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Week 17 B1G basketball power rankings: 8 teams jockey for 4 double-byes as season nears end

Kyle Charters

By Kyle Charters

Published:

One of the more memorable Big Ten men’s basketball seasons enters its final week with a lot left to be decided.

Sure, Purdue has won a share of the conference title, but the Boilermakers will need to reverse course on a late-season slump if they want to win it outright. And then there’s the logjam after Purdue, where as many as 8 teams still have legitimate shots at a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament. They’ll each be jockeying for 1 of those 4 slots, while also keeping an eye toward boosting their NCAA Tournament résumés. Should make for a fun week.

Let’s take a look at our Week 17 power rankings:

14. Minnesota

Record: 7-20 (1-16 Big Ten)
Last week: 14

The Golden Gophers’ loss at Nebraska, the 12th straight defeat for Minnesota, might have encapsulated the entire season: Jamison Battle and Braeden Carrington both had to briefly leave the game due to injuries, continuing a theme. Minnesota hasn’t been good this season, but it’s not been healthy either, and that has stymied the young roster’s progress. Adding to the misery, star 4-star recruit Dennis Evans, a 7-foot-1 center who is considered one of the best in the country, wants out of his letter-of-intent to Minnesota. Bad week.

13. Ohio State

Record: 12-17 (4-14)
Last week: 13

Ohio State did what it couldn’t do for much of the season vs. Illinois Sunday afternoon. The Buckeyes made critical game-winning plays in the 2nd half, ending a 9-game losing streak. After seeing an 18-point lead whittled down to 1, OSU responded (rather than folding, as had been typical) with a 19-8 run to close out the game. Ultimately, it probably won’t mean much — although it did hurt Illinois’ chances at a Big Ten Tournament double-bye — because Ohio State’s season turned south weeks ago.

12. Wisconsin

Record: 16-12 (8-10)
Last week: 11

Wisconsin was dealt a stunning loss on Sunday at Michigan, when Hunter Dickinson’s miracle 3 sent the game to overtime, where the Wolverines took over. If the Badgers don’t make the NCAA Tournament, that shot might be the one that did them in. Wisconsin has another shot to pick up a Quad 1 victory when Purdue comes to Madison on Thursday night, but then the Badgers are at Minnesota to end the season.

11. Nebraska

Record: 15-14 (8-10)
Last week: 12

Nebraska is playing its way into the postseason, most likely as an entrant into the NIT, assuming the Cornhuskers can keep their record above .500. But could they run their way into the NCAA’s First Four? Well, that seems highly unlikely, but even that it’s a discussion seems unbelievable. Nebraska has gained confidence with every victory — and the winning streak is up to a current Big Ten-best 4 games — and wraps up the regular season with a home game vs. Michigan State, then a road contest at Iowa. What if the Cornhuskers win both, then get 2 more victories in the Big Ten Tournament? Where would 19-15 put them? At least on the bubble.

10. Penn State

Record: 17-12 (8-10)
Last week: 10

Penn State suffered a stunning collapse Sunday vs. Rutgers, seeing a 19-point 2nd half lead result in a home loss that might have dealt a death blow to the Nittany Lions’ NCAA chances. PSU, which has built its season on its offensive prowess, missed its final 14 shots against the Scarlet Knights. Here’s a crazy stat: Star Jalen Pickett didn’t even attempt a shot after halftime, scoring all 11 of his points in the first 20 minutes. The good news: PSU’s last 2 games are vs. Quad 1 opponents in a road game at Northwestern and a home date vs. Maryland.

9. Michigan State

Record: 17-11 (9-8)
Last week: 9

Michigan State suffered the kind of heartbreaking loss Saturday that can hang with a team, and that’s not a good thing considering tournament time is right around the corner. The Spartans led at Iowa by 11 with less than a minute left before losing in overtime. The Spartans are likely to make the NCAA Tournament, but the lost was costly, taking away what looked like a sure Q1 victory. And MSU’s path to a Big Ten Tournament double-bye feels murky. The Spartans too are hurt by the loss of the Minnesota game, which appears unlikely to be rescheduled, probably costing MSU a win.

