Big Ten Power Rankings: Michigan surges to the top with 5-0 start
We’re through a quarter of Big Ten play for most teams and there’s a new team atop this week’s conference power rankings. Here is our third edition of Big Ten power rankings:
(Note: Efficiency numbers below only include conference games.)
18. Minnesota (8-8, 0-5, 1.032 PPP, 1.255 PPP allowed, conference SOS: 5)
The Golden Gophers are still winless in Big Ten play after a double-overtime loss at Williams Arena to Ohio State and a 21-point loss at Wisconsin last week. KenPom doesn’t give Minnesota better than a 24 percent chance to win any of its next five games. Minnesota ranks last in the Big Ten in defensive rebounding percentage and opponent free throw rate.
17. Washington (10-7, 1-5, .945 PPP, 1.142 PPP allowed, conference SOS: 2)
It was a tough trip to Michigan for the Huskies, who lost by 34 to Michigan State on Thursday and by 16 to Michigan on Sunday. Great Osobor, a major pickup in the transfer portal for Washington in the offseason, has been underwhelming from an efficiency standpoint. The 6-foot-8 forward is shooting 46 percent from the field and 57.3 percent from the free throw line.
16. Rutgers (8-8, 1-4, .96 PPP, 1.104 PPP allowed, conference SOS: 9)
Rutgers has lost three straight and four of its last five, including an 18-point beatdown at the hands of Purdue at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Thursday. Dylan Harper’s bout with the flu was a setback, but Steve Pikiell didn’t build a competent roster around Harper and Ace Bailey. The NCAA tournament is a pipedream for Rutgers and the Scarlet Knights are fighting to make it to the Big Ten tournament, which only includes 15 teams this season.
15. Northwestern (10-6, 1-4, 1.018 PPP, 1.101 PPP allowed, conference SOS: 1)
Losers of three straight, Northwestern was off for a full week before returning to action and losing 78-68 on Sunday to Michigan State in Evanston. The Wildcats are the worst 3-point shooting team in the Big Ten (26.3 percent). The Wildcats have a pivotal home game on Thursday against Maryland.
14. Penn State (12-5, 2-4, 1.017 PPP, 1.097 PPP allowed, conference SOS: 11)
After rising to No. 32 in KenPom in mid-December, the Nittany Lions have dropped three straight. Last Wednesday, the Nittany Lions were trounced by 39 points by Illinois in Champaign. Penn State returned home on Sunday without Ace Baldwin Jr. (back) and lost by one to Oregon. Up next for Penn State: A trip to East Lansing to take on Michigan State, which is 5-0 in league play.
13. USC (10-6, 2-3, 1.038 PPP, 1.032 PPP allowed, conference SOS: 6)
On Saturday, the Trojans pulled off the most shocking win of the young Big Ten season in Champaign. Behind 31 points from Desmond Claude, USC went into the State Farm Center and shocked Illinois, 82-72. After looking like a team that could be on the cutline for the Big Ten tournament early in the season, Eric Musselman has the Trojans moving toward the middle of the pack in the league.
12. Indiana (13-4, 4-2, 1.066 PPP, 1.061 PPP allowed, conference SOS: 18)
Indiana beat USC comfortably, 82-69, on Wednesday before getting blown out on Saturday night by Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Unfortunately for the Hoosiers, double-digit losses in Big Ten play have been common under Mike Woodson. Dating back to the 2021-22 season, 16 of IU’s 31 Big Ten losses have come by double figures. The Hoosiers host Illinois on Tuesday before traveling to Ohio State on Friday night.
11. Nebraska (12-4, 2-3, .989 PPP, 1.15 PPP allowed, conference SOS: 3)
Nebraska blew a 15-point second-half lead to Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Tuesday and lost 97-87 in overtime. The road woes in Big Ten play continued on Sunday when the Huskers were waxed 104-68 by Purdue at Mackey Arena. Fortunately for Nebraska, three of their next five games are at Pinnacle Bank Arena, where they’re unbeaten this season.
10. Ohio State (10-6, 2-3, 1.0 PPP, 1.05 PPP allowed, conference SOS: 14)
The Buckeyes avoided a horrible loss by escaping with an 89-88 overtime win against Minnesota last Monday at Williams Arena. Unfortunately for Jake Diebler, Ohio State returned to Value City Arena and lost 73-71 to Oregon on Thursday. Three of the next five for Ohio State are on the road, which makes Friday’s home game against Indiana pivotal for the Buckeyes, who look like a fringe NCAA tournament team.
