Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings: Iowa, Wisconsin joining top-tier

By Austin Walther

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 09: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates with Charles Matthews as he leaves the game while playing the Wisconsin Badgers at Crisler Arena on February 09, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 61-52. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 09: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates with Charles Matthews as he leaves the game while playing the Wisconsin Badgers at Crisler Arena on February 09, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 61-52. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 29: Referees separate Jordan Poole #2 of the Michigan Wolverines from C.J. Jackson #3 and Kaleb Wesson #34 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second half at Crisler Arena on January 29, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 65-49.(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 29: Referees separate Jordan Poole #2 of the Michigan Wolverines from C.J. Jackson #3 and Kaleb Wesson #34 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second half at Crisler Arena on January 29, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 65-49.(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

7. Ohio State Buckeyes (16-7)

Previous rank: 8

The Ohio State Buckeyes are back to .500 in the Big Ten. They have won four out of their last five games and because of that, moved up a spot. All four teams are currently 10th or worse in the Big Ten, but wins are wins at this stage of the season. Especially in a tough conference. It’s very unlikely the Big Ten gets 10 teams in anymore. So Ohio State is competing with the likes of Nebraska, Indiana and Minnesota for two or three bids. Both of their road wins came against two out of three of them.

None of the wins may not have come to any of the top-six teams, but they want to get the leg up over the three teams mentioned above. Their first win since resuming Big Ten play came in Lincoln. It was the ending of an Ohio State tail-spin and the beginning of Nebraska’s. It was a solid 10-point victory on the road which is exactly what Chris Holtmann and company needed. That was Luther Muhammad’s breakout night. He went for 24 points, six boards and three three-pointers.

Ohio State did get rocked by their rivals Michigan, but a lot of teams can say that this season. The Buckeyes got revenge on Rutgers which is nice to see as Kaleb Wesson returned to dominant self and Muhammad went off from deep again.

The freshman Muhammad has been a big factor in Ohio State’s return to the middle of the pack in the Big Ten. He’s been in double-figures three times and is averaging over two triples per game. Instead of just relying on Wesson and C.J. Jackson to make shots, Ohio State has been getting back to diversity. The other Wesson, Andre, is making shots and they have three solid bench guys who can all contribute over 15 minutes per game.

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