Ethan Carbone gives his Big Ten basketball power rankings heading into week 7 of the 2023 season.
Matchup of the week: #13 Illinois vs. Missouri (Dec. 22 – 9 p.m.)
Sneaky good matchup of the week: Morehead State vs. Indiana (Dec. 19 – 6:30 p.m.)
All games listed are EST
1. Purdue Boilermakers
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-)
Record: 10-1 (1-1)
Last week: W vs. #3 Arizona (92-84)
Next week: vs. Jacksonville (Dec. 21- 6:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Arizona, Marquette, Tennessee, Gonzaga, Alabama
Bad losses: N/A
The number one team vs the number three team in the nation did not disappoint, especially if you’re a Purdue fan. Zach Edey had his usual type of game with 22 points and 9 rebounds as he won the battle against Oumar Ballo. However, the stars of the show were sophomores guards Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer who had 26 and 27 points respectively and their play has matured more and more since the loss against Northwestern.
2. Illinois Fighting Illini
Last week’s ranking: 2
Record: 8-2 (1-0)
Last week: W vs. Colgate (74-57)
Next week: vs. Missouri (Dec. 22 – 9 p.m.)
Quality wins: FAU
Bad losses: N/A
Illinois played one game last week and looking at the final score you’d think nothing of it however, but by watching this game, it shows that this team still has growing pains. Illinois was up by 17 points at the half, however, the play got sloppy toward the end of the game and they allowed Colgate back within 10 points. Terrence Shannon Jr. shined throughout the game showing off his athleticism as he scored 14 points.
3. Wisconsin Badgers
Last week’s ranking: 4 (+1)
Record: 8-3 (1-0)
Last week: W vs. Jacksonville State (75-60)
Next week: vs. Chicago State (Dec. 22 – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: Marquette, Virginia
Bad losses: N/A
Against Jacksonville State, the Badgers played Greg Gard basketball. Wisconsin had 8 turnovers to Jacksonville State’s 15, as Chucky Hepburn had 5 steals by himself. Steven Crowl made sure to chip in on the offensive end as he scored 19 to be the leading scorer on the floor.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
Last week’s ranking: 4 (+1)
Record: 9-2 (1-1)
Last week: W vs. UCLA (67-60)
Next week: vs. New Orleans (Dec. 21 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: Alabama, UClA
Bad losses: N/A
Ohio State took down future conference mate UCLA as Roddy Gayle Jr. was the leading scorer in the game. The Buckeyes would have won by double figures had they made just one more three-pointer however they went 1-for-15. Ohio State is sitting pretty at 9-2 with a possibility to be 11-2 before 2024, however, if they shoot as poorly as they did against the Bruins then they may not reach that target.
5. Northwestern Wildcats
Last week’s ranking: 3 (-2)
Record: 8-2 (1-0)
Last week: L vs. Chicago State (75-73), W at.Depaul (56-46)
Next week: at Arizona State (Dec. 20 – 8:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Purdue
Bad losses: Chicago State
Northwestern, who took down mighty Purdue not even two weeks later, lost to Chicago State. Northwestern, who hasn’t won a game when they were ranked in the top 25 at home since 1959, extended that streak. The Wildcats then followed up a disappointing performance with yet another as they barely squeaked by DePaul. Boo Bouie hasn’t quite played like the All-American candidate expected of him since the Purdue game.
6. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Last week’s ranking: 7 (+1)
Record: 9-2 (1-1)
Last week: W at Kansas State (62-49)
Next week: vs. North Dakota (Dec. 20 – 7:30)
Quality wins: at Kansas State
Bad losses: at Minnesota
Nebraska played Kansas State and in the first half it was a close game, but Kansas State was up 3 at the half. However, the Wildcats were then outscored by the Cornhuskers 31-12 in the second half. Reink Mast and Juwan Gary led the Cornhuskers with 19 and 13 points each, giving Nebrasketball their best win of the season.
7. Indiana Hoosiers
Last week’s ranking: 6 (-1)
Record: 7-3 (2-0)
Last week L vs. #2 Kansas (75-71)
Next week: vs. Morehead State (Dec. 19 – 6:30 p.m.), vs. North Alabama (Dec. 21 – 8:30)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
Indiana hosted the Jayhawks where they had a competitive game and even looked like they should win before they gave up a lead with 5:36 left in the game. After they gave up the lead, Indiana attempted to battle back but was not able to win. Trey Galloway was the star for the Hoosiers this game as he scored 28 points in the loss. Indiana gave Kevin McCullar 16 free throw attempts which was part of the reason they lost. The Hoosiers have an intriguing game against Morehead State; if they get past them, they have two more favorable games before the end of the year.
