Ethan Carbone gives his Big Ten basketball power rankings heading into week 6 of the 2023 season.
Matchup of the week: #3 Purdue vs. #1 Arizona (Dec. 16 – 4:30 p.m.)
Sneaky good matchup of the week: #6 Baylor vs Michigan State (Dec. 16 – 2 p.m.)
All games listed are EST
1. Purdue Boilermakers
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-)
Record: 7-1 (1-1)
Last week: W vs. Iowa (87-68), W vs. Alabama (92-86)
Next week: vs. #1 Arizona (Dec. 16 – 4:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Marquette, Gonzaga, Tennessee, Alabama
Bad losses: N/A
In the past week, the Boilermakers continued their dominance as they throttled Iowa and were able to push past Alabama. Zach Edey did Zach Edey things scoring 35 points against the Crimson Tide and 25 points against the Hawkeyes. The thing that really stood out was the fact that Braden Smith stepped up scoring 27 points showing that he can be a true lead guard the Big Ten.
2. Illinois Fighting Illini
Last week’s ranking: 2 (-)
Record: 7-2 (1-0)
Last week: W vs. #11 FAU (98-89), L at #17 Tennessee (86-79)
Next week: vs Colgate (Dec. 17 – 1 p.m.)
Quality wins: FAU
Bad losses: N/A
Heading into the season Illinois knew that what would lead them to success this season would be their super seniors and that proved true against FAU. Terrence Shannon and Marcus Domask totaled 33 points a piece in what was a close game down the line. Against Tennessee, Illinois again was led by super seniors in Shannon and Quincy Guerrier with 22 points each, however the Illini fell in part due to foul trouble as three players had four fouls by the end of the game.
3. Northwestern Wildcats
Last week’s ranking: 5 (+2)
Record: 7-1 (1-0)
Last week: W vs. Detroit Mercy (91-59)
Next week: vs. Chicago State (Dec. 13 – 8 p.m.), at DePaul (Dec. 16 – 3 p.m.)
Quality wins: Purdue
Bad losses: N/A
Northwestern played an all-around great game shooting the ball well and defending to a Big Ten caliber. Even with Boo Bouie playing not as well as expected the rest of the team stepped up especially 6th man Nick Martinelli who had 22 points. This Northwestern team is primed for a big run in March as long as they continue to make their shots.
4. Wisconsin Badgers
Last week’s ranking: 3 (-1)
Record: 7-3 (1-0)
Last week: W at Michigan State (70-57), L at #1 Arizona (98-73)
Next week: vs. Jacksonville State (Dec. 14 – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: Virginia, Marquette
Bad losses: N/A
At the Breslin Center, Wisconsin managed to take down Tom Izzo’s Spartans thanks in big part to AJ Storr and Steven Crowl putting up 22 and 18 points. The team also held MSU to 6-for-19 from three. After their big wins over Marquette and Virginia, they traveled to Arizona and got stomped.
5. Ohio State Buckeyes
Last week’s ranking: 4 (-1)
Record: 8-2 (1-1)
Last week: W vs. Miami OH. (84-64), L at Penn State (83-80)
Next week: vs. UCLA (Dec. 16 – 3 p.m.)
Quality wins: Alabama
Bad losses: Penn State
After an impressive start to the season mainly thanks to Roddy Gayle and Bruce Thornton the Buckeyes started off 8-1 after winning by 20 against Miami (OH). They then traveled to Happy Valley where they blew an 18 point second half lead to lose by 3. It was tied up with two and a half minutes left in the game and after blowing the lead Ohio State couldn’t finish off the Nittany Lions despite 17 from Thornton.
6. Indiana Hoosiers
Last week’s ranking: 8 (+2)
Record: 7-2 (2-0)
Last week: W at Michigan (78-75), L vs. Auburn (104-76)
Next week: vs. #2 Kansas (Dec. 16 – 12:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
The Hoosiers took a trip to the Chrysler Center where they were able to eke out a win over Michigan yet again thanks to their front court. Indiana’s big three of Malik Reneau, Kel’el Ware, and Mackenzie Mgbako scored half of the team’s points. After the thrilling win, the Hoosiers took on Auburn and were destroyed by them with the main positive point being at least they didn’t lose by 30.
7. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Last week’s ranking: 10 (+3)
Record: 8-2 (0-0)
Last week: L at Minnesota (Dec. 6 – 9 p.m.), vs. Michigan State (Dec. 10 – 6:30 p.m.)
