Big Ten Basketball: Michigan State leads power rankings heading into new year
By Ryan Kay
With the non-conference just about wrapped up, where do each of the Big Ten Basketball teams stand? Here are the latest power rankings.
14. Northwestern 5-7 (0-2)
Key Wins
*Beat Providence 72-63 in the Gavitt Tipoff Games.
*On the road beat Boston College 82-64 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge
*Defeated Bradley 78-51 in the Fort Myers Tip-Off.
Disappointing Losses
*Lost to Radford 67-56 at home.
*Lost to Merrimack 71-61 at home.
*Lost to Hartford 67-66 at home.
The Wildcats lost some key contributors from last year’s team in Vic Law, Dererk Pardon, and Ryan Taylor. Even though Northwestern returned A.J. Turner and Anthony Gaines from last season’s squad, they entered this season with many unknowns. The Wildcats have had some contributions from freshman and transfer players such as Robbie Beran and Pat Spencer but Northwestern has struggled in games this season and has been upset three times this season.
The Big Ten is very competitive and deep this season. However, as seen already, the most likely outcome for this Big Ten season for the Wildcats will more than likely be a last-place finish in the Big Ten. They have had five players transfer out of the program in the last two seasons and were down to nine scholarship players as recently as this past spring.
Head coach Chris Collins is in his 7th season as the head of the Northwestern program and this might be his most difficult and challenging season so far. Two pleasant surprises for the Wildcats have come from freshman Miller Kopp and sophomore Pete Nance who are the two leading scorers for Northwestern this season. Northwestern will look to control the tempo and build on last season’s home court success and maybe surprise a Big Ten team or two with a win here or there in 2020.
13. Nebraska 6-7 (1-1)
Key Wins
*Beat Washington State 82-71 in the Cayman Islands Classic.
*Defeated South Florida 74-67 in the Cayman Islands Classic.
*Beat Purdue 70-56 at home.
Disappointing Losses
*Lost to North Dakota 75-74 at home.
*Lost to UC Riverside 66-47 at home.
*Lost to Southern Utah 79-78 at home.
In fairness to Nebraska, the Cornhuskers lost a ton of contributors from last season’s team in James Palmer Jr., Isaac Copeland, Isaiah Roby, Glynn Watson Jr., and Thomas Allen. The only contributors that returned from last year were Thorir Thorbjarnarson and Dachon Burke. However, the Cornhuskers have had to rely on transfers and freshmen in Haanif Cheatham, Matej Kavas, Cam Mack, Samari Curtis, and Jervay Green this season thus far.
Nebraska along with Northwestern is in serious contention for finishing in last place in the Big Ten. However, 1st year new Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg knows from his time as a head coach at Iowa State, what it takes to lead a team to national prominence.
Hoiberg may not have had a successful run coaching in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls but he knows the landscape of college basketball and Nebraska may not compete this season or even next year in the Big Ten but the Cornhuskers are a team to watch out for in the future.
For now, Nebraska along with being upset three times already has missed some key opportunities to close out games. What is hurting the Cornhuskers right now is that some of their transfers will have to sit out a full season or won’t be available until the second half of the season.
Nebraska looks to enter 2020 on a high note as they take on Rutgers at home on Jan. 3rd. This Cornhusker team can surprise some teams in conference play like they did by beating Purdue and taking Indiana into overtime. Hoiberg will look to make a splash in the new year.