8. Illinois

Record: 19-10 (10-8)
Last week: 7

There might be no more confounding team in the Big Ten than Illinois, which is capable of beating anyone on any given night and capable of losing to anyone on any given night. It showed that in the last week alone, in rallying to beat hot Northwestern, then falling at cold Ohio State 3 days later. The Fighting Illini have a chance at a double-bye — 1 of 8 teams who are likely vying for 3 spots after Purdue — but need to find a way to consistency. But at this point of the season, you are who you are, right?

7. Michigan

Record: 17-12 (11-7)
Last week: 8

At this point, Michigan is probably more likely to make the NCAA Tournament than not, something that couldn’t be said only a couple weeks ago. The Wolverines will need to finish strongly — and that’ll be hard, considering they go to Illinois and Indiana this week — but they’ve at least positioned themselves thanks to consecutive big-time wins over Michigan State, Rutgers and Wisconsin. Dickinson’s shot was clutch against the Badgers; star players need to hit big shots, and he did.

6. Rutgers

Record: 18-11 (10-8)
Last week: 6

Rutgers’ 2nd-half rally at Penn State Sunday was sparked by an unlikely source, as freshman Derek Simpson came off the bench to score 16 points with 6 rebounds in 28 minutes. His 3-point play with 1:24 left gave the Scarlet Knights their final lead. It stopped the spiral Rutgers had been in for the last several weeks, when it had lost 4 of its previous 5 with the only win coming by a single point over Wisconsin. Maybe the Knights can rebuild momentum before the conference tournament, with a road game at Minnesota then a home game with Northwestern to end the regular season.

5. Iowa

Record: 18-11 (10-8)
Last week: 5

Iowa put together a comeback for the ages on Saturday, rallying from down 11 with under a minute to go vs. Michigan State in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Heck, many of the Iowa fans who had paid to be in attendance had already left, not shocking considering the Hawkeyes were basically left for dead. But the home team scored 23 points in the final 90 seconds, including 5 straight 3-pointers in the last 39 ticks, to get the game to overtime, where it finished off the stunned Spartans. Iowa has the offensive weaponry to pull off such feats. As an aside, we can all agree Fran McCaffery’s stare down of an official was one of the goofier moments in the season, right?

4. Northwestern

Record: 20-9 (11-7)
Last week: 2

Northwestern’s rise to a contender for a Big Ten title was one of the more feel-good storylines of the season, but the Wildcats’ schedule down the stretch was brutal, and they’re feeling that now. Northwestern lost at Illinois and Maryland last week and still has a home game vs. Penn State, then a road trip to Rutgers this week. The Wildcats, who are almost certainly in the NCAA Tournament at this point, will need at least a split if they’re to earn a Big Ten Tournament double-bye.

3. Maryland

Record: 20-9 (11-7)
Last week: 4

There’s no shortage of potential Big Ten Coach of the Year candidates, with Matt Painter and Chris Collins likely leading the way. Almost certainly, 1 of those 2 — and it’ll probably be Painter — will take home the annual coaching award. But add Maryland 1st-year coach Kevin Willard to the list. He’s taken a Terrapins team that was an afterthought to the verge of a double-bye in the conference tourney. And of the contenders for a B1G tourney title, they might be the hottest team, having won 4 of their last 5.

2. Indiana

Record: 20-9 (11-7)
Last week: 3

It’s beyond tempting to move Indiana up to No. 1 in this week’s power rankings, considering the Hoosiers beat the Boilermakers in Mackey Arena Saturday night, sweeping the season series with the rival. But IU also lost earlier in the week at Michigan State, likely ending its chance to sneak in for a share of a Big Ten title. Still, the Hoosiers showed what they’re capable of, especially with the development of Jalen Hood-Schifino, after dismantling Purdue in the 2nd half. IU has a high ceiling.

1. Purdue

Record: 24-5 (13-5)
Last week: 1

Are the Boilermakers deserving of the top spot in the power rankings? It’s highly debatable. Purdue has lost 4 of its last 6 games, yet the Boilermakers have already won a share of the Big Ten title with 2 games left, showing how big of a cushion they’d built. But the late-season swoon is highly concerning. Purdue needs its freshmen guards — Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer — to return to form, and the Boilermakers need to hit shots. They can course correct, but time is running short.

Kyle Charters

Kyle Charters, a familiar face at Gold & Black, covers Purdue, Indiana and college basketball for Saturday Tradition.