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Big Ten Basketball power rankings: Wisconsin and Nebraska make gains after start to league play

ByAustin Walther|
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 01: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates the 59-54 win over the Maryland Terrapins during the second round of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 01: Ethan Happ #22 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates the 59-54 win over the Maryland Terrapins during the second round of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 1, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers watches the action in the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes runs on November 30, 2018 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers watches the action in the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes runs on November 30, 2018 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)

4. Wisconsin Badgers (8-1)

Previous rank: 7

People had their doubts when Wisconsin was struggling in the second half of both the Iowa and Rutgers game. But that’s just the Badgers way to keeping things interesting. Not seriously, as someone who has watched a ton of Badger basketball in his life, I know that they go on spells of trailing and then coming back to win games.

They were able to beat two power-conference teams in the Bahamas while losing by just seven to their clones in Virginia. Wisconsin responded by beating another ACC team in NC State. They got tested on the road with Iowa and then pulled away and beat Rutgers. Both of the Big Ten wins were thanks to timely shooting. Something they lacked last season, but relied upon in previous years.

Wisconsin went from barely being ranked, to a top-15 team within a couple weeks. Ethan Happ saw his double-double streak end when Big Ten play started. But he’s still averaging over 17 points per game and 10 boards. D’Mitrik Trice is shooting out of his mind. He has made 30 three-pointers which is the most by 20 on the team.

Brad Davison’s numbers aren’t nearly as what they were last year, but he is playing second fiddle to a red-hot Trice in the back court. He’s not hurting the Badgers and the charges he’s taking are certainly giving the Badgers some national exposure.

The front court is slim, but that hasn’t hurt the Badgers quite yet. Right now they’re playing with so much confidence. They know the feeling of not making the Tournament and it wasn’t fun. They get in state rival Marquette on Saturday, a few cupcakes, Western Kentucky and then back to Big Ten play.

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