9. UCLA (11-5, 2-3, .985 PPP, 1.078 PPP allowed, conference SOS: 4)
The Bruins have dropped three straight after a 65-62 win against Gonzaga on Dec. 28. Mick Cronin called out his team and coaching staff after a 94-75 blowout loss to Michigan in Los Angeles on Tuesday. On Friday, Cronin followed that up with an ejection in a 79-61 loss at Maryland. Tonight’s game at Rutgers could be a litmus test for whether UCLA will stick together as a team given all that went on last week.
8. Maryland (11-4, 2-3, 1.1 PPP, 1.068 PPP allowed, conference SOS: 3)
On Friday, Kevin Willard’s team bounced back from a two-loss trip to the West Coast with a comfortable 79-61 win against UCLA at the Xfinity Center. The Terps can climb up the Big Ten standings this week with a home game against Minnesota tonight and a road trip to Northwestern on Thursday. The one apparent weakness for Maryland right now is the defensive glass. The Terps allow Big Ten foes to grab 32.3 percent of their misses in league play.
7. Iowa (12-4, 3-2, 1.155 PPP, 1.147 PPP allowed, conference SOS: 10)
The Hawkeyes rebounded from a humbling 116-85 loss at Wisconsin on Jan. 3 with back-to-back home wins against Nebraska and Indiana. Payton Sandfort went for 30 points against the Huskers and followed it up with 23 points against the Hoosiers. Sandfort has been streaky this season and Iowa needs more consistency from him to get back to the NCAA tournament.
6. Wisconsin (13-3, 3-2, 1.179 PPP, 1.023 PPP allowed, conference SOS: 13)
No Chucky Hepburn and AJ Storr? No problem for Greg Gard. The Badgers have overcome their transfer portal losses and are a better team this season. Wisconsin currently has the 12th-best offense in the country through 16 games. After three straight losses to Michigan, Marquette and Illinois, Wisconsin has won five straight and will look to extend that streak to six on Tuesday at the Kohl Center against Ohio State.
5. Oregon (15-2, 4-2, 1.074 PPP, 1.119 PPP allowed, conference SOS: 8)
The Ducks have won six of their last seven, including a pair of narrow wins at Ohio State and Penn State last week. Oregon will host Purdue on Saturday in what will be one of the top games in the league this week. Nate Bittle has been terrific for Dana Altman. The big man is averaging 13.7 points and 7.8 rebounds in 26.6 minutes after missing most of last season with an injury.
4. Illinois (12-4, 4-2, 1.106 PPP, .959 PPP allowed, conference SOS: 15)
The Fighting Illini were without Kasparas Jakucionis (forearm injury) last week and his absence was an issue in an 82-72 loss to USC on Saturday at the State Farm Center. This week is crucial for Illinois to stay in the Big Ten title race. The Illini travel to Indiana on Tuesday and Michigan State on Sunday.
3. Purdue (13-4, 5-1, 1.214 PPP, .999 PPP allowed, conference SOS: 16)
Matt Painter’s team is playing as well as any team in the conference through six games. The Boilermakers have won five straight but have also played a favorable league schedule thus far. That said, Braden Smith and Trey Kaufmann Renn are playing at an All-Big Ten level and the Boilermakers made 19 3s in a beatdown of Nebraska on Sunday afternoon.
2. Michigan State (14-2, 5-0, 1.20 PPP, .893 PPP allowed, conference SOS: 17)
The Spartans have the best efficiency margin in the Big Ten and have won each conference game by at least seven points. Michigan State has won nine straight, which is tied for the nation’s third-longest winning streak. Tom Izzo’s team is balanced offensively, with just one player averaging in double figures and eight guys averaging between six and 9.7 points per game.
1. Michigan (13-3, 5-0, 1.177 PPP, 1.035 PPP allowed, conference SOS: 12)
Dusty May has guided Michigan to the top of the Big Ten through five games. The Wolverines finished last in the league last season under Juwan Howard. Danny Wolf is a legitimate contender for Big Ten player of the year and Michigan plays an exciting brand of offense that is fun to watch.
(Photo credit: University of Michigan Athletics)
Filed to: Big Ten Power Rankings