Next week: at Minnesota (76-65), W vs. Michigan State (77-70)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
Nebraska had a good start to their season with only a loss to Creighton before they traveled to Minnesota. Even after leading by 13 at halftime they still fell as Brice Williams scored 18. Then they hosted Michigan State and they were able to come out with a win. Keisei Tominga, Williams, CJ Wilcher, and Juwan Gary all scored in double figures as Gary led the team with 20.
8. Michigan Wolverines
Last week’s ranking: 9 (+5)
Record: 5-5 (1-1)
Last week: L vs. Indiana (78-75), W vs Iowa (90-80)
Next week: vs. Eastern Michigan (Dec. 16 – 2:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Long Beach State
Michigan won a game and lost a game and Juwan Howard’s name is swirling in rumors as the situation doesn’t look great for the Wolverines. Against Indiana, Olivier Nkamhoua scored 18 in the loss. Then against Iowa, Tarris Reed Jr. led the team with 19 as all the starters scored in double figures.
9. Iowa Hawkeyes
Last week’s ranking: 7 (-2)
Record: 5-5 (0-2)
Last week: L at #4 Purdue (87-68), L at Iowa State (90-65), L vs. Michigan (90-80)
Next week: vs. Florida A&M (Dec. 16 – 4:30).
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
Iowa went 0-3 this week as they are in a complete free fall. They lost to Purdue, which was expected. However, they then couldn’t hold a candle to the Cyclones as only one starter scored in double figures. Against Michigan, Ben Krikke scored 24 and has shown that he can play at the Big Ten basketball level scoring-wise.
10. Penn State Nittany Lions
Last week’s ranking: 12 (+2)
Record: 5-5 (1-1)
Last week: L at Maryland (81-75), W vs. Ohio State (83-80)
Next week: vs. Georgia Tech (Dec. 16 – 12 p.m.)
Quality wins: Ohio State
Bad losses: Bucknell
Penn State Had an up-and-down week beating one of the best and losing to one of the worst Big Ten teams. Kanye Clary led the team with 19 points and went 4-of-6 from the charity stripe as the team went 11-of-19. Clary also dropped 25 against Maryland, however they just couldn’t stop the guard play of the Terps in the second half of the game.
11. Michigan State Spartans
Last week’s ranking: 6 (-5)
Record: 4-5 (0-2)
Last week: L vs. Wisconsin (70-57), L at Nebraska (77-70)
Next week: vs. #6 Baylor (Dec. 16 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
12. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Last week’s ranking: 14 (+2)
Record: 7-3 (1-1)
Last week: W vs. Nebraska (76-65), W vs. FGCU (77-57)
Next week: vs. IUPUI (Dec. 12 – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: Nebraska
Bad losses: N/A
The Golden Gophers did something that wasn’t expected which was leaving last place. The win against Nebraska was a shocker especially as Dawson Garcia came out of the game. Everyone else on the team stepped up and managed to come out with a big win. Joshua Ola-Joseph came up big in the two wins being the leading scorer in both with 15 then 17.
13. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Last week’s ranking: 11 (-2)
Record: 7-3 (0-1)
Last week: L at Wake Forest (76-57), W at Seton Hall (70-63)
Next week: vs. Long Island (Dec. 16 – 1 p.m.)
Quality wins: Seton Hall
Bad Losses: N/A
Against Wake Forest, the Scarlet Knights collapsed from the beginning before coming back within two and re-collapsing at the end of the game. Defeating a perennial Big East contender in Seton Hall should definitely boost their confidence before conference play begins. Their balanced offensive attack in that game was behind guard Noah Fernandez’s 19 points with three other players also putting up 11 points each.
14. Maryland Terrapins
Last week’s ranking: 13 (-1)
Record: 5-4 (0-1)
Last week: W vs. Penn State (81-75)
Next week: vs. Alcorn State (Dec. 12 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
The Maryland Terrapins were successfully able to defend their homecourt this past Wednesday against the Penn State Nittany Lions, defeating them 81-75 in overtime. Neither team had much of an advantage throughout the game, with the score through the first half in Penn State’s favor as they led 30-28. Both offenses then came alive in the second half, with Maryland outscoring Penn State 43-41. Jahmir Young led the Terrapins with 28.