It took until the end of January, but there are no longer any undefeated teams in Big Ten play as both Indiana and Iowa lost their first league games last week. The race for the regular-season title is officially on.
There's still over a month to go in the season so a lot can happen in the race for that Big Ten crown. And, despite the loss, the Hawkeyes remain No. 1 this week in the most prestigious Big Ten power rankings on the Internet. Other notes include Wisconsin surging, Northwestern falling fast and Rutgers and Minnesota still being winless.
We're in for a wild ride these last few weeks so without any further delay, here is the full list for the week of Feb. 1:
1. Iowa (17-4, 8-1)
Last week: 74-68 loss at Maryland; 85-71 win vs. Northwestern
This week: Wednesday vs. Penn State; Sunday at Illinois
The Hawkeyes were the last Big Ten unbeaten prior to Thursday's 74-68 loss at Maryland, but despite dropping that game Iowa remains No. 1 on our list because this is about the entire body of work.
It was never going to be an undefeated Big Ten season for the Hawkeyes, but there's no question they have been the most impressive team in the league over the first half of the season. Losing a road game to one of the other top-three teams in the league is certainly not a sign of trouble, and Iowa followed up that loss by blasting Northwestern on Sunday.
Iowa's schedule the rest of the way is pretty favorable; the Hawkeyes only have three games remaining against the Big Ten's top-six teams. Iowa is in great position to win the league title.
2. Maryland (19-3, 8-2)
Last week: 74-68 win vs. Iowa; 66-61 win vs. Ohio State
This week: Wednesday at Nebraska; Saturday vs. Purdue
Maryland's resume was lacking quite a bit, but the Terrapins got a huge win Thursday over the Hawkeyes that really kept them in the Big Ten title race. Maryland then followed that up by avoiding an upset against Ohio State, making big plays down the stretch against the Buckeyes.
The Terps have won four out of five and travel to Nebraska on Wednesday before hosting Purdue on Saturday. Maryland doesn't play Iowa again during the regular-season so it's going to need some help over the second half of the season to win a league title, but the Terps are in pretty good shape as the calendar turns to February.
Last. Night. 3️⃣https://t.co/oQmRuVMiIz#FearTheTurtle #WeWill
— Maryland Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) January 29, 2016
3. Michigan State (19-4, 6-4)
Last week: 76-45 win vs. Northwestern; 96-62 win vs. Rutgers
This week: Saturday at Michigan
It seems as if Michigan State is getting back to its early-season form with three-straight wins after going through that three-game losing streak in the middle of January. The Spartans are doing it with the long ball, too, as they have made a ridiculous 33 3-pointers in the last two games — a pair of 30-plus point victories.
A big game looms Saturday for Michigan State, however, has it travels to Ann Arbor for a date with the rising Wolverines. After the game against Michigan, the Spartans play Purdue and Indiana so this is a huge three-game stretch coming up.
Michigan State won't win the Big Ten regular-season title as it already has four league losses, but when the Spartans are at full strength come March they are absolutely a Final Four contender. That's why even with four league losses Michigan State is still No. 3 on this list.
4. Indiana (18-4, 8-1)
Last week: 82-79 loss at Wisconsin (OT); 74-68 win vs. Minnesota
This week: Tuesday at Michigan; Saturday at Penn State
Somehow, the Hoosiers managed to make it to the halfway point in the Big Ten season without playing any of the other teams in our Top 6. That just goes to show you how backloaded Indiana's league schedule is.
The Hoosiers were one of the final two unbeaten Big Ten teams before suffering a 82-79 overtime loss at Wisconsin on Tuesday. We'll found out exactly how good Indiana really is in the second half of the Big Ten season as the Hoosiers still must play Michigan, Iowa (twice), Michigan State, Purdue and Maryland.
Things pick up for Indiana on Tuesday when it travels to Ann Arbor to play the Wolverines.
5. Purdue (19-4, 7-3)
Last week: 68-64 win at Minnesota; 89-74 win vs. Nebraska
This week: Saturday at Maryland
Purdue has been sitting in the No. 5 spot for a few weeks but, like Indiana, it's a bit difficult to judge how good the Boilermakers truly are as they also play a heavily backloaded Big Ten schedule.
We'll soon find out, though, as Purdue travels to Maryland this week before playing both Michigan State and Michigan the following week. It's a crucial two-week stretch coming up for the No. 4 and 5 teams in our power rankings.
6. Michigan (17-5, 7-2)
Last week: 68-57 win vs. Rutgers; 79-72 win vs. Penn State
This week: Tuesday vs. Indiana; Saturday vs. Michigan State
Winners of four straight, it was tempting to move Michigan up this week, but I decided to wait one more week before doing so as the competition has been less than stellar of late for the Wolverines and it's going to get much more challenging this week.
