Another week of Big Ten basketball is in the books and that means it is time for another edition of the Most Prestigious Big Ten Power Rankings on the Internet.
There weren't a ton of surprises this week in the Big Ten outside of Penn State's upset win over Indiana on Saturday, so there wasn't a lot of movement on the list. Iowa remains the league's top team, but Maryland and Michigan State are right on its heels. Wisconsin is still surging, while Minnesota and Rutgers remain winless in conference play.
As we approach the home stretch, each game in the Big Ten becomes that much more important. So, without any further delay, here are the Eleven Warriors Big Ten power rankings for the week of Feb. 8.
1. Iowa (19-4, 10-1)
Last week: 73-49 win vs. Penn State; 77-65 win at Illinois
This week: Thursday at Indiana; Sunday vs. Minnesota
It was a relatively easy week for the top-ranked Hawkeyes with two games against some of the Big Ten's bottom-feeders. Iowa made quick work of both Penn State and Illinois.
Thursday's matchup at Indiana is certainly intriguing, though, as it is the Hoosiers' first game against a top-four team in the Big Ten. The game comes at Assembly Hall, however, a place where Indiana is yet to lose all season.
With the most difficult part of their schedule in the rearview mirror, Thursday's game at Indiana is the biggest hurdle remaining for the Hawkeyes in their quest for a regular-season Big Ten title.
2. Maryland (21-3, 10-2)
Last week: 70-65 win at Nebraska; 72-61 win vs. Purdue
This week: Tuesday vs. Bowie State; Saturday vs. Wisconsin
A team once starving for a signature win, Maryland added another one to its resume Saturday with its 72-61 win over Purdue at XFINITY Center. The Terps are probably the most well-rounded — and talented — team in the Big Ten and they're beginning to show that as we hit the stretch run.
One game behind Iowa in the loss column, it seems like the race for the Big Ten regular-season title will come down to Maryland and the Hawkeyes. Indiana currently has two league losses, too, but with the Hoosiers falling to Penn State on Saturday, plus their incredibly difficult upcoming schedule, I'm not a firm believer IU can contend for the regular-season crown.
3. Michigan State (20-4, 7-4)
Last week: 89-73 win at Michigan
This week: Tuesday at Purdue; Sunday vs. Indiana
Remember when Michigan State lost three-straight games and everybody was asking what was wrong with the Spartans?
Good times.
I've said it a few times this season: With Denzel Valentine fully healthy, Michigan State is a legitimate Final Four contender. Look, it's going to be very difficult for the Spartans to win the regular-season league title because of that three-game skid they went on when Valentine was banged up, but this is as good of a team as there is in this league.
There could be another reason, Sparty stumbled in January, though.
Conspiracy theory: Valentine's not hurt. Izzo just doesn't want MSU peaking at wrong time. MSU's tanking to set up resurgence down stretch.
— Mark Titus (@clubtrillion) December 30, 2015
Makes you think.
4. Indiana (19-5, 9-2)
Last week: 80-67 win at Michigan; 68-63 loss at Penn State
This week: Thursday vs. Iowa; Sunday at Michigan State
Oh, Indiana. Right when I was ready to buy into you as a legitimate Big Ten title contender after Tuesday's thrashing of Michigan in Ann Arbor, what do you do? You go and follow that up with a loss Saturday at Penn State.
I think the Hoosiers are a really dangerous team come March because they're really difficult to guard. IU has been playing better defense of late, too, which is why it started out Big Ten play 9-1. But there are still certainly questions about how this team performs away from Assembly Hall.
The Hoosiers still haven't played Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State or Purdue, so with games all still to come against those teams I'd expect a bit of a slide.
5. Purdue (19-5, 7-4)
Last week: 72-61 loss at Maryland
This week: Tuesday vs. Michigan State; Saturday at Michigan
The Boilermakers really had a shot to move up this week, but failed execution down the stretch cost them a chance in their 72-61 loss to Maryland. There's certainly no shame in losing in College Park, but it's probably one Matt Painter's group felt it had a shot to win down the stretch.
This is a big week for Purdue, though, and a chance to get a couple of nice wins as it hosts Michigan State on Tuesday and travels to Michigan on Saturday. The Boilermakers also have a rematch with Maryland scheduled for Feb. 27.
6. Wisconsin (14-9, 6-4)
Last week: 79-68 win vs. Ohio State
This week: Wednesday vs. Nebraska; Saturday at Maryland
Somewhat quietly, the Badgers are ascending up the Big Ten standings as they have won five-straight games after starting out 1-4 in league play. Wisconsin knocked off Ohio State on Thursday and should win its sixth-straight league game when it hosts Nebraska on Wednesday this week.
That all leads up to Saturday's showdown at Maryland, where the Badgers can really solidify themselves as an NCAA tournament team. I think Wisconsin is firmly on the bubble as things stands, and a win at Maryland would certainly get them on the right side of things as of right now.