8. Michigan State Spartans
Last week’s ranking: 11 (+3)
Record: 5-5 (0-2)
Last week: W vs. #6 Baylor (88-64)
Next week: vs. Oakland (Dec. 18 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: Baylor
Bad losses: N/A
After a horrendous start to the season, Michigan State managed to pull out a major win against Baylor. The Bears were held to 17 first-half points as Tom Izzo-ball finally returned. Tyson Walker and AJ Hoggard scored 25 and 14 as the two guards played to their potential in the big win. The only question that seems to remain unanswered is was this a fluke?
9. Michigan Wolverines
Last week’s ranking: 8 (-1)
Record: 6-5 (1-1)
Last week: W vs. Eastern Michigan (83-66)
Next week: vs. Florida (Dec. 21 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Long Beach State
In Juwan Howard’s first game back as head coach it was all business as the Wolverines played a good game, shooting 54.4% from the field and 44.4% from deep. A big part of that was Oliver Nkamhoua shooting 7-for-10 from the field and scoring 17 points. Michigan did turn the ball over 11 times and allowed 14 points off turnovers however they were able to push through their mistakes and win by 17.
10. Iowa Hawkeyes
Last week’s ranking: 9 (-1)
Record: 6-5 (0-2)
Last week: W vs. Florida A&M (88-52).
Next week: vs. UMBC (Dec. 20 – 8 p.m.).
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
Iowa bounced back after their three-loss week with a 36-point win over Florida A&M. Freshmen Owen Freeman and Brock Harding scored 14 and 10 each as Iowa’s freshmen are doing a lot for this Fran McCaffery led team. The Hawkeyes excelled on the fast break scoring 13 points to the Rattlers’ 5 which helped get the Hawkeyes an even larger victory.
11. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Last week’s ranking: 12 (+1)
Record: 8-3 (1-1)
Last week: W vs. IUPUI (101-65)
Next week: vs. Ball State (Dec. 21 – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: Nebraska
Bad losses: N/A
The Golden Gophers are beating the teams they’re expected to beat however it’s still hard to consider them a threat in the Big Ten. Against IUPUI, the star was freshman Cam Christie who scored 19 points, but Parker Fox, Mike Mitchell Jr., and Joshua Ola-Joseph all scored in double figures as well. The Golden Gophers shot 50% (14-for-28) from beyond the arc which is unfathomable and if they can do that in coming games they may hit double-digit wins before teams above them, which would for sure move them up.
12. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Last week’s ranking: 13 (+1)
Record: 7-3 (0-1)
Last week: W vs. Long Island (83-61)
Next week: vs. Mississippi State (Dec. 23 – Noon)
Quality wins: Seton Hall
Bad Losses: N/A
Something that seems to be all too true about this Rutgers team is they need Clifford Omoruyi to play top-notch. However many others stepped up against LIU in the 22-point victory as Jamichael Davis and Aundre Hyatt scored 12 apiece. Conference play can jump Rutgers into the top 5 of the Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings in late January, however until then, they’re looking lower than their fans would like.
13. Penn State Nittany Lions
Last week’s ranking: 10 (-3)
Record: 5-6 (1-1)
Last week: L vs. Georgia Tech (82-81)
Next week: vs. Le Moyne (Dec. 21 – Noon)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Bucknell
At home Penn State dropped an important game to Georgia Tech as although they aren’t a top ACC team they’re still a top 130 team according to KenPom. Kanye Clary has really stepped it up this year for the Nittany Lions as despite the loss he still scored 23. Penn State shot 39.2% from the field and 36.4% from three. If they can’t start shooting more efficiently then they’ll stay down at the bottom of the conference.
14. Maryland Terrapins
Last week’s ranking: 14 (-)
Record: 6-4 (0-1)
Last week: W vs. Alcorn State (105-65)
Next week: vs. Nicholls (Dec. 19 – 8:30 p.m.), at UCLA (Dec. 22 – 9 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
Maryland has two wins in a row and looked good in both of those games. Against Alcorn State, five players scored in double digits and the leading scorer was Julian Reese with 15. The next three games are winnable and if they go 3-0 over those three they may end up in the top ten of these power rankings.