2023-24 Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings: Week 13

George Bagwell gives his Big Ten basketball power rankings heading into week 13 of the 2023 season.

Matchup of the week: Wisconsin vs. Purdue (Feb. 4 – 1 p.m.)

Sneaky good matchup of the week: Michigan State vs. Michigan (Jan. 30 – 9 p.m.)

All games listed are EST.

Welcome to the second episode of this version of the Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings. In the past week, I have taken online classes on how to better understand Midwest culture, and so far all I have learned is that Wisconsin has the most impressive drinkers on the globe and tornadoes are really scary. Oh, and that Maryland really wants to play their best basketball now that they have a chance to move up a set of Power Rankings. Big shoutout to the Terrapins. 

Indiana teams had varying degrees of success, but Michigan representatives did not have a good week. Wisconsin is For Real™️, while the Wildcats now run Illinois and Nebrasketball let me down, courtesy of Old Bay seasoning. New Jersey has better times ahead while the Gophers (Groundhogs?) enjoyed a business trip to Pennsylvania á là Phil Connors. Iowa is just a bit ok, while Ohio State is in trouble with a capital T. (Trouble.) Big Ten Power Rankings, the episode after the pilot. 

1. Purdue Boilermakers

Last week’s ranking: 1 (-)

Record: 19-2 (8-2)

Last week: W vs. Michigan (99-67), W at Rutgers (68-60)

Next week: vs. Northwestern (Jan. 31 – 6:30 p.m.), at Wisconsin (Feb. 4 – 1 p.m.)

Quality wins: Tennessee, Marquette, Illinois, Alabama, Gonzaga

Bad losses: N/A

Who else but Purdue? Seriously, though, the Boilermakers looked completely mortal against Rutgers, and if it weren’t for the fact that I don’t want to get on the nerves of my new Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings readers, the Badgers would actually be first in these rankings. I know it seems counterproductive to my writing style to care about being too bold with my takes in a series that essentially rewards being bold, but I’m simply winning over my new base. Also, in defense, Purdue looked fantastic against Michigan. I know it was just Michigan, but still. Lance Jones scored 24 and both Zach Edey and Braden Smith picked up double-doubles. That’s fun. 

This week could spell trouble for the Boilermakers. First, a home game against Northwestern, the first team to beat Zach Edey and Company this year. Next, a true road game against current Big Ten leaders Wisconsin. I find it hard to think Purdue will sweep the week. It’s two tough games against two tough teams, and if this team plays the same way they did against Rutgers, they’ll go 0-2 this week. I don’t mean to throw unnecessary pessimism into the fire, it’s just more of a warning that Purdue is going to be playing very good teams this week, and they need to prepare for that. 

2. Wisconsin Badgers

Last week’s ranking: 2 (-)

Record: 16-4 (8-1)

Last week: W at Minnesota (61-59), W vs. Michigan State (81-66)

Next week: at Nebraska (Feb. 1 – 8:30 p.m.), vs. Purdue (Feb. 4 – 1 p.m.)

Quality wins: Marquette, at Michigan State, Northwestern, at Ohio State, at Minnesota

Bad losses: at Penn State

If Wisconsin keeps not losing, they’ll eventually take the number one spot in these oh-so-important rankings. Last week, AJ Storr played hero in the first game of the week against a feisty Minnesota team, making two late free throws to move the Badgers ahead late in Minneapolis. At home against Izzo and the Spartans, the win came a little easier. In fact, they never trailed. Out-rebounding MSU 35-25, the Badgers had just two players in double-figures, Storr with 28 and Steven Crowl with 15. Ball control was key, with the Badgers committing just six turnovers.

This week, Wisconsin, just like Purdue, has a challenging week ahead. That may have something to do with the fact that they’re playing against each other. Before that all-important matchup with the Boilermakers, however, the Badgers and AJ Storr have to travel to the plains to take on Nebrasketball, a game that, all of a sudden this season, isn’t all too easy. The Badgers can’t afford to look ahead to their game with Purdue when Hoiberg and the ‘Huskers are on the horizon. Granted that they do get past Nebraska, Wisconsin has the chance to make a major national statement by beating Purdue at home. A 2-0 week could vault this team into the top 5 nationally. 

