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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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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 02: Dererk Pardon #5 of the Northwestern Wildcats during pregame introductions before the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on January 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 02: Dererk Pardon #5 of the Northwestern Wildcats during pregame introductions before the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on January 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

10. Northwestern Wildcats (12-8)

Previous rank: 12

Northwestern sure has had the up and down season. Their metrics are very favorable right now. Despite being just four games above .500 and three games under in Big Ten play, the Wildcats are in the top-60 among different rankings. Northwestern only lost two non-conference games. Fresno State is somewhat of a competitor in the Mountain West this season and Oklahoma should be in the Tournament. If the Wildcats hadn’t lost to the Bulldogs, there’d be even more consideration.

The Wildcats lost their first two to Indiana and Michigan. They did turn around and avenge the loss to the Hoosiers last week. Other than that, the losses have come to the Wolverines again, Michigan State, Iowa and Wisconsin. Beating Illinois and Rutgers isn’t bad, but it avoids for a bad loss. Then taking down Indiana after losing to them in December, really put this team back in discussion again.

Northwestern couldn’t take down two possible Tournament teams in a row and failed to score 50 against Wisconsin. But they looked decent leading up to that game, riding a two-game winning streak.

Vic Law is one of the best players in the Big Ten, but hardly gets talked about because Northwestern isn’t in the top-half of the standings. He’s averaging almost 16 points and seven board to go along with 2.8 assists. Dererk Pardon is a beast in the middle and hauls in a lot of rebounds.

The two transfers, A.J. Turner and Ryan Taylor have tapered off a bit lately. But they just got Anthony Falzon back who has missed a ton of time with injuries. He’s listed as a junior and made six three-pointers against Indiana off the bench. Northwestern is hoping he’ll continue to do his thing now that he’s back to playing basketball so they can be in the mix for another month.

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