Mat Mlodzinski gives his Big Ten basketball power rankings heading into week 4 of the 2025 season.
Week 3 team of the week: Purdue
Week 3 game of the week: Washington vs. Southern
Week 3 player of the week: Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
Week 4 matchup of the week: #3 UConn vs. #8 Illinois (Nov. 28 – 12:30 p.m.)
Week 4 under-the-radar matchup of the week: Kansas State vs. Indiana (Nov. 25 – 8 p.m.)
All games listed are EST
1) Purdue Boilermakers
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-)
Record: 6-0
Last week: W vs. Memphis (80-71), W vs. Texas Tech (86-56)
Next week: vs. Eastern Illinois (Nov. 28 – Noon)
Quality wins: at Alabama, Texas Tech
Bad losses:
Purdue’s Feast Week has come and gone, winning the Baha Mar Championship after taking down Memphis and Texas Tech on consecutive days.
While the win over the Tigers was a shaky one, the Boilermakers flat-out throttled the Red Raiders by 30. Texas Tech star JT Toppin was held to 15 points, and Purdue was a well-oiled machine with SEVEN different players scoring at least 10 points. Oscar Cluff also had 15 rebounds in arguably his best game in a Purdue jersey as Matt Painter’s team looked like the best team in the country in that one.
2) Michigan Wolverines
Last week’s ranking: 3 (+1)
Record: 4-0
Last week: W vs. MTSU (86-61)
Next week: vs. San Diego State (Nov. 24 – 10:30 p.m.), vs. #22 Auburn (Nov. 25 – 8:30 p.m.), vs. TBD (Nov. 26 OR 27 – TBD)
Quality wins: Wake Forest, at TCU
Bad losses:
Michigan moves up to number two in the Big Ten basketball power rankings thanks to the team ahead of them losing and the Wolverines blowing out their only competition. But it was more than just a 25-point win over a mid-major. Yaxel Lenderborg could do no wrong on the court and we all saw why Dusty May has a legitimate Final Four contender. Now it’s on to the Players Era Festival!
3) Michigan State Spartans
Last week’s ranking: 7 (+4)
Record: 5-0
Last week: W vs. #12 Kentucky (83-66), W vs. Detroit Mercy (84-56)
Next week: vs. East Carolina (Nov. 25 – 1 p.m.), vs. #18 North Carolina (Nov. 27 – 4:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Kentucky, Arkansas
Bad losses:
It’s been a while since Michigan State has looked this good early in the season, but after a 17-point win and holding UK to 17 points, I’m ready to buy the Spartans.
And with all of the attention on Braden Smith, we might need to start looking more at Jeremy Fears Jr. He had 24 assists in two games last week and is averaging 10.4 per game on the season. That’s the best in the country.
4) Illinois Fighting Illini
Last week’s ranking: 2 (2)
Record: 5-1
Last week: L vs. #11 Alabama (90-86), W vs. LIU (98-58)
Next week: vs. UTRGV (Nov. 24 – 8 p.m.), vs. #3 UConn (Nov. 28 – 12:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Texas Tech
Bad losses:
It doesn’t seem right to drop Illinois to number four, so I do want to say I still consider them a tier one team in the Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings. They only lost by four to Alabama, so if a few more plays went their way, we could have them in the top spot.
But basketball is a game of inches – right? And so is the free throw line, where the Illini went just 13-of-22 against Bama. That needs to be corrected.
5) Indiana Hoosiers
Last week’s ranking: 4 (-1)
Record: 5-0
Last week: W vs. Lindenwood (73-53)
Next week: vs. Kansas State (Nov. 25 – 8 p.m.), vs. Bethune-Cookman (Nov. 29 – Noon)
Quality wins: vs. Marquette
Bad losses:
The Hoosiers might not have a Feast Week tournament to play in, but they will go against PJ Haggerty and Kansas State, which should be a great match-up. Tucker DeVries vs. Haggerty could be the top two pure scorers in the country going at it, and for a 5-0 Hoosiers team, a chance to pick up another solid early-season win.
