Big Ten Basketball power rankings: Illinois, Rutgers rise to top of standings
By Adam Childs
Luka Garza is carrying this team and it doesn’t look like there is much any other team can do to stop it. Garza is averaging just under 23 points per game and he is getting some help from Joe Weiskamp who is chipping it about 15 points per game.
Besides their puzzling loss at Nebraska, they have picked up big wins at home against Michigan and Maryland and a road win at Northwestern.
The Hawkeyes will have four of their next six at home as they try and cement themselves as a legitimate threat in the Big Ten this year.
Rutgers is playing some of the best basketball in the conference right now. The Scarlet Knights are by far the most surprising team in the conference and maybe the country so far this year.
They have already picked up wins against Seton Hall and Penn State along with Minnesota and Indiana. They are ranked in the top 25 for the first time since 1971 and they are doing all of this even though they were without Geo Baker for three games.
Their defense has been what has been solid for them this year as they grind out wins, but either way, they are playing great.
They have a big matchup at Iowa on Wednesday night and that should tell a lot about how far the Scarlet Knights have come.