Ethan Carbone gives his Big Ten basketball power rankings heading into week 9 of the 2023 season.
Matchup of the week: #9 Illinois vs. #1 Purdue (Jan. 5 – 8:30 p.m.)
Sneaky good matchup of the week: Nebraska vs. Indiana (Jan. 3 – 9 p.m.)
All games listed are EST
1. Purdue Boilermakers
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-)
Record: 12-1 (1-1)
Last week: W vs. Jacksonville (100-57), W vs. Eastern KY (80-53)
Next week: at Maryland (Jan. 2 – 7 p.m.), vs. #9 Illinois (Jan. 5 – 8:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Marquette, Tennessee, Gonzaga, Alabama, Xavier
Bad losses: N/A
The past two games Purdue was able to completely dominate the first half which led to their key players barely playing in the second half as Zach Edey scored 18 and 13 points playing less than 30 minutes a game. The Boilermakers shot over 50% from the floor in both games as they have shown their ability to beat lesser teams without a struggle. They have two games in which they could struggle, playing in College Park against Maryland and then against Illinois.
2. Illinois Fighting Illini
Last week’s ranking: 2 (-)
Record: 8-2 (1-0)
Last week: W vs. Missouri (97-73), W vs. Fairleigh Dickinson (104-71)
Next week: vs. Northwestern (Jan. 2 – 9 p.m.), at #1 Purdue (Jan. 5 – 8:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: FAU, Missouri
Bad losses: N/A
Illinois won the Bragging rights game against Missouri as Terrance Shannon scored 30 in what may be his last game ever as an Illini. Illinois then followed up without Shannon against FDU by having six players score in double digits and three players recording double-doubles. Illinois has two tough teams in Northwestern and Purdue next and will need other players to step up to fill the role of Shannon who’s suspended with a rape charge.
3. Wisconsin Badgers
Last week’s ranking: 3 (-)
Record: 9-3 (1-0)
Last week: W vs. Chicago State (80-53)
Next week: vs. Iowa (Jan. 2 – 7 p.m.), vs. Nebraska (Jan. 6 – 2:15 p.m.)
Quality wins: Virginia, Marquette, at Michigan State
Bad losses: N/A
Wisconsin did what Northwestern couldn’t and beat Chicago State. AJ Storr scored 29 and shot 11-18 from the field in one of his best games so far. Wisconsin has a chance to knock a couple Big Ten teams down a peg which is always something they enjoy doing. If Storr can do what he did against Chicago State Wisconsin has hope to compete for a Big Ten title.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
Last week’s ranking: 4 (-)
Record: 11-2 (1-1)
Last week: W vs. New Orleans (78-36), W vs. West Virginia (78-75)
Next week: vs. Rutgers (Jan. 3 – 7 p.m.), at Indiana (Jan. 6 – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: Alabama
Bad losses: N/A
Ohio State continues to win games as they destroyed New Orleans and then against West Virginia they held their own in an overtime battle. Against the Mountaineers, Roddy Gayle scored 32 points for his career-high as he led all scorers. If Gayle keeps up what he’s been doing then the Hoosiers and Scarlet Knights better watch out this week.
5. Northwestern Wildcats
Last week’s ranking: 5 (-)
Record: 10-2 (1-0)
Last week: W at Arizona State (65-46), W vs. Jackson State (74-63)
Next week: at #9 Illinois (Jan. 2 – 9 p.m.), vs. Michigan State (Jan. 7 – 7:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Purdue, Dayton
Bad losses: Chicago State
Northwestern went into ASU and played a game of hard basketball holding the Sun Devils to 46 points on 31.4% shooting and 16.7% from deep. Boo Buie scored 22 and the Wildcats shot 47.3% from the field and 40.9% from downtown. Northwestern played well this past week. They also have a shot to jump up in the power rankings if they can go down to Illinois and beat their in-state rival
6. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Last week’s ranking: 6 (-)
Record: 11-2 (1-1)
Last week: W vs. North Dakota (83-75), W vs. SC State (91-62).
Next week: vs. Indiana (Jan. 3 – 9 p.m.), at Wisconsin (Jan. 6 – 2:15 p.m.)
Quality wins: Michigan State, at Kansas State
Bad losses: N/A
Nebraska played a close game with North Dakota where they were at once down 14 but managed to claw their way back into the lead. Then against SC State they held them to 11 points in the first half. This season Nebraska’s guards have stepped up in all their wins but if they don’t this week, then what has been a promising start to the season may flop in Big Ten basketball play.
7. Indiana Hoosiers
Last week’s ranking: 7 (-)
Record: 10-3 (2-0)
Last week W vs. Morehead State (69-68), W vs. North Alabama (83-66), W vs. Kennesaw State (100-87)
Next week: at Nebraska (Jan. 3 – 9 p.m.), vs. Ohio State (Jan. 6 – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
Indiana played down closer games that didn’t look great however when needed key players stepped up. Malik Reneau scored a career-high 34 against Kennesaw State and the Hoosiers were able to get the win. Indiana needs to play better overall if they want to win in the Big Ten and can’t play close to worse opponents if they want to make the NCAA Tournament.