3. Northwestern Wildcats

Last week’s ranking: 5 (+2)

Record: 15-5 (6-3)

Last week: W vs. Illinois (96-91), W vs. Ohio State (83-58)

Next week: at Purdue (Jan. 31 – 6:30 p.m.), at Minnesota (Feb. 3 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: Purdue, Illinois, Dayton, Michigan State

Bad losses: Chicago State

Once again, I am shocked and appalled that this is the Big Ten team that lost to Chicago State. That just seems like a fever dream, or something stronger, at this point. No team that beats Illinois and Ohio State by an average margin of 15 points in a week should lose to Chicago State, and yet here we are. But that’s still major props to both the Kings of Chicago, the Cougars, as well as Northwestern, for being a team good enough to make us question as to why they lost to Chicago State. Boo Buie dropped 29 on the Illini, and if it weren’t for Zach Edey, he’d be Big Ten player of the year. Shoutout, additionally, to Nick Martinelli, who dropped 12 points off the bench against Ohio State.

Don’t look, Northwestern fans. It’s a tough road (week) ahead, with games at Purdue and at Minnesota. It’s not out of the question to suggest or predict a probable win against Minnesota, but a road upset over a top-three team is always a difficult task. On the other hand, it’s a road game against a top-three team that Northwestern has already beaten. I don’t know if that’s a good thing (they’ve already beaten them once, what else is there to say?) or a bad thing (Purdue now gets them at home and is now highly motivated) in the context of predicting this game. I think I’ll hedge my bets and predict a 1-1 week. The best part about playing a top-three team on the road is that it’s a win-win-lose situation. You either win and get tons of credit for it, or lose and everybody excuses it because it’s a true road game against one of the best teams in the country. 

4. Illinois Fighting Illini

Last week’s ranking: 3 (-1)

Record: 15-5 (6-3)

Last week:  L at Northwestern (91-96), W vs. Indiana (70-62)

Next week: at Ohio State (Jan. 30 – 7 p.m.), vs. Nebraska (Feb. 4 –  6:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: FAU, Northwestern

Bad losses: N/A

A mini-tumble is necessary for the Illini after a loss to Northwestern. Harsh, but necessary indeed. One just can’t have a team with the exact same record, overall and conference, and put them ahead of a team that they just lost to. That’s rule No. 6 of the Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings. Check the rule book, y’all. Also, it’s not like Illinois looked especially good against Indiana at home, either, as the two teams were tied with a minute and a half to go in the game, even though Indiana hadn’t, and wouldn’t, make a three all game. But, we move onward, and Illinois once again survives without suffering a bad loss. 

The Illini, however, have a chance to bounce back, maybe not with two high-quality wins, but with wins nonetheless. First, an Ohio State road trip, followed by a home game against Nebraska. Now, Nebraska is definitely a quality team, no doubt. But at home, that isn’t a win that’s going to move the needle too much. And Ohio State on the road, as great of a win as that would’ve been maybe two months ago, isn’t nearly as high-quality now. 2-0 is expected, but 1-1 isn’t the end of the world. If Illinois wants to move up in the Big Ten Power Rankings, however, they’ll need to sweep this week. 

5. Maryland Terrapins 

Last week’s ranking: 10 (+5)

Record: 13-8 (5-5)

Last week: W at Iowa (69-67), W vs. Nebraska (73-51)

Next week: at Michigan State (Feb. 3 – 5:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: at Illinois, Nebraska, at Iowa

Bad losses: UAB, Davidson

Where did this come from? We’re sure this is the same team that lost to Davidson and UAB this year? Maybe Maryland just really wants to move up in the Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings. Or, perhaps, they’re just secretly a pretty good team. Just take a look at last week. A close road win over Iowa, followed by a blowout home win over Nebraska. Name a Big Ten team that had a better week, *comparative to expectations*. Maryland is good, and it’s not just the Old Bay. Side note, but I love Old Bay, it goes well on everything. Sure, I prefer Zatarain’s for my seafood. But as a writer from the South, I will stand on a stump and preach my everlasting support for Old Bay for as long as I breathe. Also, shoutout Jahmir Young for hitting the game-winner against Iowa and Jamie Kaiser Jr. for scoring 14 points in 17 minutes off the bench against Nebrasketball.

