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Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings: Purdue, Maryland make huge leaps

By Austin Walther

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 03: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts from the bench while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions at Crisler Arena on January 03, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 68-55. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 03: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts from the bench while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions at Crisler Arena on January 03, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 68-55. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 08: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks with Cassius Winston #5 while playing the Purdue Boilermakers at Breslin Center on January 08, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 77-59. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 08: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks with Cassius Winston #5 while playing the Purdue Boilermakers at Breslin Center on January 08, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 77-59. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Big Ten basketball has resumed for two weeks as each team has at least five conference games under its belt already. The top-two teams remain the same, but how has the rest of the league shifted?

The Big Ten has officially played at least five conference games. The conference had a strong argument as the best during the non-conference season. Michigan ran the table and still have zero losses. They are definitely a one seed right now. Michigan State is showing why their strength of schedule is top-10. Teams that didn’t play tough out of league games are picking up nice wins in January and winning on the road in the Big Ten is very hard.

The Wolverines sit undefeated at the top of the Big Ten standings right now. It’s a shame that these two teams don’t play each until the end of February. Maryland started Big Ten play on a four-game winning streak which has really shot them up the rankings. Iowa has bounced back after starting 0-2 early in December. Minnesota is healthy and playing great ball. And Purdue has had the worst luck in scheduling through five Big Ten games.

Ohio State was rolling in November and December. The Buckeyes won its first two, but have lost three straight since the calendar turned. Indiana, Wisconsin and Nebraska have all only won one game apiece. It was hard to knock those three out of the top-five in previous rankings, but the trio are falling.

Rutgers was able to pick up their one quality Big Ten win over a sliding Ohio State team. Northwestern continues to be a top-60 KenPom team, but only has one Big Ten win. Penn State ranks about the same and they have five quick losses in the league. Illinois is having a season to forget as Brad Underwood is already on the hot seat in just his second season.

The two front-runners for Big Ten player of the year went head-to-head last Friday. Both Ethan Happ and Carsen Edwards went off, but the Boilermaker topped the Badgers in Madison. James Palmer is keeping Nebraska alive and reminding folks why he was named first team All-Big Ten. Romeo Langford isn’t disappointing, Lamar Stevens is the only scoring threat Penn State has while Cassius Winston is making a strong case why he’s one of the best point guards in the country.

I did all that without naming a single Wolverine, yet Michigan has the best case for a number one seed right now in the Big Ten. Well John Beilein is a mastermind and Ignas Brazdekis is the second-best freshman in the Big Ten. Let’s dive right in and check out how the Big Ten has shifted after conference play has resumed.

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