Well, folks, the dream is dead. The matchup everybody was looking forward to during the Big Ten basketball season — 0-14 Rutgers against 0-14 Minnesota — won't be taking place.
Sure, the two teams will square off Tuesday in Minneapolis but it's not the same. Not after the Gophers' stunning upset of sixth-ranked Maryland on Thursday. I'm not sure I'll every forgive the Terps from robbing us of this historic matchup, but I'll do my best.
But despite my own personal disappointment, Minnesota's victory was just another example of the way this season in the Big Ten — and all of college basketball, really — has gone. There have been upsets galore and it seems like every night a top-10 team is going down somewhere. The Big Ten hasn't been exempt from that and this past week just further proved how difficult it is to win a league crown.
With two weeks remaining the season, there's still a giant logjam at the top through the middle of the league standings. Because of that, and all the crazy upsets this past week, I decided to blow my previous week's rankings up and start from scratch.
Without delaying things any further, here are the Most Prestigious Big Ten Power Rankings on the Internet for the week of Feb. 22:
1. Michigan State (22-5, 9-5)
Last week: 69-57 win vs. Wisconsin
This week: Tuesday at Ohio State; Sunday vs. Penn State
The Spartans are the No. 1 team on our list this week despite having almost no shot at winning the Big Ten title as they are two games behind in the loss column of Indiana, which has three games remaining. But Michigan State is playing better than any team in the conference at the moment and the teams who were previously in front of the Spartans — Iowa and Maryland — continue to have inexplicable losses.
Michigan State won six of its last seven games with the only loss coming on the road at Purdue by one point in overtime. The Spartans also have the easiest schedule remaining of any of the contending teams with Ohio State twice, Penn State and Rutgers left to play.
2. Iowa (20-6, 11-3)
Last week: 79-75 loss at Penn State
This week: Wednesday vs. Wisconsin; Sunday at Ohio State
I know what you're probably thinking.
But Tim, Iowa beat Michigan State twice this season, how could you possibly put the Spartans ahead of the Hawkeyes? You're an idiot.
Well, you certainly aren't wrong about that. In fact, there's nothing false about anything in that statement. But, for me, it's not about that. I just think that, right now, despite Iowa's two victories over Michigan State, the Spartans are the better team and they are playing better at this point in the season. Don't take it personal, random Iowa fan who may be reading this.
I certainly don't want to say Iowa peaked earlier in the year, but things certainly aren't trending the right way right now for the Hawkeyes. This just currently isn't the same team that was playing at such a high level a few weeks back.
The sky is not falling, of course, but Wednesday's loss at Penn State was as puzzling a result as we've seen all year in this league. With that said, the Hawkeyes still control their own fate as far as a Big Ten title is concerned and if they win out, it's theirs outright.
UPSET! Fans storm the court as @PennStateMBB pulls off the upset win over No. 4 Iowa! https://t.co/4s0YPsLyv2
— Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) February 18, 2016
3. Maryland (23-5, 11-4)
Last week: 68-63 loss at Minnesota; 86-82 win vs. Michigan
This week: Saturday at Purdue
Like Iowa, it certainly seems like something is just a bit off with the Terps of late. That loss to Minnesota on Thursday was almost unbelievable.
I still think Maryland is the most talented team in the Big Ten when everything is clicking, but of late that's been far from the case. The Terps had a nice bounce-back win Sunday against Michigan, but they'll have to go on the road this week to play Purdue in another big-time matchup.
4. Indiana (22-6, 12-3)
Last week: 80-64 win vs. Nebraska; 77-73 win vs. Purdue
This week: Thursday at Illinois
I like Indiana a lot, but for the Hoosiers to move up on my list I've got to see them beat someone of quality away from Assembly Hall. When IU plays at home it looks like the Golden State Warriors at times, but the Hoosiers have had a couple of poor performances on the road this season that have give me some cause for concern.
Indiana was impressive in Saturday's home win over Purdue, but I'm really anxious to see how the Hoosiers perform on the road at Iowa next week in a game that could very well determine the Big Ten title.
5. Purdue (21-7, 9-6)
Last week: 71-61 win vs. Northwestern; 77-73 loss at Indiana
This week: Saturday vs. Maryland
Purdue has alternated wins and losses for the past six games so there has been a bit of inconsistency surrounding the Boilers. Still, Purdue remains solidly in the NCAA tournament field and will continue to do battle for one of the Big Ten's top-four seeds in the conference tournament.
The Boilers could certainly use a win over Maryland on Saturday.
6. Wisconsin (17-10, 9-5)
Last week: 69-57 loss at Michigan State; 69-60 win vs. Illinois
This week: Wednesday at Iowa; Sunday vs. Michigan.
