6-1 (1-0)
Last week: W vs. Maryland (65-53)
Next week: @ Michigan (Dec. 5 – 9 p.m.) vs. Auburn (Dec. 9 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
The three former five stars shined yet again for the Hoosiers as their frontcourt has all the potential in the world. Reneau scored 11, Mgbako 13, and Ware 18 as the three of them were able to contribute to beating a struggling Maryland team. Indiana has two tests coming up if they can go 2-0 they will for sure be in the top 7.
9. Michigan Wolverines
Last week’s ranking: 5-4
Record: 4-4 (0-0)
Last week: L @ Oregon (86-83)
Next week: vs. Indiana (Dec. 5– 9 p.m.), @ Iowa (Dec. 10 – 4:30).
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Long Beach State
The Michigan men after their good start to the season have completely fallen flat on their faces. Even though it was an overtime thriller away the Wolverines couldn’t come out with the win despite McDaniel’s best effort with 33 points. The Wolverines have two tough conference games coming up and if they come up short then they’ll continue their free fall.
10. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Last week’s ranking: 7 -3
Record: 7-1 (0-0)
Last week: L vs Creighton (89-60)
Next week: @ Minnesota (Dec. 6 – 9 p.m.), vs Michigan State (Dec. 10 – 6:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
Nebraska’s dreams of an undefeated season ended against Creighton. Tominaga was the only Cornhusker to score in double figures with 20. The team shot 33.8% from the field and 9.1% from deep an an abysmal performance. The Cornhuskers proved their doubters right about the weak schedule however they have a chance to bounce back this week with a potential quality win over MSU.
11. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Last week’s ranking: 11
Record: 4-2 (0-1)
Last week: L vs Illinois (76-58)
Next week: @ Wake Forest (Dec. 6 – 5 p.m.), @ Seton Hall (Dec. 9 – 8:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses:
Rutgers lost to Illinois at home for the third time in their history. The lone bright side is that Omoruyi had 8 blocks and marked his spot on the court. Two tough nonconference games away as the Scarlett Knights look to add two more to the win collum.
12. Penn State Nittany Lions
Last week’s ranking: 12
Record: 4-4 (0-0)
Last week: L vs. Bucknell (76-67)
Next week: @ Maryland (Dec. 6 – 7 p.m.), vs Ohio State (Dec. 9 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Bucknell
Penn State dropped now a fourth in a row this time to a 3-7 Bucknell team. Wahab led the Nittany Lions in scoring as he and Baldwin Jr. were the two factors that kept Penn State in the game. Bucknell dominated the final three minutes to pull ahead and win something that cannot happen on Penn State’s home court. The game against Maryland will determine whether or not they fall.
13. Maryland Terrapins
Last week’s ranking: 13
Record: 4-4 (0-1)
Last week: W vs. Rider (103-76), L @ Indiana (65-53)
Next week: vs Penn State (Dec. 6 -7 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
Maryland had three wins in a row before dropping the game @ Indiana. Indiana dominated the Terrapins throughout the entire game as the frontcourt of Indiana was too much. Reese and Young cannot possibly carry this team far by themselves and they need someone else to step up.
14. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Last week’s ranking: 14
Record: 5-3 (0-1)
Last week: W vs. New Orleans (97-64), L @ Ohio State (84-74)
Next week: vs Nebraska (Dec. 6 – 9 p.m.), vs. FCU (Dec. 9 – 12 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
Minnesota beats the teams they should beat and has lost to the teams they shouldn’t. Dawson Garcia looks like the player people hoped he would’ve been at UNC. If the Golden Gophers go 2-0 this week they should be back at 13.