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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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BLOOMINGTON, IN – FEBRUARY 23: Devonte Green #11 of the Indiana Hoosiers Head coach Archie Miller (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN – FEBRUARY 23: Devonte Green #11 of the Indiana Hoosiers Head coach Archie Miller (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

9. Indiana 18-10 (8-9)

Best Non-Conference Win

*Defeated Florida State 80-64 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

Key Big Ten Victories

*Beating Michigan State at home by a score of  67-63.

*Defeated Iowa by a score of 89-77.

*Beat Ohio State, 66-54.

*Defeated Penn State by a score of 68-60.

Disappointing Losses in Big Ten play

*Lost at Wisconsin, 84-64.

*Swept by the Boilermakers and lost at home to Purdue, 74-62.

*Lost at home by 1 point to Maryland by a score of 77-76.

*Lost on the road to Michigan by a score of 89-65.

Last Week’s Big Ten Power Ranking:  11 (Up 2 spots)

Ken Pom Ranking: 38

Net Ranking: 56

Indiana has won three of their last five games and much of the mini resurgence is due to the play of true freshman Trayce Jackson-Davis who is Indiana’s leading scorer this season averaging almost 14 points a game to go along with eight rebounds and just under two blocks a game. He has been the main bright spot offensively for the Hoosiers this season but two of his teammates Justin Smith and Devonte Green are averaging double digits in scoring this season as well.

As said earlier, the Big Ten has been so competitive night in and night out this year that teams like Indiana who are competing for a first-round bye in the Big Ten tournament, would possibly be a top 5 seed in the SEC this season for example. All in all, the Hoosiers need to win two out of their three regular-season games to help them earn a better seed in the upcoming conference tournament.

Jackson-Davis should win the freshmen of the year award in the Big Ten as he could make the Hoosiers a team to be feared come the Big Ten tournament. Indiana if they can score near 70 points or higher, could make it to the semi-finals of the Big Ten tournament.

Hoosier nation, for the most part, has not been thrilled by the job performance of head coach Archie Miller this season who is in year three as the head coach of the Indiana program. However, there have been gains this season in comparison to last season and it is not how his team is doing currently that really matters, it is how well they finish out the season which really counts.

The Indiana basketball program may sooner than later especially if they can somehow make the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament this year, see the progress that they desire. The Hoosiers will be a team to keep an eye on during the Big Ten tournament and into the heart of March. Indiana will next travel to play Illinois on Mar. 1st and will have an opportunity to climb back into the middle of the Big Ten standings as they have two more regular-season games after that.

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