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College Basketball Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 13

By Connor Muldowney

Jan 22, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; Northwestern Wildcats guard Bryant McIntosh (30) celebrates a win over the Ohio State Buckeyes by a score of 74-72 at Value City Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; Northwestern Wildcats guard Bryant McIntosh (30) celebrates a win over the Ohio State Buckeyes by a score of 74-72 at Value City Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 28, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Gophers head coach Richard Pitino reacts to a call in the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Gophers head coach Richard Pitino reacts to a call in the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Maryland Terrapins

Last week: (19-2, 7-1 Big Ten)
Last rank: 2nd

Before the season, I made a bold prediction that Maryland would be the Big Ten’s top dark-horse contender. While it seemed like I was crazy at the time as the Terrapins were losing Robert Carter, Jake Layman, Rasheed Sulaimon and Diamond Stone, they have exceeded my expectations, posting a 19-2 record and they sit atop the conference standings, via a tie, after Week 12.

Melo Trimble is playing like the Big Ten Player of the Year, although Swanigan may have that all but sewn up, and the Terrapins have won six in a row and 12-of-13. Justin Jackson and Anthony Cowan have becoming solid contributors and this team continues to roll. Maryland beat Rutgers and Minnesota in Week 12.

1

Wisconsin Badgers

Last week: (18-3, 7-1 Big Ten)
Last rank: 1st

Wisconsin suffered a big-time scare on Saturday. Not only did the Badgers allow Rutgers to hang around in a game the Scarlet Knights had no business being in, but they took them to overtime. Wisconsin needed five extra minutes to put the Big Ten’s worst team away and that capped off the second straight week in which the Badgers had a close call. In fact, the week before, they needed overtime to beat Minnesota and took down Michigan by just four at home.

How is a team like this closing all of these tight games with victories? That’s just what happens when you are the most experienced team in the conference. However, the Badgers should figure out why they’ve had three close contests since an 89-66 blowout of Ohio State three weeks ago. Either way, they still sit atop the conference standings and power rankings.