Maryland and the Terps have just one game this week, a road Izzo matchup. Thankfully for Maryland, it’s February, not March, and Michigan State hasn’t led in a game in over a week. Sure, that’s a cherry-picked stat, but I’ll stand by it. Let’s go through a slight hypothetical here. Maryland picks up another quality road win this week. They would move to 14-8, a better record than Michigan State or Iowa, and a conference record above .500. When are we going to start talking about Maryland as a tournament team? I mean, it’s insane that we’re discussing that, but it’s big props to the Terps this week. They’ve really turned things around. 

6. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Last week’s ranking: 4 (-2)

Record: 15-6 (5-5)

Last week: W vs. Ohio State (83-69), L at Maryland (51-73)

Next week: vs. #6 Wisconsin (Feb. 1 – 8:30 p.m.), at #14 Illinois (Feb. 4 – 6:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: Purdue, at Kansas State, Northwestern, Michigan State

Bad losses: at Rutgers

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. (Side note, but I can’t believe I’ve never thought to use that line in a Power Rankings before.) Best of times when Nebrasketball beat Ohio State by 14 at home to move to 15-5 on the year. Worst of times when they traveled to Maryland just to lose by 20. That was just such a blow, at least in my mind. We could be talking about a 16-5, 6-4, Nebraska team that’s solidly in the tournament. Instead, we’re talking about a Nebrasketball team that just lost to Maryland. It’s a tough world in the Big Ten. Shoutout to Mr. Mast, however, who scored 34 against the Buckeyes. 

Avert your eyes, Nebraska fans. It could be a very rough week. On the other hand, it could be also described as a week of opportunity, if you’re into that line of thinking. First, a home game against Wisconsin, the current Big Ten leader, then a road matchup against a full-strength Illinois squad on the road. I’m not going to say two losses wouldn’t hurt, because any type of losing streak matters in March, but two losses to Wisconsin and Illinois aren’t exactly the same as losing to Rutgers and Michigan at home. And, on the other side, even a 1-1 week would move Nebrasketball up in the minds of the media, and, of course, my own mind. I think this team is certainly good enough to win either game. After all, they’ve beaten Purdue and Northwestern already. 

7. Michigan State Spartans

Last week’s ranking: 7 (-)

Record: 12-8 (4-5)

Last week: L at Wisconsin (66-81)

Next week: vs. Michigan (Jan. 30 – 9 p.m.), vs. Maryland (Feb. 3 – 5:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: Baylor, Indiana State

Bad losses: N/A

Sorry to pump the brakes a bit, but just a reminder that before Coach Izzo can rule March, he has to actually make the tournament. Currently, that’s by no means a lock. Why? The Spartans are 12-8, 4-5, following a road loss to Wisconsin in which they never led. They have two (2) good wins, Baylor and Indiana State, and it turns out that the James Madison Dukes aren’t even the best team in the Sun Belt. Michigan State hasn’t turned out any horrible losses, but they also really only have two good wins, Baylor and Indiana State. But, I’m here to say that it’s technically still January, and there’s plenty of time for the Spartans to move either up or down. 

Every team that Michigan State plays this week starts with a “M”. That’s the type of high-level analysis that I get paid to distribute. But the Spartans do play Michigan and Maryland at home. It’s safe to say Izzo probably isn’t too worried about Michigan, but Maryland has been streaky as of late, and they’re on a bit of a winning bender. Side note, but why in the world is a game scheduled for 5:30? What kind of conference schedules a college basketball game for 5:30 EST? I understand that it’s technically 4:30 CST, but it just looks odd. There’s my rant. Just a lower-key rant this week, nothing major. 

8. Iowa Hawkeyes

Last week’s ranking: 8 (-)

Record: 12-8 (4-5)

Last week: L vs. Maryland (67-69), W at Michigan (88-78)

Next week: at Indiana (Jan. 30 – 7 p.m.), vs. Ohio State (Feb. 2  – 7 p.m.)

Quality wins: Seton Hall, Nebraska

Bad losses: Michigan

Disappointment. Not anger, just disappointment. That’s the vibe around Iowa City’s basketball team this week, assumedly. Sure, that little road win over Michigan is cool and nice, but it’s not going to move the needle forward. However, a home loss to Maryland moves the needle backward. All in all, Iowa stays in the 8 spot, but we’re thin icing it here. Shoutout to Payton Sandfort for scoring a game-high 26 points in the win against Michigan. 

