Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball power rankings: Michigan State, Wisconsin takes big jumps

By Joey Loose

PISCATAWAY, NJ - DECEMBER 09: Trevion Williams #50 of the Purdue Boilermakers fights for position with Ron Harper Jr. #24 and Mawot Mag #3 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half of a game at Jersey Mike's Arena on December 9, 2021 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers defeated Purdue 70-68. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - DECEMBER 09: Trevion Williams #50 of the Purdue Boilermakers fights for position with Ron Harper Jr. #24 and Mawot Mag #3 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half of a game at Jersey Mike's Arena on December 9, 2021 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers defeated Purdue 70-68. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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Big Ten Basketball Boo Buie Northwestern Wildcats (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Big Ten Basketball Boo Buie Northwestern Wildcats (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

10. Northwestern (7-2, 1-0)

Northwestern brought back most of their talent from last season and added a few pieces into the fold, hoping to replicate some of last season’s early success. Northwestern started the season hot last year and were actually ranked after a flurry of upsets over their Big Ten foes. Even though this year’s team may be more talented than last season (they’re getting nice play from Pete Nance and Boo Buie, both averaging 15+ points per game), it’ll be hard for this season to finish much better than last.

Unlike some of the lower-tier Big Ten teams, the Wildcats have avoided the bad loss to this point in the season, much like they did early on last season. They’ve mostly taken care of business against inferior opponents while dropping games away from home against Providence and in overtime against Wake Forest. The best win of the season was their first Big Ten game, winning at a Maryland team that we’ve already documented is really struggling. Aside from that, there’s nothing spectacular on this schedule, unless you’re wowed by wins over Georgia.

Northwestern sits in the top 40 in KenPom and in the top 50 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, but we’ve heard this story before. The Wildcats have played well to this point, but have also played one of the weaker schedules in the nation.

Their next three games are all winnable home games before the onslaught of conference play begins. There are some good vibes at Northwestern with these seven early wins, but stockpiling them in Big Ten play against these nine teams above them will not be easy.

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