7. Michigan (17-7, 7-4)
Last week: 80-67 loss vs. Indiana; 89-73 loss vs. Michigan State
This week: Wednesday at Minnesota; Saturday vs. Purdue
There have certainly been better weeks in the history of the Michigan basketball program.
The Wolverines were presented with two golden opportunities to earn signature wins last week — both at home — and were routed in both games in contests that weren't as close as the final scores indicated.
Indiana used a 25-0 first-half run to blow Michigan's doors off Tuesday and then the Wolverines fell victim to Bryn Forbes and Denzel Valentine's sharpshooting effort Saturday in a game they trailed at one point by 30.
Michigan is still probably in the NCAA tournament right now, but things are certainly trending in the wrong direction. A Minnesota team that is winless in the Big Ten awaits Wednesday and a loss to the lowly Gophers at The Barn would be somewhat catastrophic.
28 unanswered points. Here are all of them. #iubb https://t.co/SAppK8mLD2
— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) February 3, 2016
8. Ohio State (14-10, 6-5)
Last week: 79-68 loss at Wisconsin
This week: Tuesday vs. Northwestern; Saturday at Rutgers
Ohio State pretty much is what it is at this point: The Buckeyes haven't lost to a team beneath them in the Big Ten standings, but they also haven't beaten anybody ahead of them. It's pretty much been that way all year.
But Ohio State has four very winnable games in a row before finishing the season by playing Michigan State twice with Iowa sandwiched in between. The Buckeyes' NCAA tournament hopes are slim — and they only still have any because of those three games to finish the year — but they will be all but shot if they don't go 4-0 here over the next two weeks. Ohio State has Northwestern, Rutgers, Michigan and Nebraska ahead.
9. Nebraska (13-11, 5-6)
Last week: 70-65 loss vs. Maryland; 87-63 win vs. Rutgers
This week: Wednesday at Wisconsin; Saturday vs. Penn State
Nebraska picked up a 24-point win over Rutgers on Saturday, but it came at a bit of a price. Huskers star Shavon Shields took a terrible fall and had to leave the game.
Scary, scary moment: @HuskerHoops star Shavon Shields gets carried off court on stretcher. https://t.co/ATVAgFiZM3
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 6, 2016
Nebraska says Shields loss consciousness after the fall, but there is not believed to be any serious damage. He was released from the hospital, per the school's statement.
Shavon Shields was conscious on his way to the hospital. He had a CT scan, which was negative. Shavon will follow UNL's concussion protocol. He has been dismissed from the hospital.
The Huskers travel to Wisconsin on Wednesday before hosting Penn State on Saturday.
10. Northwestern (16-8, 4-7)
Last week: 82-58 win vs. Minnesota
This week: Tuesday at Ohio State; Saturday vs. Illinois
Northwestern picked up its first win since Jan. 12 on Thursday when it throttled Minnesota. The Wildcats had suffered five-straight losses before knocking off the lowly Gophers.
There are two realistic opportunities ahead to pick up wins this week, though, as Northwestern travels to Ohio State on Tuesday and hosts Illinois on Saturday.
11. Penn State (12-12, 3-8)
Last week: 73-49 loss at Iowa; 68-63 win vs. Indiana
This week: Saturday at Nebraska
How about Penn State picking up one of the most surprising wins of the Big Ten on Saturday night? The Nittany Lions downed Indiana, 68-63, for their third league win of the season.
Penn State has some pretty winnable games ahead — only two of its final seven games come against teams currently above .500 in the Big Ten — so maybe it can make a late-season surge to avoid playing on Day 1 of the Big Ten tournament.
12. Illinois (11-13, 3-8)
Last week: 110-101 win at Rutgers (3OT); 77-65 loss vs. Iowa
This week: Saturday at Northwestern
Illinois tried its best to hand Rutgers its first league win of the season, but the Illini escaped embarrassment with a triple-overtime win against the Scarlet Knights on Wednesday.
It has been a long season for John Groce's group and the goal now, like Penn State, is to avoid having to play on Day 1 of the Big Ten tournament.
13. Minnesota (6-17, 0-11)
Last week: 82-58 loss at Northwestern
This week: Wednesday vs. Michigan; Sunday at Iowa
Minnesota better beat a reeling Michigan team on Wednesday or it will be heading into Feb. 23's "showdown" against Rutgers at 0-14 in Big Ten play. The Gophers play Iowa and Maryland in back-to-back games after the matchup with the Wolverines.
Things are pretty bad right now up in Minneapolis.
14. Rutgers (6-18, 0-11)
Last week: 110-101 loss vs. Illinois (3OT); 87-63 loss at Nebraska
This week: Saturday vs. Ohio State
Only Rutgers could score 101 points at home and still lose by nearly double-digits. Not sure when the Scarlet Knights are going to win one of these things.