Iowa has a road matchup against a perimeter-challenged Indiana team before a home game against Ohio State. We learned last week, however, that just because Iowa plays a lesser team at home, that doesn’t guarantee a win, and road Indiana is no small conquest either. This is a very critical week. 2-0 is needed, actually, believe it or not. Iowa is not currently a tournament team. A loss to either Indiana or Ohio State, or both, would move them to 9 or 10 losses by early February, not the type of resume a tournament team wants to have. Now, on the other side, I did just talk about how 14-8 Maryland would need to be at least discussed in the tournament dialogue if they win this week. So a 2-0 week would move Iowa to that same record, just without the bad losses to Davidson and UAB. Thin ice, currently, sure, but thick ice with a couple wins. 

9. Minnesota Golden Gophers

Last week’s ranking: 11 (+2)

Record: 13-7 (4-5)

Last week: L vs. Wisconsin (59-61), W at Penn State (83-74)

Next week: vs. Northwestern (Feb. 3 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: Nebraska

Bad losses: Missouri

Minnesota officially saved their season with a road win over Penn State. However, that home win over Wisconsin would’ve been nice. (Insert the Matthew McConaughey GIF.) Would’ve been a lot cooler. Still, a 1-1 week wasn’t the end of the world, and Minnesota has a light open, a path, to the tournament still. This is a team that, when it’s playing at its best, is certainly capable of making the tournament. 

Minnesota gets some rest this week, and then gets to have an opportunity at home against one of the better teams in the conference, the Northwestern Wildcats, 2nd best team in Chicago, (if we’re really counting Evanston as Chicago). Currently not mentioned in Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology, (not that it really matters, though) what would a win do for that? Sure, the lack of quality road wins is concerning, but that could come with time. My prediction, a Dawson Garcia game-winner. Write it down. 

10. Ohio State Buckeyes

Last week’s ranking: 6 (-4)

Record: 13-7 (3-6)

Last week: L at Nebraska (69-83), L at Northwestern (58-83)

Next week: vs. #14 Illinois (Jan. 30 – 7 p.m.), at Iowa (Feb. 2 – 7 p.m.)

Quality wins: Alabama

Bad losses: at Michigan, at Penn State

Excuse me, but what’s happening in Columbus? After two losses by a combined 39 points to Nebraska and Northwestern, Ohio State is sitting at 3-6 in the conference. Is that bad? It ain’t good. Sure, Bruce Thornton scored 16 on Nebraska and all, but this offense only managed 58 against the Wildcats and the defense gave up 83 points in back-to-back games. That, no matter how you spin it, is tough. 

If Ohio State even wants a chance of building back and trying to make the tournament, they need at least one win this week. Whether that’s against a ranked Illinois team at home, or on the road at Iowa. I can’t overstate the fact that the Buckeyes need a win. The win against Alabama feels like ages ago, and they don’t really have another quality win. Getting two in one week would really help the Buckeyes get back on track, but they’d probably be happy with just one. But to reiterate, they do need at least one. Two losses would mean a 13-9 record overall, a 3-8 conference record, and a probable permanent bubble ban.

11. Indiana Hoosiers

Last week’s ranking: 9 (-2)

Record: 12-8 (4-5)

Last week: L at #10 Illinois (62-70)

Next week: vs. Iowa (Jan. 30 – 7 p.m.), vs. Penn State (Feb. 3 – Noon)

Quality wins: Ohio State

Bad losses: at Rutgers

Zero. Is that all I need to say? The Hoosiers lost by eight on the road to Illinois, which isn’t horrible in a vacuum, but the team made exactly zero threes in 40 minutes. Indiana Hoosiers? More like Indiana No-Three-Pointers-MadeSiers. Forgive me, I’m working on a deadline and I can’t wrack my brain for a more clever, fitting nickname. Sorry about that, y’all. But despite the lack of perimeter success, Indiana still somehow kept the game close. It was tied at 62-62 with a minute and a half left. Do we want to talk about insanity? That’s insane. 

