If last week taught us anything, it is that nobody wants to claim the top position in the Most Prestigious Big Ten Power Rankings on the Internet. Bold strategy, Cotton, because the No. 1 spot was certainly there to be had.
This past week was a wild one in the Big Ten as Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Indiana and Purdue all lost one game. The only team in our Top 6 from last week not to lose was Wisconsin, which has now won seven-straight games after starting 1-4 in the league.
The Hawkeyes have a one-game lead in the conference standings on both the Terps and Hoosiers. It's essentially a three-team race for the regular-season crown. But, more importantly, will Iowa hold on to its No. 1 spot in these rankings?
Let's check out this week's list.
1. Iowa (20-5, 11-2)
Last week: 85-78 loss at Indiana; 75-71 win vs. Minnesota
This week: Wednesday at Penn State
Following its 85-78 loss to Indiana, Iowa was set to lose the top spot in our rankings that it had for the majority of the season. Maryland had been rolling, and the Terps were very deserving of a No. 1 position, but then they lost at home to Wisconsin on Saturday. Iowa remains No. 1 this week almost by default.
I still think the Hawkeyes are the favorite to win the Big Ten regular-season crown as they have the most manageable schedule down the stretch, plus a one-game lead on both Maryland and Indiana. Iowa has been the Big Ten's most consistent team thus far, and I look for that to continue going forward.
2. Maryland (22-4, 10-3)
Last week: 93-62 win vs. Bowie State; 70-57 loss vs. Wisconsin
This week: Thursday at Minnesota; Sunday vs. Michigan
Maryland was all but penciled in to be the Big Ten's new No. 1 team following Iowa's loss to Indiana. All the Terps had to do was beat Wisconsin at home on Saturday and that would have been the case.
But the Badgers went into Xfinity Center — where Maryland had previously won 27-straight games and had never dropped a Big Ten contest since joining the league — and dominated from the jump against the Terps in a 70-57 win.
To me, Maryland is the most talented team in the league, but something is just a little off with the Terps and I'm not quite sure what it is. It feels like Maryland should be a legitimate Final Four contender, but, for some reason, I'm just not completely sold on it at the moment despite the Terps being No. 2 on our list.
3. Michigan State (21-5, 8-5)
Last week: 82-81 loss at Purdue (OT); 88-69 win vs. Indiana
This week: Thursday vs. Wisconsin
Michigan State struggled big time in the first half of its loss to Purdue this week. The Spartans rallied, but eventually fell short on the road against a pretty good Boilermaker team. Not a bad loss by any means, and Michigan State followed that up with an impressive 19-point drubbing of Indiana on Sunday.
In my opinion, Denzel Valentine, had he not gotten hurt and missed two weeks, would be in quite a race with Oklahoma's Buddy Hield for National Player of the Year. He has been that good all year for the Spartans and he is the sole reason why Michigan State is so dangerous come March.
There's also that Tom Izzo guy, I guess.
ICYMI: Denzel Valentine had 30 points to help lead @MSU_Basketball to an 88-69 win over Indiana. https://t.co/taoFBCgVP2
— Michigan St. on BTN (@MichiganStOnBTN) February 15, 2016
4. Indiana (20-6, 10-3)
Last week: 85-78 win vs. Iowa; 88-69 loss at Michigan State
This week: Wednesday vs. Nebraska; Saturday vs. Purdue
Indiana is really, really good — almost unbeatable — when it plays at Assembly Hall. When the Hoosiers hit the road, though, they are anything but. That was on full display this week.
Indiana played one of its better all-around games of the season in an 85-78 victory over Iowa on Thursday, but the Hoosiers looked lost in the second half of Sunday's blowout loss to Michigan State.
It seems that's just what this Indiana team is. The Hoosiers are capable of beating anybody when they're shooting well from deep — this happens most of the time at home — but when they go on the road they are very beatable.
5. Wisconsin (16-9, 8-4)
Last week: 72-61 win vs. Nebraska; 70-57 win at Maryland
This week: Thursday at Michigan State; Sunday vs. Illinois
In what was a wild week in the Big Ten, here's one thing I can say fairly confidently: Nobody in the league is playing better than Wisconsin at the moment.
The Badgers have recorded seven-straight victories and, as a result, have surged their way into the NCAA tournament discussion. Saturday's decisive victory at Maryland was certainly a signature win.
Look out for Wisconsin going forward. It will be tested in a big way this week when it travels to Michigan State on Thursday.