Wisconsin probably played its way into the NCAA tournament during its seven-game winning streak, but the Badgers saw that come to a screeching halt Thursday night in East Lansing with a 12-point loss to Michigan State.
The Badgers rebounded Sunday by earning a come-from-behind win over Illinois, but Wisconsin probably feels it needs one more quality win to solidify itself as an NCAA tournament team. The Badgers have two chances this week as they travel to Iowa on Wednesday and host Michigan on Sunday.
7. Ohio State (18-10, 10-5)
Last week: 76-66 win vs. Michigan; 65-62 win at Nebraska (OT)
This week: Tuesday vs. Michigan State; Sunday vs. Iowa
I moved the Buckeyes up a spot this week after they finally got a win against one of the teams in the top half of the Big Ten. Ohio State had one of its most impressive all-around performances Tuesday in a 76-66 win over Michigan.
But the Buckeyes were all kinds of out of sync Saturday at Nebraska in what was a less-than-impressive performance despite a win. This is by far the most important week of the season coming up for Ohio State, however, with matchups against Michigan State and Iowa — both of which are at home — and if the Buckeyes want any shot of making the NCAA tournament they need to get at least one win, and probably need both.
There's still hope in Columbus at the moment.
JaQuan Lyle scored 19 points, including six in OT to carry @OhioStateHoops to a 65-62 victory over Nebraska. https://t.co/uAT6J4VNcS
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) February 21, 2016
8. Michigan (19-9, 9-6)
Last week: 76-66 loss at Ohio State; 86-82 loss at Maryland
This week: Wednesday vs. Northwestern; Sunday at Wisconsin
I still think Michigan will wind up in the NCAA tournament when things are all said and done, but the Wolverines certainly didn't do themselves any favors this week with a pair of losses against teams in the top-half of the Big Ten standings.
Michigan probably needs one more quality win to feel safe in the NCAA tournament and the Wolverines have another shot Sunday when they travel to Wisconsin.
9. Northwestern (17-10, 5-9)
Last week: 71-61 loss at Purdue
This week: Wednesday at Michigan; Saturday vs. Rutgers
The Wildcats are looking to stay out of the bottom four of the Big Ten standings so they can avoid a first-day game in the conference tournament. Northwestern also has a chance to play spoiler and severely damage Michigan's NCAA tournament chances during Wednesday's game.
10. Nebraska (14-14, 6-9)
Last week: 80-64 loss at Indiana; 65-62 loss vs. Ohio State (OT)
This week: Thursday at Penn State
The Huskers continue to struggle without star Shavon Shields as Nebraska lost both of its games last week to teams in the top half of the Big Ten standings.
It's looking like a game on the first day of the Big Ten tournament is a real possibility for the Huskers, which would be quite the disappointment for Tim Miles' group.
11. Penn State (14-13, 5-9)
Last week: 79-75 win vs. Iowa; 70-58 win at Rutgers
This week: Thursday vs. Nebraska; Sunday at Michigan State
Penn State has two of the most stunning wins this season in the Big Ten as it added a victory over Iowa to its resume last week after previously knocking off Indiana at home.
The future looks somewhat bright for the Nittany Lions with a highly-ranked recruiting class coming in, so maybe there is something to build on in State College after all.
12. Illinois (12-15, 4-10)
Last week: 82-66 win vs. Rutgers; 69-60 loss at Wisconsin
This week: Thursday vs. Indiana; Sunday vs. Minnesota
Illinois hasn't beaten a Big Ten team other than Rutgers since Jan. 23 and that win was over Minnesota in overtime. John Groce might find himself looking for a job at the end of this season.
13. Minnesota (7-19, 1-13)
Last week: 68-63 win vs. Maryland
This week: Tuesday vs. Rutgers; Sunday at Illinois.
I was a little hard on Minnesota in the intro but I probably shouldn't have been since the Gophers' victory over Maryland led to one of the coolest moments of the Big Ten season thus far.
Check out the postgame interview below with senior Joey King if you haven't seen it yet.
WATCH: Incredible emotion here from @GopherMBB senior Joey King, who talks about upsetting No. 6 Maryland, 68-63. https://t.co/CL9HLTcB3K
— Minnesota on BTN (@MinnesotaOnBTN) February 19, 2016
14. Rutgers (6-21, 0-14)
Last week: 82-68 loss at Illinois; 70-58 loss vs. Penn State
This week: Tuesday at Minnesota; Saturday at Northwestern
Rutgers is 0-14 in the Big Ten, hasn't won since Dec. 28 and its best player was suspended last week.
Good times in Piscataway.