Maybe a bit of change in the environment will benefit the Hoosiers and Mike Woodson. They get to stay home this week for a double slate of games, one against Iowa, and the other against the team below them in the rankings, Penn State. Re-establishing the perimeter game is key, and at this point, it’s not over. Indiana could very well right the ship, and that starts with a good week to kick off February. They’re short on quality wins, as well as bad losses. But a 2-0 week would mean we’d be talking about a 14-8 Indiana team with a 6-5 conference record, and that’s a bubble team, possibly. 

12. Penn State Nittany Lions

Last week’s ranking: 12 (-)

Record: 9-11 (3-6)

Last week: L vs. Minnesota (74-83)

Next week: at Rutgers (Jan. 31 – 8:30 p.m.), at Indiana (Feb. 3 – Noon)

Quality wins: Wisconsin

Bad losses: Bucknell, Georgia Tech, VCU

It was a disappointing week for the one-game Penn State Nittany Lions, who, as the moniker suggests, had just one game this week and lost. It was a good opportunity to keep the good vibes going, and they just couldn’t pull through at home against Minnesota, giving up 83 points, with 22 of them coming via Dawson Garcia. The Wisconsin win is doing miracles for this team right now, as they’d be last in these rankings if that W was an L. 

It’s time for the Lions to take the road, unfortunately or fortunately. They’ve got two matchups this week, one in New Jersey and the other in Indiana. Talk about travel. On the bright side, they’ll be facing off against 10-9 Rutgers and an Indiana team that hasn’t made a three since Jan. 19. It’s almost February. While the Nittany Lions, save for the win over Wisconsin, haven’t been playing particularly well as of late, it’s very possible that they’ll be able to steal one on the road this week. We’ll see what happens, but anything can happen when Kanye Clary has a good game. 

13. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Last week’s ranking: 13 (-)

Record: 10-9 (2-6)

Last week: L vs. #2 Purdue (60-68)

Next week: vs. Penn State (Jan. 31 – 8:30 p.m.), at Michigan (Feb. 3 – 4 p.m.)

Quality wins: at Seton Hall, Nebraska

Bad Losses: N/A

Can we pat Rutgers on the shoulder? Maybe tell them “good try” and give them a Capri-Sun and a packet of Goldfish after the game? Because I don’t know about y’all, but I was thoroughly impressed with the performance of the Scarlet Knights against Purdue. (Let’s not forget that it wouldn’t be surprising to see this team win the conference next year.) Rutgers almost pulled off the shocker at home. This team outrebounded a Zach Edey-led team. That’s worth some praise. Yeah, a close loss counts just as much as a 45-point blowout in the standings. But if you’re Rutgers, you’ve got to feel good about the result, comparative to expectations. 

It’s a two-game week for Rutgers this week, with a home matchup against Penn State followed by a trip west to take on Juwan and the Wolverines on Saturday. I don’t want to jinx anything, but if Rutgers plays like they did against Purdue, this very well could be a 2-0 type of week for the Scarlet Knights. If Aundre Hyatt and Cliff Omoruyi have a good week? Consider it achieved. 

14. Michigan Wolverines

Last week’s ranking: 14 (-)

Record: 7-13 (2-7)

Last week: L at #2 Purdue (67-99), L vs. Iowa (78-88)

Next week: at Michigan State (Jan. 30 – 9 p.m.), vs. Rutgers (Feb. 3 – 4 p.m.)

Quality wins: at St. John’s, at Iowa

Bad losses: Long Beach State, Penn State

I don’t quite know what to say anymore. I feel like I’m just re-writing my Vanderbilt section for Michigan. But when I write Vanderbilt’s blurbs, I often commend their effort or general performance, usually because they haven’t gotten a conference win yet. Michigan has, so they don’t get the same special treatment that Vandy does. I’ve already called for the end of the Howard era like I’m King Henry, and this is only my second week. I don’t really know what to say. Shoutout to the fact that four of five starters scored in double figures against Iowa?

It’ll be an interesting week for Michigan and the Wolverines. First, it’s a road game against their rivals up in Lansing. Then, a possible winnable game against Rutgers on Juwan Howard’s home court. Both games obviously carry a lot of weight, with the first one hopefully bringing a bit of juice and motivation to the team, while the Rutgers matchup will bring the winner out of the Big Ten Power Ranking cellar. Big moves this week, folks.