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Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings: Penn State and Maryland leads the pack

By Ryan Kay

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 15: Darryl Morsell #11 of the Maryland Terrapins reacts late in the second half of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at the Breslin Center on February 15, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 15: Darryl Morsell #11 of the Maryland Terrapins reacts late in the second half of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at the Breslin Center on February 15, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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Big Ten Basketball
EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 02: Miller Kopp #10 of the Northwestern Wildcats (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Big Ten Basketball continues to be wildly unpredictable this season. There is a scuffle up the top of the standings this week as two teams emerge as the front-runners. Here’s a look at how they all currently rank among each other.

Big Ten Basketball is still again by far the best conference in all of college basketball with 11 teams from the conference projected to make the NCAA Tournament. Even though the conference games will be the main focus of this week’s rankings, the Big Ten teams are in this position based on their key non-conference wins. However, this week’s teams are ranked in this power rankings based on their Big Ten play this season thus far. Let’s take a look at how these 14 Big Ten teams are ranked in this week’s Big Ten power rankings.

14. Northwestern 6-18 (1-13)

Best Non-Conference Win

*Won on the road and beat Boston College 82-64 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

Key Big Ten Victories

*Only Big Ten win being a 62-57 win over Nebraska

Disappointing Losses in Big Ten play

*Had great opportunities to win on the road at Indiana, Rutgers and Illinois but lost by 4 points in both games.

Last Week’s Big Ten Power Ranking: 14 (No Change)

KenPom Ranking: 129

Net Ranking: 157

Northwestern has only six games remaining in Big Ten play before the Big Ten Tournament begins. However, wins are what matter and not necessarily how well you have competed. The Wildcats look to be competitive to build on a foundation for next season.

As state time and time again, the Big Ten has been very competitive this season in league play. It is without a doubt the deepest conference in America this season with the possibility of up to 12 Big Ten teams having a valid opportunity to qualify for the NCAA tournament. However, as seen multiple times already, the very likely result for the Wildcats this Big Ten season will more than likely be a last-place finish in the Big Ten.

It was no secret that Northwestern was fighting an uphill battle prior to the start of the season. Head coach Chris Collins who is in his 7th season as the head of the Northwestern program has witnessed his players competing night in and night out but with very little to show for it in Big Ten play. This season got off to a bad start in non-conference play for Northwestern, especially after some unlikely early-season upsets. Unfortunately, the Wildcats have been unable to gather wins in conference play.

Collins has got players like freshman Miller Kopp and sophomore Pete Nance who have been for most of the season the two leading scorers for Northwestern this season to excel and exceed expectations are building blocks for next season. They still could surprise a Big Ten team and pull off an upset and win prior to the Big Ten tournament. The Wildcats next play at Maryland on Feb. 18th.

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