Big Ten basketball power rankings: Ohio State heating up as Indiana cools down

Ohio State is heating up as Big Ten play begins but Indiana is off to a lackluster start.

Big Ten play got underway this week, and the conference started to take shape. Big Ten conference play is always one of the most highly anticipated parts of the basketball season, and by the small sample size we have seen thus far, it will be a tough and competitive year in a premier basketball conference.

As is predicted, we’ve seen the leaders of the Big Ten shine during non-conference play. After a weak showing at the end of last year, 10 teams have already won at least six games so far, and 12 teams have at least five wins on the young season.

The conference won five of eight games in the Gavitt Games, and tied in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge at seven wins apiece, with a few Big Ten teams losing in narrow fashion, including a two-point win for Notre Dame over Illinois that, with a bit more luck on a last-second Trent Frazier three-pointer, would’ve swung the other way. It’s bound to be a hectic year in the conference if the fast start is any indication.

Big Ten Power Rankings (Week of Dec. 3)

1. Michigan Wolverines

Last Week’s Ranking – 1 (No Change)
KenPom Ranking – 5
The Wolverines made slight work of the Purdue Boilermakers, beating them by 19. Michigan also held Pre-season Player of the Year candidate Carsen Edwards to just 19 points in 29 minutes, in their dominant 76-57 win. The Wolverines were able to do just enough to beat Northwestern, and now move on to face South Carolina on Saturday.

2. Michigan State Spartans

Last Week’s Ranking – 2 (No Change)
KenPom Ranking – 9
Michigan State has the sixth best offense overall according to the KenPom rankings, and backs that up with a top-30 defense. The Spartans are currently ranked as the tenth best team overall according to the AP standings. Though they took a hard loss to unranked Louisville earlier in the year, the Spartans rebounded nicely with wins over Rutgers and No. 18 Iowa to start Big Ten play.

3. Wisconsin Badgers

Last Week’s Ranking – 3 (No Change)
KenPom Ranking – 13
Greg Gard’s Wisconsin team ranks in the top twenty in both offense and defense according to the KenPom. The Badgers have wins over No. 18 Iowa, and snatched a close win from Rutgers, to bring their record to 2-0 in Big Ten play. Ethan Happ continues to perform well, averaging 17.7 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. The Badgers could be a dominant force if they can get solid contributions from players like D’Mitrik Trice and Brad Davison.

4. Ohio State

Last Week’s Ranking – 7 (Up 3)
KenPom Ranking – 22
The Ohio State Buckeyes are ranked as the No. 19 team in the nation according to the AP rankings and are answering many of the questions asked about them prior to the season, following the departure of team leader Keita Bates-Diop, among others. The Buckeyes rebounded from a 10-point loss to Syracuse with a 20-point win over Minnesota, putting up a strong performance to start Big Ten play. They continue with a game against Illinois at the United Center in Chicago Wednesday.

5. Purdue Boilermakers

Last Week’s Ranking – 5 (No Change)
KenPom Ranking – 14
After putting up a solid showing against No. 11 Florida State, a game which saw the Boilermakers lose by just one point, this Purdue team fell flat against No. 5 Michigan, losing by 19 against a stifling Michigan defense. The Wolverines were able to hold Purdue to having just two players with 10 or more points. You guessed it, it was Carsen Edwards and Ryan Cline. The only player close to hitting double figures in points was Aaron Wheeler, who finished with eight. The Boilermakers will look to rebound against No. 23 Maryland on Wednesday.

6. Iowa Hawkeyes

Last Week’s Ranking – 4 (Down 2)
KenPom Ranking – 41
Iowa went plummeting down the KenPom rankings this week following losses to No. 12 Wisconsin and No. 10 Michigan State to open conference play. The Hawkeyes lost a home match-up against the Badgers by a score of 72-66, via a 20-point breakout by D’Mitrik Trice. Ethan Happ was held to 13 points, but Trice’s effort was enough as the Hawkeyes drop two spots after starting conference play 0-2.

7. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Last Week’s Ranking – 8 (Up 1)
KenPom Ranking – 21
The No. 24 Huskers gained some traction in this week’s rankings after beating Clemson and laying down a 15-point victory against the Fighting Illini at home. The Cornhuskers frustrated a young, talented Illinois team, and started conference play off on the right foot at home behind a strong game from James Palmer Jr., who contributed 23 points. Nebraska travels to take on Minnesota on the road Wednesday night.

8. Maryland Terrapins

Last Week’s Ranking – 9 (Up 1)
KenPom Ranking – 32
No. 23 Maryland has been a pleasant surprise so far this season, and were (basically) two possessions away from upsetting No. 4 Virginia last Wednesday in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, and took care of business against Penn State to start conference play. Maryland hasn’t been tested too tough other than the past two games, and a road test against the Purdue Boilermakers on Wednesday at the Mackey Arena will tell a lot about the direction of this year’s team.

9. Indiana Hoosiers

Last Week’s Ranking – 6 (Down 3)
KenPom Ranking – 26
Archie Miller’s Hoosiers team rebounded after a physical 21-point loss at the hands of No. 3 Duke away from home last week, beating Northwestern and Penn State in a home game, and an away game, respectively. The Hoosiers were led by Freshman star Romeo Langford, who put up 20 points and 17 points in the two games. Juwan Morgan and Justin Smith have also been solid contributors, but this talented Indiana team falls victim to a massive amount of deep, well-rounded teams in the Big Ten.

10. Penn State Nittany Lions

Last Week’s Ranking – 12 (Up 2)
KenPom Ranking – 38
The Nittany Lions have two tough Big Ten losses to start conference play, falling to No. 23 Maryland and Indiana in close games. The losses come on the tail of a big win over No. 15 Virginia Tech. The Nittany Lions took them down at home. Penn State has been led by a pair of upperclassmen in junior Lamar Stevens (22.4 PPG), and senior Josh Reaves (11.7 PPG), and freshmen Rasir Bolton and Myles Dread are certainly in the running for Big Ten All-Freshman team at this point in the season.

11. Northwestern Wildcats

Last Week’s Ranking – 11 (Up 2)
KenPom Ranking – 46
Northwestern continues to rise in my rankings, moving up two spots for the second week in a row. The Wildcats narrowly lost to No. 5 Michigan, falling by just two points. The same amount they lost by against a talented young Indiana squad by. Northwestern has four players averaging 10 or more points a game, with Vic Law putting up 17.6 points to go with 6.6 rebounds. The Northwestern team isn’t deep though and could face some struggles down the line.

12. Minnesota Golden Gophers

Last Week’s Ranking – 10 (Down 2)
KenPom Ranking – 50
The Golden Gophers dropped two spots for me this week, following a 20-point loss to Ohio State on the weekend. Minnesota has some solid, close wins this season. The thing is, if you aren’t moving up on this list from week to week, you’re likely getting pushed down. The Big Ten is competitive, and the Gophers are a solid team and could find themselves in a better situation after their matchup with No. 24 Nebraska on Wednesday.

13. Illinois Fighting Illini

Last Week’s Ranking – 13 (No Change)
KenPom Ranking – 91
The Illini have been…disappointing. The Illini have had the sixth hardest schedule in the NCAA this season, and their 2-6 record reflects it. Giorgi Bezhanishvili has been a great addition to this team, and the resurgence of Aaron Jordan has helped, but Brad Underwood’s defensive system just isn’t quite working out for the Illini so far this season, and the Illini were trounced on the road against No. 24 Nebraska, and face a tough match-up with No. 19 Ohio State at the United Center on Wednesday.

14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Last Week’s Ranking – 14 (No Change)
KenPom Ranking – 94
Steve Pikiell’s Scarlet Knights team, led by junior Eugene Omoruyi (15.4 PPG, 9.0 RPG) and sophomore Geo Baker (14.6 PPG, 4.4 APG), had an impressive upset win against Miami Florida last week, followed by an 11-point loss to No. 10 Michigan State, which is certainly nothing to be ashamed of. The Scarlet Knights also narrowly lost to No. 12 Wisconsin on the road, dropping by only five points. It was a tight decision between Illinois and Rutgers, but Illinois’ depth prevented the Scarlet Knights from climbing.