Tonight @BadgerMBB shut down Maryland in the decisive first half and held on for a 70-57 victory Saturday night. https://t.co/h0BhzfwBqh
— Wisconsin On BTN (@WisconsinOnBTN) February 14, 2016
6. Purdue (20-6, 8-5)
Last week: 82-81 win vs. Michigan State (OT); 61-56 loss at Michigan
This week: Tuesday vs. Northwestern; Saturday at Indiana
Like many of the other teams this week, I was ready to move Purdue up after a big win. But, like many of the others, the Boilers followed one of those big wins up with a loss in their next game.
Purdue led Michigan for the majority of Saturday's game, but the Wolverines just simply took the game from the Boilers down the stretch.
I still like Purdue as a whole, but its style of pounding the ball inside certainly leaves it vulnerable to losses it probably shouldn't have. The Boilers' games tend to be lower scoring and, as a result, there are going to be a lot more close calls.
7. Michigan (19-7, 9-4)
Last week: 82-74 win at Minnesota; 61-56 win vs. Purdue
This week: Tuesday at Ohio State; Sunday at Maryland
Michigan needed a big win in the worst way Saturday and while things certainly didn't look promising all the way throughout that matchup with Purdue, the Wolverines deserve credit for stepping up in crunch time to get a much-needed victory.
Caris LeVert also returned to the lineup for the first time in nearly two months. He played just 11 minutes as Michigan coach John Beilein is still being cautious, but if the Wolverines can get their best player back into form for this stretch run, they become much more dangerous.
8. Ohio State (16-10, 8-5)
Last week: 71-63 win vs. Northwestern; 79-69 win at Rutgers
This week: Tuesday vs. Michigan; Saturday at Nebraska
Until Ohio State beats a team ahead of it in the Big Ten standings, this is likely the spot you're going to find the Buckeyes. Against teams below it in the league race, Ohio State is 8-0, but the Buckeyes are 0-5 against teams currently ahead of them.
The good news for Ohio State: There are four opportunities in the next five games to get some of those quality wins. Things start Tuesday for the Buckeyes when they host Michigan at Value City Arena.
9. Northwestern (17-9, 5-8)
Last week: 71-63 loss at Ohio State; 58-56 win vs. Illinois
This week: Tuesday at Purdue; Wednesday at Michigan
After blowing a halftime lead Tuesday at Ohio State, the Wildcats responded by beating Illinois at home Saturday.
Northwestern is currently one game ahead of both Penn State and the Illini in the loss column, and the Wildcats certainly want to stay there to avoid falling into one of the bottom-four spots in the Big Ten and thus having to play on the first day of the conference tournament.
Tre Demps and Scottie Lindsey each scored 18 points and hit four 3-pointers, and @NUMensBBall beat Illinois 58-56. https://t.co/5n7BpH35Dz
— Northwestern On BTN (@NUOnBTN) February 14, 2016
10. Nebraska (14-12, 6-7)
Last week: 72-61 loss at Wisconsin; 70-54 win vs. Penn State
This week: Wednesday at Indiana; Saturday vs. Ohio State
Right now, it's unknown when star Shavon Shields will return to the lineup for Nebraska after suffering a concussion following a horrific fall last weekend. He did not play in the Huskers' loss to Wisconsin this past week nor in their win over Penn State.
Nebraska could pull an upset or two down the stretch, though, if it gets Shields back.
11. Penn State (12-13, 3-9)
Last week: 70-54 loss at Nebraska
This week: Wednesday vs. Iowa; Saturday at Rutgers
Penn State travels to Rutgers on Saturday and the Nittany Lions better do everything in their power to make sure that matchup between the Scarlet Knights and Minnesota comes with both teams being 0-14 in Big Ten play. The conference needs that.
12. Illinois (11-14, 3-9)
Last week: 58-56 loss at Northwestern
This week: Tuesday vs. Rutgers; Sunday at Wisconsin
The Illini lost another heartbreaker Saturday when they fell to Northwestern in an in-state battle. Illinois seems headed for a Day 1 game in the Big Ten tournament.
13. Minnesota (6-19, 0-13)
Last week: 82-74 loss vs. Michigan; 75-71 loss at Iowa
This week: Thursday vs. Maryland
With Maryland on the schedule this week, it certainly seems like Minnesota is going to be 0-14 in Big Ten play heading into Feb. 23's matchup with Rutgers. Get your tickets now.
14. Rutgers (6-19, 0-12)
Last week: 79-69 loss vs. Ohio State
This week: Tuesday at Illinois; Saturday vs. Penn State
If Rutgers doesn't want to join the Gophers at 0-14, it has to win one of the two games it has on the schedule this week. The Scarlet Knights play at Illinois and at home against Penn State — two manageable games — so maybe they'll get a victory?
Probably not.
