College Basketball Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 15
It’s hard to even fathom how a team like Illinois has fallen this far from grace. The Hoosiers were once sitting in the top four in our Big Ten power rankings, but they have since plummeted thanks to a mediocre conference record. They have lost 5-of-6 games and are now three games under .500 in Big Ten play, sitting squarely on the NCAA Tournament bubble, hard to believe after they were ranked No. 9 earlier in the season.
Indiana had an opportunity to right the ship in Week 14, but Purdue came to town and stole one from its rival. The Boilermakers won by five, but Indiana had another chance at home against Michigan on Sunday. The Wolverines were in the same boat, eyeing the NCAA tourney bubble, but they came to Bloomington and had their way with the hapless Hoosiers. Tom Crean’s frustration with this lifeless team is obvious.
After going through what seemed like a month-long lull without any major victories, the Nittany Lions had their best week of the Big Ten campaign. Not only did Penn State pick up their first road win since Jan. 1 by taking down Illinois, they also pulled off a massive upset against the No. 21 Maryland Terrapins.
Beating Maryland isn’t something many teams have been able to do in conference play, but Penn State freshman Lamar Stevens had his best game of the season, scoring 25 points with seven rebounds, and Mike Watkins was solid, adding 10 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. This team is going to be scary a year or two down the line when Stevens and Watkins mature.