6) Nebraska Cornhuskers
Last week’s ranking: 13 (+7)
Record: 6-0
Last week: W vs. New Mexico (84-72), W vs. Kansas State (86-85)
Next week: vs. Winthrop (Nov. 25 – 8:30 p.m.), vs. SC Upstate (Nov. 29 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: Kansas State, Oklahoma, New Mexico
Bad losses:
It’s not much, but it’s honest work for a Nebraska team that now has wins over Kansas State, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Freshman Braden Frager had a great week, scoring 20 against the Lobos and 16 more against the Wildcats. If Nebraska can get more from guys not named Rienk Mast and Pryce Sandfort, the Cornhuskers could be the Cinderella of Big Ten basketball this season.
7) Ohio State Buckeyes
Last week’s ranking: 5 (-2)
Record: 5-0
Last week: W vs. Western Michigan (91-58)
Next week: vs. Mount St. Mary’s (Nov. 25 – 6:30 p.m.), at Pitt (Nov. 28 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: Notre Dame
Bad losses:
The Buckeyes had just one game last week and also won’t play in any Feast Week tournaments, so it’s a weird stretch where we won’t be able to know a whole lot about whether or not they will be a true Big Ten basketball contender.
But against WMU, Amare Bynum showed some great signs, with 12 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Just another great freshman in college basketball this season.
8) Iowa Hawkeyes
Last week’s ranking: 6 (-2)
Record: 5-0
Last week: W vs. SEMO (99-70), W vs. Chicago State (93-54)
Next week: vs. Ole Miss (Nov. 25 – 9:30 p.m.), vs. Grand Canyon OR Utah (Nov. 26 – TBD)
Quality wins: Xavier
Bad losses:
Was it SEMO and Chicago State? Yes, but at least Iowa won both games convincingly and through five games, look in much better shape than they did over the past two seasons. The Haweyes are really moving the rock, averaging 20.2 assists per game.
9) UCLA Bruins
Last week’s ranking: 10 (+1)
Record: 5-1
Last week: W vs. Sacramento State (79-48), W vs. Presbyterian (86-46)
Next week: vs. Cal (Nov. 25 – 10 p.m.)
Quality wins:
Bad losses:
UCLA looked much better last week, with easy wins over Sacramento State and Presbyterian. They also held both teams to under 50 points, a major improvement over the first couple of weeks of the season.
This week, the Bruins play rival Cal on Tuesday, before jumping into Big Ten basketball play the week after.
10) Wisconsin Badgers
Last week’s ranking: 9 (-1)
Record: 4-1
Last week: W vs. SIUE (94-69), L at #9 BYU (98-70)
Next week: vs. Providence (Nov. 27 – 5:30 p.m.), vs. Florida OR TCU (Nov. 28 – TBD)
Quality wins:
Bad losses:
Welp, after looking dominant through four games, maybe it’s time to reset our thoughts on the Badgers. They looked completely outmatched and outenergized by BYU, nearly giving up 100 in the loss.
This week, Wisconsin will play Providence and either Florida or TCU, so they can quickly regroup after a game where the Badgers looked pretty rough.
11) Northwestern Wildcats
Last week’s ranking: 11 (-)
Record: 5-1
Last week: L vs. Virginia (83-78), W vs. South Carolina (79-77)
Next week: vs. Oklahoma State (Nov. 27 – 10:30 p.m.),
Quality wins: South Carolina
Bad losses:
Maybe Northwestern didn’t win their MTE, but they came in third place, taking down South Carolina after narrowly losing to Virginia. It may not have been a trophy being raised, but if you’re a fan of other types of victories, the Wildcats were competitive against a Ryan Odom-coached UVA team. There’s reason to be optimistic about them after that showing and with Oklahoma State on Thanksgiving, another chance at a quality win to prove some things.
12) Oregon Ducks
Last week’s ranking: 15 (+3)
Record: 4-0
Last week: W vs. Oregon State (87-75)
Next week: vs. #21 Auburn (Nov. 24 – 8 p.m.), vs. San Diego State (Nov. 25 – 11 p.m.), vs. TBD (Nov. 26 OR 27 – TBD)
Quality wins:
Bad losses:
Oregon’s only played four games to start the season, but last week they took down Oregon State, where we saw prime Jackson Shelstad and Nate Bittle, combining for 46 points and 9 rebounds. Kwame Evans Jr. added 16 points and 14 boards as the Ducks are starting to play much better than they were at the beginning of the season.