Michigan hosts both Indiana and Michigan State this week and if the Wolverines want to solidify themselves as legitimate Big Ten contenders they must win at least one of those games. Caris LeVert remains sidelined with an injury, but reports out of Ann Arbor seem like he may be close to returning.
7. Wisconsin (13-9, 5-4)
Last week: 82-79 win vs. Indiana (OT); 63-55 win at Illinois
This week: Thursday vs. Ohio State
Currently on a four-game winning streak, Wisconsin jumps up to No. 7 this week. The Badgers have rebounded quite nicely from their 1-4 start to the Big Ten season.
Throughout this current stretch, Wisconsin has wins over Michigan State and Indiana. The Badgers' overtime win over the Hoosiers on Tuesday was thanks in large part to a 31-point performance from junior forward Nigel Hayes, who is starting to play at the level many thought he would entering the season.
This is a fun way to start your dayhttps://t.co/eQV2lVCzWa
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) January 27, 2016
8. Ohio State (14-9, 6-4)
Last week: 66-46 win vs. Penn State; 68-63 win at Illinois (OT); 66-61 loss vs. Maryland
This week: Thursday at Wisconsin
Ohio State falls one spot this week to No. 8 despite going 2-1 in what was a busy seven days for the Buckeyes. Ohio State just doesn't have a quality win yet in the Big Ten — the Buckeyes are 0-4 against teams ahead of them in the league standings — and missed a golden opportunity Sunday against Maryland.
There are still four opportunities for Ohio State to earn a few marquee victories, though, on the regular-season Big Ten schedule. The Buckeyes still play Michigan State (twice), Iowa and Michigan with three of those four games coming in Columbus.
Thursday's matchup at Wisconsin is a must-win game for Ohio State — as are most at this point of the season.
9. Nebraska (12-10, 4-5)
Last week: 89-74 loss at Purdue
This week: Wednesday vs. Maryland; Saturday vs. Rutgers
Nebraska was heading in the right direction, but back-to-back double-digit losses have halted any momentum built by the Cornhuskers. The latest loss came Saturday at Purdue, 89-74.
Things don't get any easier, either, as Nebraska hosts Maryland on Wednesday. The Cornhuskers are trying to hold steady in the middle of the Big Ten pack and avoid falling into the league's bottom four, which would result in a first-day game at the Big Ten tournament.
10. Northwestern (15-8, 3-7)
Last week: 76-45 loss vs. Michigan State; 85-71 loss at Iowa
This week: Thursday vs. Minnesota
Speaking of trending the wrong way, Northwestern hasn't won a game since Jan. 12; the Wildcats have lost five in a row.
It's well documented Northwestern has never made the NCAA tournament and the Wildcats won't be going this season either unless they win the Big Ten tournament. It's been quite a disappointing January for Northwestern after a 13-1 start to the season.
11. Illinois (10-12, 2-7)
Last week: 68-63 loss vs. Ohio State (OT); 63-55 loss vs. Wisconsin
This week: Wednesday at Rutgers; Sunday vs. Iowa
The bottom of the Big Ten is really struggling and Illinois is in that group. The Illini lost a pair of games at home last week to middle-of-the-pack Big Ten teams and are now 2-7 in the league.
12. Penn State (11-11, 2-7)
Last week: 66-46 loss at Ohio State; 79-72 loss vs. Michigan
This week: Wednesday at Iowa; Saturday vs. Indiana
Things aren't getting any easier for Penn State with Iowa and Indiana on the schedule this week. The Nittany Lions were somewhat competitive in their last game against Michigan, but like most of the bottom-feeding Big Ten teams, it's going to be a long February and March for Penn State.
13. Minnesota (6-16, 0-10)
Last week: 68-64 loss vs. Purdue; 74-68 loss at Indiana
This week: Thursday at Northwestern
The race between Minnesota and Rutgers to get out of the Big Ten basement continues for another week. The Gophers were close (!) with four- and six-point losses this week, but didn't quite do enough to earn wins.
Minnesota needs to beat Northwestern on Thursday or it's likely to be 0-14 in the Big Ten heading into the Feb. 23 matchup with the Scarlet Knights as the Gophers have Michigan, Iowa and Maryland on the schedule after their game against the Wildcats.
14. Rutgers (6-16, 0-9)
Last week: 68-57 loss at Michigan; 96-62 loss at Michigan State
This week: Wednesday vs. Illinois; Saturday at Nebraska
Let's just say things aren't going very well in Piscataway.
Video: Rutgers player doesn't realize it's a one-and-one, throws live ball out of bounds for a turnover: pic.twitter.com/RZpFzUNr6n
— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) January 28, 2016