8. Michigan State Spartans
Last week’s ranking: 8 (-)
Record: 8-5 (0-2)
Last week: W vs. Oakland (79-62), W vs. Stony Brook (99-55), W vs. Indiana State (87-75)
Next week: vs. Penn State (Jan. 4 – 7 p.m.), vs. Northwestern (Jan. 7 – 7:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Baylor, Indiana State
Bad losses: N/A
Michigan State has really bounced back to the point where they came off a matchup that looked like it could be a 4-13 game in the NCAA Tournament against Indiana State. Tyson Walker played like the star people expected him to be this year scoring 22. If the Spartans can start off the main slate of conference play strong they’ll have a good argument to move back up in these Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings.
9. Iowa Hawkeyes
Last week’s ranking: 10 (+1)
Record: 8-5 (0-2)
Last week: W vs. UMBC (103-81), W vs. Northern Illinois (103-74)
Next week: at Wisconsin (Jan. 2 – 7 p.m.), vs. Rutgers (Jan. 6 – Noon)
Quality wins: Seton Hall
Bad losses: Michigan
Iowa scored 103 in back-to-back games as Tony Perkins and Ben Krikle led the charge for the Hawkeyes. Even though it’s against smaller schools, it’s good to see the Iowa offense being the strongest part of their game. Iowa started off Big Ten basketball play 0-2 and these next two games they need to win at least one if they want to look promising going into the main slate of conference play.
10. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Last week’s ranking: 12 (+2)
Record: 10-3 (1-1)
Last week: W vs. Ball State (80-63), W vs. Maine (80-62)
Next week: at Michigan (Jan. 4 – 9 p.m.), vs. Maryland (Jan. 7 – 5:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Nebraska
Bad losses: San Francisco
Minnesota has impressed to say the least, even if it’s not against the highest quality of opponent, they already have more wins than last season. Against Maine, Mike Mitchell scored 18, and had 20 against Ball State. The Golden Gophers need 10 wins in their next 18 games if they want to make the NCAA Tournament and if they play how they have been it is possible.
11. Maryland Terrapins
Last week’s ranking: 14 (+3)
Record: 9-4 (0-1)
Last week: W vs. Nicholls (73-67), W at UCLA (69-60), W vs. Coppin State (75-53)
Next week: at #1 Purdue (Jan. 2 – 7 p.m.), at Minnesota (Jan. 7 – 5:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: UAB
UCLA hasn’t been doing as hot but it’s still a good win to have under their belt for Maryland especially since Jahmir Young dropped 37 points on 13-of-19 shooting. Aside from Young’s heroics the entire Maryland team held UCLA to 1-for-14 from deep which helped them come out with the win. Maryland has two tough matchups if they can get one win that would be enough for the week.
12. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Last week’s ranking: 12 (-)
Record: 8-4 (0-1)
Last week: L vs. Mississippi State (70-60), W vs. Stonehill (59-58)
Next week: at Ohio State (Jan. 3 – 7 p.m.), at Iowa (Jan. 6 – Noon)
Quality wins: at Seton Hall
Bad Losses: N/A
Rutgers lost to a solid Mississippi State team and barely beat a poor Stonehill team. Clifford Omoruyi dominates the boards and the paint but the rest of his teammates will leave him dry at times. Aundre Hyatt scored 18 against Mississippi State and 15 against Stonehill. Without a true number one scoring option the Scarlet Knights aren’t playing as well as their fans have hoped.
13. Penn State Nittany Lions
Last week’s ranking: 13 (-)
Record: 7-6 (1-1)
Last week: W vs. Le Moyne (72-55), W vs. Rider (90-63)
Next week: at Michigan State (Jan. 4 – 7 p.m.), vs. Michigan (Jan. 7 – Noon)
Quality wins: Ohio State
Bad losses: Bucknell, at Maryland
Penn State took it to their opponents in both games as Kanye Clary scored 20 and 29 leading all scorers in both games. When the Nittany Lions shoot efficiently they’re dangerous. They have two games with upset potential in this upcoming week.
14. Michigan Wolverines
Last week’s ranking: 9 (-5)
Record: 6-7 (1-1)
Last week: L vs. Florida (106-101), L vs. McNeese (87-76)
Next week: vs. Minnesota (Jan. 4 – 9 p.m.), at Penn State (Jan. 7 – Noon)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Long Beach State
Michigan had one of the most entertaining games of the year against Florida where they fell in double overtime. All of Michigan’s starters scored in double figures with Dug McDaniel scoring 33 to lead the Wolverines. Michigan is in win-or-die mode and if they don’t start winning soon their NCAA Tournament hopes will be over, unless they get lucky in the conference tournament.