13) USC Trojans
Last week’s ranking: 8 (-5)
Record: 4-0
Last week: vs. Troy (107-106)
Next week: vs. Boise State (Nov. 24 – 5 p.m.), vs. Seton Hall OR NC State (Nov. 25 – TBD), vs. TBD (Nov. 26 – TBD)
Quality wins:
Bad losses:
Troy had an unbelievable week, going to about 15 overtimes, and it included a near win against USC. The Trojans found a way to win it in TRIPLE overtime with Jordan Marsh beating the buzzer in what was the game of the year in college basketball to this point. But winning the game of the year doesn’t excuse a near loss to Troy, so for that, USC falls down in the power rankings.
14) Washington Huskies
Last week’s ranking: 12 (-2)
Record: 4-1
Last week: W vs. Southern (99-93)
Next week: vs. Nevada (Nov. 27 – 4:30 p.m.), vs. Colorado OR San Francisco (Nov. 28 – TBD)
Quality wins:
Bad losses:
Just like USC, Washington nearly lost to an inferior team, needing double overtime to take down Southern. Needless to say, Washington will need to impress in the Acrisure Holiday Classic if they plan on moving back up in the Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings.
15) Maryland Terrapins
Last week’s ranking: 14 (-1)
Record: 4-1
Last week: W vs. Mount St. Mary’s (95-90)
Next week: vs. UNLV (Nov. 24 – 11:59 p.m.), vs. #12 Gonzaga (Nov. 25 – 9:30 p.m.), vs. TBD (Nov. 26-27 – TBD)
Quality wins: at Marquette
Bad losses:
Do you notice a trend? Maryland also went to overtime to get past Mount St. Mary’s. David “Diggy” Coit had 41, but for the Terps, it shouldn’t have to come to that. Now they have the Players Era Festival to try and change it around.
16) Penn State Nittany Lions
Last week’s ranking: 16 (-)
Record: 5-1
Last week: W vs. Harvard (84-80), L vs. Providence (77-65)
Next week: vs. Boston U (Nov. 25 – 7 p.m.), vs. Sacred Heart (Nov. 29 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins:
Bad losses:
Penn State may not have a bad loss yet, but they’ve had a bunch of unimpressive wins – 8 points over Fairfield, a 9-point win over Navy, and only a 4-point win to take down Harvard. Then, they lost their biggest challenge of the season to this point by a dozen to Providence. It’s not looking like an easy road ahead for the Nittany Lions.
17) Minnesota Golden Gophers
Last week’s ranking: 17 (-)
Record: 4-2
Last week: W vs. Chicago State (66-54), L vs. San Francisco (77-65)
Next week: vs. Stanford (Nov. 27 – 9:30 p.m.), vs. Saint Louis OR Santa Clara (Nov. 28 – TBD)
Quality wins:
Bad losses:
A loss to San Francisco isn’t necessarily a bad one, but it doesn’t bode well for the Golden Gophers heading into their Feast Week MTE. Cade Tyson was held to 14 points in 39 minutes, so it seems as if he can’t get to 20 points; they’ll have a tough time getting a win.
18) Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Last week’s ranking: 18 (-)
Record: 4-1
Last week: W vs. American (80-71), L vs. CCSU (67-54)
Next week: vs. #17 Tennessee (Nov. 24 – 1 p.m.), vs. Notre Dame (Nov. 25 – 1 p.m.), vs. TBD (Nov. 26-27 – TBD)
Quality wins:
Bad losses: CCSU
It hasn’t been the year for non-ranked teams beating top 25 teams, but it doesn’t mean Power 5 teams won’t lose to mid-majors. Rutgers fell by 13 to Central Connecticut State University, who did arleady beat Boston College, but is also the main reason the Scarlet Knights are at the bottom of the Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings.