Big Ten Basketball: Michigan State rise in rankings at end of regular season

There are 14 teams competing in the Big Ten and it would not shock anyone if any one of the teams in the Big Ten were to win at least one game in the Big Ten Tournament. This past week has caused a swift in the Big Ten rankings as some teams have risen up the ranking while others have fallen. Most Bracktologists have nine teams from Big Ten Basketball getting into the NCAA tournament with an outside chance of 10 if a team like Indiana can make it to the conference finals.

This week’s Big Ten tournament has teams like Rutgers and Maryland needing a win to solidify their place in the NCAA tournament. Teams like Michigan need at least one win to secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament while a Big Ten tournament championship by Illinois would get the Fighting Illini the last No. 1 see in the NCAA tournament.

This may be one of the most important Big Ten tournaments in the last five years due to the ramifications for teams based on how well they do in this year’s conference tournament.

Here’s a look at how they rank currently.

Victories

*Green Bay
*Loyola Marymount (Twice)
*North Dakota
*Boston College
*UM Kansas City
*Saint Louis
*Iowa
*Michigan State
*Ohio State
*Michigan
*Nebraska
*Purdue

Defeats

*@Illinois (twice)
*@Wisconsin
*@Michigan
*@Iowa
*Maryland (twice)
*Northwestern
*@Purdue
*Rutgers (twice)
*@Indiana
*@Nebraska
*@Penn State

Net ranking: 79

KenPom ranking: 62

AP ranking: N/A

B1G Tournament Seed: No. 13

Possibility of Post-Season Tournament: 3.5%

Reason for Hope: The Golden Gophers have defeated Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio State this season. They can beat really good teams even though it has been a while and maybe, just maybe they can shock the Big Ten and go on a run in the Big Ten tournament.

Reason to be Pessimistic: Minnesota has lost seven straight games and the team they are facing in the first round of the tournament beat them on their home court not too long ago.

Big Ten Tournament Opponent: No. 12 seed Northwestern

Victories

*McNeese
*North Dakota State
*South Dakota
*Doane
*Penn State
*Minnesota
*Rutgers

Defeats

*Nevada
*Georgia Tech
*@Creighton
*Wisconsin (twice)
*Michigan
@Ohio State
*Michigan State (twice)
*Indiana
*@Minnesota
*Penn State
*Illinois (twice)
*Maryland (twice)
*Purdue
*@Iowa
*@Northwestern

Net ranking: 128

KenPom ranking: 92

AP ranking: N/A

B1G Tournament Seed: 14

Possibility of Post-Season Tournament: 1%

Reason for Hope:  Nebraska has won two out of their last four games and one of their two losses during that stretch was by only one point. Their double-digit win against Rutgers was impressive and hopefully, they can carry their momentum into a victory or two in the Big Ten tournament.

Reason to be Pessimistic: The Cornhuskers lost their last two games including a 38 point loss to Iowa and a heart-breaking one-point loss to Northwestern. Playing an improved Penn State team in game one of the tournament is not an ideal matchup for Nebraska.

Big Ten Tournament Opponent: No. 11 seed Penn State