Big Ten Basketball: Power Rankings for the 2022 New Year
By Ryan Kay
From the Big Ten Basketball teams that were supposed to be doing very well according to preseason predictions to what they have shown on the court thus far, these power rankings are somewhat surprising.
These power rankings used CBS RPI rankings ESPN’s BPI rankings, NET rankings, Kenpom rankings, and more to help determine where every one of the fourteen teams should be ranked in this week’s Big Ten power rankings. The Big Ten has the most teams projected to make the NCAA tournament according to Joe Lunardi’s latest bracketology with eight and the SEC and Big 12 are second with seven teams each projected to make the NCAA tournament. The Big Ten through non-conference play has shown that they are arguably the best conference in college basketball entering 2022.
Examining and breaking down all fourteen Big Ten teams’ resumes shows that there are various tiers within the conference. Here is a look at the tier four teams who could be tier two or more than likely tier three in other college basketball conferences but due to the competitiveness of the Big Ten, fall into the tier-four category at this time as seen below.
Tier 4 Teams in the Big Ten
488. . 6-8. . Cornhuskers . 14. team
Best Wins: South Dakota (83-70) and Southern (82-59)
Defeats: Creighton (77-69), NC State in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge (104-100 4OT), at Indiana (68-55), Michigan (102-67 ), Western Illinois (75-74), and No. 9 Auburn in the Holiday Hoopsgiving (99-68), No. 13 Ohio State (87-79 OT), Kansas State (67-58)
Big Ten Record: 0-3
Current Streak: One straight loss
RPI Ranking: 257
KenPom Ranking: 140
College Basketball Power Index Ranking: 162
Net Ranking: 224
AP Poll Ranking: N/R
Next Opponent: At Michigan State on Jan. 5
. 6-5. . Nittany Lions . 13. team. 491
Best Wins: Oregon State in the Emerald Coast Classic tournament (60-45), Indiana (61-58), and Cornell (85-74)
Defeats: LSU in the Emerald Coast Classic tournament (68-63 OT), Miami in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge (63-58), No. 13 Ohio State (76-64), at UMass (81-56), and at No. 10 Michigan State (80-64).
Big Ten Record: 1-2
Current Streak: One straight win
RPI Ranking: 60
KenPom Ranking: 82
College Basketball Power Index Ranking: 122
Net Ranking: 98
AP Poll Ranking: N/R
Next Opponent: At Northwestern on Jan. 5
439. . 8-5. . Terrapins . 12. team
Best Wins: Richmond in the Bahamas Championship tournament (86-80) and Florida (70-68)
Defeats: Louisville in the Bahamas Championship tournament (63-55), Virginia Tech in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge (62-58), George Mason (71-66), at Iowa (80-75), and Northwestern (67-61)
Big Ten Record: 0-2
Current Streak: One straight loss
RPI Ranking: 106
KenPom Ranking: 56
College Basketball Power Index Ranking: 71
Net Ranking: 112
AP Poll Ranking: N/R
Next Opponent: At Illinois on Jan. 6
Best Wins: No. 3 Purdue (70-68) and Clemson in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge 74-64)
Defeats: At DePaul in the Gavitt Tipoff Games (73-70), Lafayette (53-51), UMass (85-83), at Illinois (86-51), and at No. 24 Seton Hall (77-63)
Big Ten Record: 1-1
Current Streak: One straight win
RPI Ranking: 161
KenPom Ranking: 103
College Basketball Power Index Ranking: 100
Net Ranking: 142
AP Poll Ranking: N/R
Next Opponent: Michigan on Jan. 4