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College Basketball Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 12

ByConnor Muldowney|
Jan 18, 2017; Lincoln, NE, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Kam Williams (15) reacts during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Ohio State won 67-66. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2017; Lincoln, NE, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Kam Williams (15) reacts during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Ohio State won 67-66. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
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After an eventful Week 11 of college basketball filled with upsets, here are the Week 12 Big Ten power rankings.

The Big Ten isn’t exactly regarded as the best conference in college basketball this season. In fact, the Big Ten has taken a hit this year as the highest-ranked team is Wisconsin at No. 15 and only Purdue and Maryland cracked the Top 25 as well.

Minnesota and Indiana were in the Top 25 not too long ago and Northwestern is currently knocking on the door, but the conference is looking as down as it’s been in quite some time. That could be good news for some teams in the middle of the pack looking to piece together a big run while the top of the standings are not as stable as usual.

Wisconsin took over the top spot last week after Purdue lost to Iowa, but could the Badgers hold on to that or was there a bit of shuffling? The season is getting closer to the conclusion and upsets are running rampant, but did they have much of an effect on the Big Ten?

Let’s take a look at who tops this week’s power rankings.

They finally did it. Rutgers won its first conference game of the year to avoid the dreaded 0-fer season. Last year, the Scarlet Knights were 0-17 in Big Ten play before winning the final game of the regular season against Indiana, but they won’t have to wait that long this year.

So why are they still in the last spot in the power rankings this week? Well, just because they defeated a struggling Nebraska team doesn’t exactly mean the Scarlet Knights are world-beaters. This team has a lot of work to do, but Corey Sanders getting hot is great news for this team.

Illinois takes one of the major tumbles this week as the Fighting Illini went from 2-3 in conference play and 12-6 overall to 12-8 and 2-5. Two losses in Week 11 dropped the Fighting Illini from fringe top-10 Big Ten squad to nearly in the basement with the lights off.

John Groce needs to figure out a way to avoid a meltdown which he has failed to do in each of the past couple of seasons. The Illini lost to Purdue by 23 and Michigan by nine last week and Groce’s job security is regressing by the week. Can this team beat Iowa and Penn State this week?