Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings: Michigan, Michigan State both lose

By Austin Walther

MADISON, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 19: Kobe King #23 and Tai Strickland #13 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrate after beating the Michigan Wolverines 64-54 at the Kohl Center on January 19, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 19: Kobe King #23 and Tai Strickland #13 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrate after beating the Michigan Wolverines 64-54 at the Kohl Center on January 19, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 22: Amir Coffey #5 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers tries to get a shot off around Ignas Brazdeikis #13 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half at Crisler Arena on January 22, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 22: Amir Coffey #5 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers tries to get a shot off around Ignas Brazdeikis #13 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half at Crisler Arena on January 22, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

5. Minnesota Golden Gophers (15-5)

Previous rank: 6

By virtue of beating both Iowa and Wisconsin, Minnesota has cracked the top-five. Yet, the Golden Gophers are still trying to get off a double-digit seed line. The Gophers have been trading wins and losses. It’s been every other game for them. They get rocked by Maryland, but blows out Rutgers. Minnesota got destroyed by Illinois, but responded with a win over Penn State. They lose to Michigan after the Wolverines fell to Wisconsin, but then hang 92 on Iowa.

The Golden Gophers did lose to Ohio State way back in December, but the teams have changed quite a bit since. Maryland is still a top-five Big Ten team. Illinois was just a trap game and  the Illini were due for a win. And there’s nothing wrong with losing at Michigan. It is day and night between wins and losses for Minnesota. Their record is 5-4 in the Big Ten with wins over Wisconsin and Iowa which propels them to this ranking.

They have great talent. The two stars, Amir Coffey and Jordan Murphy both went off for over 20 points against Iowa. Murphy got his usual double-double and Coffey showed his ability to shoot from anywhere on the court. Gabe Kalscheuer came back to what he was doing earlier in the season by making three three-pointers and scoring 19 points. Daniel Oturu was out and Matz Stockman stepped up exactly how Richard Pitino wanted him to.

Five guys are in double-figures for Minnesota. Seven different players have made starts this season. Isaiah Washington is certainly starter caliber, but hasn’t quite cracked the lineup yet despite leading the team in assists. The Gophers have to string a couple wins in a row to move up the seeding line and avoid the bubble, but they have some nice wins in the Big Ten right now.

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