Big Ten Basketball power rankings: Can anyone take Maryland off the No. 1 spot?
By Ryan Kay
4. Wisconsin 18-10 (11-6)
Best Non-Conference Win
*Won at Tennessee 68-48.
Key Big Ten Victories
*Beat Indiana 84-64.
*Defeated Michigan State, 64-63.
*Beat Maryland and won at Penn State.
*Swept Ohio St and defeated the Buckeyes on the road by a score of 61-57.
Disappointing Losses in Big Ten play
*Lost at Purdue 70-51.
*Lost to Illinois by 1 point by a final score of 71-70.
*Lost at Minnesota, 70-52.
Last Week’s Big Ten Power Ranking: 4 (Up two spots)
KenPom Ranking: 24
Net Ranking: 28
An argument can be made that no team in the Big Ten is playing as well as the Badgers to end the month of February. Wisconsin has won five straight games with two of them coming on the road. The closet margin of victory was four points against Purdue and the Badgers defeated Ohio State and Nebraska by double digits during their five-game winning streak. Wisconsin has two home games next and they are putting themselves in good position to get a double-bye in the Big Ten tournament.
D’Mitrik Trice, Brad Davison, and Nate Reuvers have been consistent contributors for Wisconsin in Big Ten play and are the main reason that the Badgers have won six of their last seven games. Wisconsin also has had some quality contributions from senior Brevin Pritzl and former Ohio State player and transfer Micah Potter as of late. The Badgers have had their ups and downs in Big Ten play in the month of January but they are positioning themselves to get the 4th seed in the Big Ten tournament and possibly increasing their odds of getting a better seed in the NCAA tournament. Their play in late February has been near perfect and the momentum that they have gathered will only help them moving forward.
The transfer of sophomore Kobe King who was the Badgers’ second-leading scorer before announcing his intent to transfer now seems like a distant memory. His transfer was supposed to leave a big void in the Badgers offense but Wisconsin has played very well since he left the program. Junior forward Aleem Ford has stepped up offensively in his absence and has been a solid contributor down the stretch.
It is no secret that this Big Ten is the most difficult to predict in years, especially with five teams battling for second and third place. Wisconsin being 11-6 at this point in Big Ten play is pretty remarkable given the circumstances and preseason predictions for the Badgers. You have so many good teams like Michigan State, Illinois, Maryland, Penn State, and Iowa competing at the top of the Big Ten standings and even teams like Michigan and Ohio State playing well in the conference, you would find it hard to believe that Wisconsin would be in the position their in. However, the Badgers have a favorable schedule heading down the stretch so don’t count them out of finishing in one of those top-4 spots in the Big Ten standings.
The Badgers should be ready for the challenge to compete in not only the Big Ten tournament but also the NCAA tournament. They have shown time and time again as they proved when they beat Michigan State, Rutgers, Purdue and Ohio State at home recently that they can control the pace of the game to benefit their style of play. Wisconsin next hosts Minnesota on Mar. 1st.