College Basketball Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 15
Michigan Wolverines
Last week: (16-9, 6-6 Big Ten)
Last rank: 9th
Michigan took a major step in the right direction last week and if it wasn’t so egregious, I may have just moved them into the top five in the power rankings all the way from No. 9 last week. The Wolverines did have an impressive week, but they have yet to really beat a team in the Big Ten that’s considered a conference title threat.
The Wolverines beat Indiana for the second time on the season and avenged a previous loss to Michigan State, blowing out the Spartans, 86-57. Two big wins put Michigan one step closer to reaching the NCAA Tournament and the victory over Indiana marked the Wolverines’ first road win in over one calendar year. Beating Michigan State was the highlight of the week, though, as Michigan looks like a tourney squad.
Michigan State Spartans
Last week: (15-10, 7-5 Big Ten)
Last rank: 5th
Michigan State stayed put at No. 5 because of teams like Iowa and Indiana losing. The Spartans did fall to the rival Wolverines, but the 29-point defeat seemed more like an outlier than anything else. While the Wolverines blew the doors off the Spartans, there was nothing Michigan State could do to stop them, it seemed, as they shot 75 percent from the field in the first half.
The Spartans rebounded with a nice home win over Iowa on Saturday, avenging a regular season sweep against the Hawkeyes last season — they accounted for one-third of Michigan State’s total losses in 2015-16. The Spartans are sitting on the NCAA Tournament bubble and need to finish the season strong. There are six games remaining and a big one coming up this week against Wisconsin at home.