Ethan Carbone gives his Big Ten basketball power rankings heading into week 10 of the 2023 season.
Matchup of the week: #15 Wisconsin vs. Ohio State (Jan. 10 – 8:30 p.m.)
Sneaky good matchup of the week: Michigan State vs. #10 Illinois (Jan. 11 – 9 p.m.)
All games listed are EST
1. Purdue Boilermakers
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-)
Record: 14-1 (3-1)
Last week: W at Maryland (67-53), W vs. #9 Illinois (83-78)
Next week: vs. Nebraska (Jan. 9 – 7 p.m.), at Penn State (Jan. 13 – 2:15 p.m.)
Quality wins: Tennessee, Marquette, Illinois, Gonzaga, Alabama
Bad losses: N/A
Purdue had two tough tests playing at Nebraska and then taking on #9 Illinois and beating them both. Against Illinois, the Boilermakers got off to a hot start and never looked back despite letting the Illini back into the game. Zach Edey scored 10 and grabbed 15 boards while the star of the show was Trey Kaufman Renn breaking out for 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting.
2. Illinois Fighting Illini
Last week’s ranking: 2 (-)
Record: 13-3 (2-1)
Last week: W vs. Northwestern (96-66), L at #1 Purdue (83-78)
Next week: vs. Michigan State (Jan. 11 – 9 p.m.), vs. Maryland (Jan. 14 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: FAU, Northwestern
Bad losses: N/A
Illinois started off the week hot without their All-American candidate, winning by 30 whereas Marcus Domask played like an All-American scoring 30. Then against Purdue, Illinois started off very slow and were down 10 early but were able to battle back. Domask played all 40 minutes and scored 26 but it wasn’t enough as the Illini lost their first Big Ten basketball game of the season.
3. Wisconsin Badgers
Last week’s ranking: 3 (-)
Record: 11-3 (3-0)
Last week: W vs. Iowa (83-72), W vs. Nebraska (88-72)
Next week: at Ohio State (Jan. 10 – 8:30 p.m.), vs. Northwestern (Jan. 13 – Noon)
Quality wins: Marquette, at Michigan State, Virginia
Bad losses: N/A
Wisconsin took on two Big Ten basketball opponents that are battling for a chance to make the NCAA Tournament. Against Iowa, the Badgers had a strong second half which led them to beat the Hawkeyes as Tyler Wahl’s 19 points led the way. Wahl also led the team in scoring against Nebraska with 17.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
Last week’s ranking: 4 (-)
Record: 12-3 (2-2)
Last week: W vs. Rutgers (76-72), L at Indiana (71-65)
Next week: vs. Wisconsin (Jan. 10 – 8:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Alabama
Bad losses: N/A
Bruce Thornton can be the lifeblood or the downfall of the Buckeyes and it all depends on when his shot is falling. He scored 24 in the win over Rutgers but only 9 against the likes of Indiana. The Buckeyes take on Wisconsin next week in what can take them into the top three if they have an impressive win.
5. Indiana Hoosiers
Last week’s ranking: 7 (+2)
Record: 10-4 (3-1)
Last week L at Nebraska (86-70), W vs. Ohio State (71-65)
Next week: at Rutgers (Jan. 9 – 7 p.m.), vs. Minnesota (Jan. 12 – 6:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Ohio State
Bad losses: N/A
Indiana split this week losing away and winning at home. Against Nebraska, the opposing guards were too much for Indiana to handle in the second half, which led to the Hoosiers’ demise. While against Ohio State, Xavier Johnson played his full minutes instead of being limited which helped out as he scored 17. Malik Reneau was the star of the show as he scored 23.
6. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Last week’s ranking: 6 (-)
Record: 12-3 (2-2
Last week: W vs. Indiana (86-70), L at Wisconsin (88-72)
Next week: vs. #1 Purdue (Jan. 9 – 9 p.m.), at Iowa (Jan. 10 – 9:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Kansas State, Michigan State
Bad losses: N/A
Keisei Tominga is a fan favorite for the exact reason that he can pop off at any time, which is exactly what he did against Indiana, going for 28 points. He also led the team with 17 against Wisconsin, but the defense lacked against the Badgers having multiple players that can score. As the Cornhuskers take on Purdue and Iowa, both wins would look good, but obviously one is a lot tougher to get.
7. Northwestern Wildcats
Last week’s ranking: 5 (-2)
Record: 11-3 (2-1)
Last week: L at #9 Illinois (96-66), W vs. Michigan State (88-74)
Next week: at Penn State (Jan. 10 – 6:30 p.m.), at Wisconsin (Jan. 13 – Noon)
Quality wins: Purdue, Dayton, Michigan State, Arizona State
Bad losses: Chicago State
Northwestern had their ups and downs this week with the big down being a 30-point loss to in-state rival Illinois. The win was the monster game against Michigan State where all five starters scored in double figures. Ty Berry led the team in scoring with 22 against the Spartans and he will have to step it up this week with a multi-game road trip.
8. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Last week’s ranking: 10 (+2)
Record: 12-3 (3-1)
Last week: W at Michigan (73-71), vs. Maryland (65-62)
Next week: at Indiana (Jan. 12 – 6:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Nebraska
Bad losses: N/A
Minnesota is showing that they are going to fight for a tournament spot even if they don’t have a defining win quite yet. Against Michigan, Mike Mitchell again led the Golden Gophers with 18 points. While against Maryland in a sloppy game, the freshman Cam Christie scored 12 to lead the team as they ended a ten-game losing streak to Maryland.
9. Michigan State Spartans
Last week’s ranking: 8 (-1)
Record: 9-6 (1-3)
Last week: W vs. Penn State (92-61), L vs. Northwestern (88-74)
Next week: at Illinois (Jan. 11 – 9 p.m.), vs. Rutgers (Jan. 14 – Noon)
Quality wins: Baylor, Indiana State
Bad losses: N/A
Against Penn State, we saw exactly what we thought we could expect from Michigan State, which was Tyson Walker shooting well and scoring and Malik Hall being the big man who could do it all. Walker scored 24 and Hall had 22 in a blowout victory. Against Northwestern, Hall was a non-factor scoring 0 points in 25 minutes. If Michigan State’s frontcourt doesn’t get more consistent it could be telling to which postseason tournament they may be invited to.
10. Iowa Hawkeyes
Last week’s ranking: 9 (-1)
Record: 9-6 (1-3)
Last week: L at #21 Wisconsin (83-72), W vs. Rutgers (86-77)
Next week: vs. Nebraska (Jan. 12 – 9:30 p.m.),
Quality wins: Seton Hall
Bad losses: Michigan
Iowa lost the game at Wisconsin which could’ve helped them bounce back with a confidence-boosting win. Instead of a win, they allowed 51 second-half points which even Tony Perkins’ 25-point night couldn’t counteract. Payton Sandfort was the main guy in the win over Rutgers scoring 24 in a win that Iowa needed.
11. Maryland Terrapins
Last week’s ranking: 11 (-)
Record: 9-6 (0-3)
Last week: L at #1 Purdue (67-53), L at Minnesota (65-62)
Next week: vs. Michigan (Jan. 11 – 7 p.m.), at #10 Illinois (Jan. 14 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: UAB
The loss to Purdue was very much expected, however, Jahmir Young cannot be the only player scoring in double figures or shooting above 33.3% from the field against the number-one team in the country. Maryland lost their ten-game winning streak against Minnesota in a very sloppy game as they had 17 turnovers and shot 38% from the field and 33.3% from deep. If the Terrapins cannot get consistent they won’t find their way into postseason play.
12. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Last week’s ranking: 12 (-)
Record: 8-6 (0-3)
Last week: L at Ohio State (76-72), L at Iowa (86-77)
Next week: vs. Indiana (Jan. 9 – 7 p.m.), at Michigan State (Jan. 14 – Noon)
Quality wins: at Seton Hall
Bad Losses: N/A
Rutgers played until the final buzzer sounded after being down 13 at the half at Ohio State. Derek Simpson scored 23 in an impressive effort but the team couldn’t stop Bruce Thornton or the rest of Ohio State. Rutgers’s defense hasn’t lived up to the hype of what it needed to be and against Iowa they allowed six players to score in double figures.
13. Penn State Nittany Lions
Last week’s ranking: 13 (-)
Record: 8-7 (2-2)
Last week: L at Michigan State (92-61 ), W vs. Michigan (79-73)
Next week: vs. Northwestern (Jan. 10 – 6:30 p.m.), at #1 Purdue (Jan. 13 – 2:15 p.m.)
Quality wins: Ohio State
Bad losses: Bucknell, at Maryland
Against Michigan State, Penn State couldn’t do a thing outside of Kanye Clary who has been the lone bright spot on the team at times. Against Michigan, Clary put up 18 points in a win. The leading scorer was Ace Baldwin with 25 as Penn State inches closer to the 10-win mark.
14. Michigan Wolverines
Last week’s ranking: 14 (-)
Record: 6-9 (1-3)
Last week: L vs. Minnesota (73-71), L at Penn State (79-73)
Next week: at Maryland (Jan. 11 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Long Beach State, McNeese, Penn State
Michigan played two close games but lost both of them. Michigan had a lead against Penn State at the half being up by 10, however, their defense completely collapsed in the second half. The Wolverines seem to have many problems as they look like they are going to end up with their first losing season since 2009-10.