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Big Ten Basketball power rankings: Can anyone take Maryland off the No. 1 spot?

By Ryan Kay

CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 07: Eric Ayala #5 of the Maryland Terrapins celebrates after a scoring play during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center on February 7, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 07: Eric Ayala #5 of the Maryland Terrapins celebrates after a scoring play during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center on February 7, 2020 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – DECEMBER 04: Trevion Williams #50 and Matt Haarms #32 of the Purdue Boilermakers (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – DECEMBER 04: Trevion Williams #50 and Matt Haarms #32 of the Purdue Boilermakers (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

11. Purdue 15-14 (8-10)

Best Non-Conference Win

*On the road beat Virginia 69-40 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

Key Big Ten Victories

*Defeated Michigan State by a score of 71-42.

*Beat Wisconsin 70-51.

*Defeated Iowa by a score of 104-68.

*Swept their in-state rival and won at Indiana 74-62.

Disappointing Losses in Big Ten play

*Lost at Nebraska 70-56.

*Swept by the Fighting Illini including a road defeat by a score of 63-37.

*Swept by the Wolverines and lost in double overtime at Michigan by a final score of 84-78.

*Lost at home to Penn State by 12.

Last Week’s Big Ten Power Ranking:  10 (Down 1 spot)

Ken Pom Ranking: 25

Net Ranking: 35

Purdue had lost four straight games before defeating Indiana this week. They have won some games here and there with a relatively young, talented core upfront on their front line which has allowed their guards to make some open looks from beyond the arc to give them some key victories. Similar to Minnesota, they are ranked in the top 25 of the Ken Pom rankings and they have a decent ranking in the very important Net Rankings as well. However, they join the Wildcats, Cornhuskers, and Gophers as the only Big Ten teams to have double-digit losses in Big Ten conference play to end the month of February.

The most important players for the Boilermakers entering the month of March have been Matt Haarms, Sasha Stefanovic, Eric Hunter Jr., Jahaad Proctor, and Trevion Williams who have continued to make solid contributions in Big Ten play. Those five Purdue players are all averaging eight or more points a game and they are all needed to fuel the Boilermaker offense moving forward.

Big man Haarms has been the veteran of the group and demonstrated leadership for the younger players on Purdue’s front line. In Big Ten play, in particular, the Boilermakers are seeing tremendous growth in sophomore power forward Williams who is having great and productive play during the Big Ten season as he is Purdue’s leading scorer averaging almost 12 points a game.

The play of sophomore Hunter Jr. who is currently the 2nd leading scorer on the team averaging just over 10 points a game and leads the team in average minutes played per game and he has been the most productive guard by far for Purdue this season. Proctor has also helped as one of the productive guards for the Boilermakers and has had an impact on Purdue’s offense as he is the current 3rd leading scorer for Purdue averaging just over nine points a game heading into the month of March.

Head coach Matt Painter will continue to work in the late hours of the night to have the Boilermakers ready to compete heading into the Big Ten tournament. Purdue has some bad losses but they have a couple of quality Big Ten wins as well to go along with an impressive road win at Virginia. The Boilermakers only have two Big Ten regular-season games and they next take a road trip to Iowa to play the Hawkeyes on Mar. 3rd.

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