Big Ten Basketball power rankings: Illinois soars up, Indiana keeps sliding

Everyone has played at least six games in Big Ten Basketball play and everyone has at least a win and loss on the schedule. With just one game separating nine teams in the standings, it’s hard to tell which of these teams is for real or who has a slide coming.

Although we have one fewer game to judge on with Iowa vs Northwestern postseason due to covid issues with the Wildcats, plenty of other interesting results occurred to take note of.

Here are my latest power rankings for the Big Ten, including a couple of teams that have made a nice jump up as of late.

14. Minnesota Golden Gophers – 7-9 (1-5)

When the Gophers lost at home to Nebraska in overtime, there was a brief thought of how bad things could go for Coach Ben Johnson’s team, as they were still winless in Big Ten Basketball play. They surely couldn’t go 0-20 in league play, right? Well, they made sure to erase all questions of that by beating Ohio State on the road in the next game.

The final score was 70-67, led by 28 points and nine rebounds from Dawson Garcia. Jamison Battle had 11 points and Ta’Lon Cooper had 13 points and 11 rebounds to get their first win since December 22nd against Chicago State.

Minnesota then kept it close against Illinois in the first half, down by just three points at the midway point. But they were promptly blown out in the second game to lose, 78-60. Garica had 17 points and six rebounds, while Cooper had 16 on 7/11 shooting.

The Gophers at still at home but faces No. 3 Purdue up next. They faced off earlier this season, with Minnesota losing by 19 points. Will the rematch be any different at home?