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Week 8 B1G basketball power rankings: Teams (aside from Iowa) beating up opponents in final tune-ups
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The Big Ten is eyeing the resumption of league play after a holiday stretch that has seen teams beat up on lesser opponents — aside from in Iowa City — as final non-conference tune-ups.
Does that mean there’s little change in this week’s B1G power rankings? Or not?
Let’s take a look at Week 8:
14. Minnesota
Record: 6-6 overall, 0-2 in the Big Ten | Last week: 14
After slipping by Chicago State in its pre-Christmas game, the Golden Gophers will have 1 more pre-conference outing Thursday vs. Alcorn State. A win, which would be the 3rd straight, would bounce Minnesota above .500, but for how long? Victories aren’t going to be easy to come by once the Big Ten resumes. The Golden Gophers might be an underdog in every single conference game this season, aside perhaps from the next one when they host Nebraska.
13. Nebraska
Record: 7-6, 0-2 | Last week: 13
Nebraska earned a victory in its final non-conference game, putting 5 in double-figures in a 10-point win over Queens University — it’s in North Carolina — on Tuesday. The Cornhuskers are hoping they’re improved this season, and they’ve got some nice pieces, like Derrick Walker and Sam Griesel, but the margin for error is still extremely narrow. Nebraska must buy-in defensively, like it did vs. Purdue (albeit in a loss) to be able to have a chance. If it does, then Lincoln won’t be an easy place to play this year. But challenging teams and beating them are often two very different things.
12. Michigan
Record: 7-4, 1-0 | Last week: 12
Two of the biggest disappointments in college hoops squared off in Charlotte Wednesday, as preseason No. 22 Michigan took on preseason No. 1 North Carolina. The Tar Heels, who are showing signs of life recently, escaped with a 4-point victory, leaving the Wolverines to contemplate their place during the non-conference, when they were winless vs. Quad 1 opponents (in 4 chances). It means Michigan will have to try to make up ground, in terms of NCAA résumé, during conference play. At least the Wolverines will have plenty more Q1 opportunities; whether they can win them is the question.
11. Northwestern
Record: 9-2, 1-0 | Last week: 11
Northwestern might be one of the more intriguing teams in the Big Ten, because here the Wildcats stand at No. 11 in the power rankings — again — yet they’ve built a top-40 NET ranking and have a 9-2 overall record. If the NCAA Tournament started tomorrow, they’d be in. But there’s still a lot to be decided with 19 games left in the Big Ten. If the Wildcats can win 10 of them, they’ll almost certainly punch their ticket into the Big Dance.
10. Rutgers
Record: 8-4, 1-1 | Last week: 10
Last season, Rutgers struggled against low-major competition early in the year, a trend that very nearly cost the Scarlet Knights a chance at the NCAA Tournament. No such failures this season, as Rutgers improved to 5-0 vs. Quad 4 opponents after thrashing Bucknell a couple days before Christmas (although the Knights do have a Q3 loss to Seton Hall). If Rutgers is done with the injuries — Caleb McConnell and Paul Mulcahy missed games — then it’ll certainly have a chance to be a real problem for many in the Big Ten.
9. Michigan State
Record: 8-4, 1-1 | Last week: 9
Michigan State looked a bit rusty in beating Oakland on Wednesday, after it had gone 10 days without playing. But the Spartans found another gear in taking control late in the 1st half, then blowing out their visitors. The win was the 2nd of a 5-game home stand, which stretches into the resumption of Big Ten play against Nebraska and Michigan to start the new year. Buffalo comes next, on Friday, with most of the attention centered around whether forward Malik Hall returns from injury; he’s missed 8 straight but is thought to be nearing a return.
8. Iowa
Record: 8-4, 0-1 | Last week: 5
After seeming to survive with star Kris Murray on the sideline with a foot injury, the Hawkeyes completely imploded in their pre-Christmas matchup with Eastern Illinois. The Panthers, who were 31.5-point underdogs, earned one of the biggest upsets in college basketball in decades on Wednesday, beating Iowa 92-83. Not only was EIU a huge underdog, but it also had fallen behind 18-4 in the opening 6 minutes. But the Panthers rallied, becoming the first 30-point ‘dog to win after 558 consecutive losses. This will be an ugly, ugly mark on Iowa’s résumé that could be much talked about on Selection Sunday.
7. Illinois
Record: 8-4, 0-2 | Last week: 3
What’s going on in Champaign? The Fighting Illini seem to be fighting within their own ranks, with mixed messaging from players and coach Brad Underwood bouncing through post-game press conferences. The latest came in an 18-point loss to Missouri in the Braggin’ Right game Thursday. Underwood hasn’t reached this group yet, which might be understandable given that Illinois is playing 3 transfers and 4 freshmen. Will he get to the Illini before they implode?
6. Penn State
Record: 9-3, 1-1 | Last week: 8
Penn State has won 6 of its last 7, including 3 straight, a streak that will likely continue vs. Delaware State on Thursday. Forward Jalen PIckett is an absolute stud — if it wasn’t for Zach Edey, he might be the pick for Big Ten Player of the Year — turning in a near-triple-double vs. Quinnipiac on Thursday. Had only one of his teammates hit a shot in the last couple minutes, he would have had his 2nd triple-double of the season. PSU’s unorthodox style, basically playing small-ball, is going to cause just about everyone problems in the Big Ten.
5. Ohio State
Record: 8-3, 1-0 | Last week: 7
The Ohio State freshmen have been fantastic at the start of the season, perhaps never more so than vs. Maine on Wednesday. The rookies combined for 52 points in a blowout victory, including 19 from freshman Brice Sensabaugh, who also added 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Classmate Bruce Thornton added 11 points, 6 boards and 5 assists. The Buckeyes have 1 more non-conference game, vs. Alabama A&M, before jumping back into Big Ten play.
4. Indiana
Record: 10-3, 1-1 | Last week: 6
Indiana is continuing to deal with injury issues, as Trayce Jackson-Davis sat out Friday’s win vs. Kennesaw State with wrist and back injuries — after missing 1 previously, as well. But the biggest issue is that point guard Xavier Johnson is out indefinitely after undergoing foot surgery. Not good. IU will shift freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino over to run the offense, which is fine, but the move shorts the Hoosiers’ bench and takes away another potential shooter. But Indiana is managing the situation, at least for now.
3. Maryland
Record: 9-3, 1-1 | Last week: 4
Maryland ended its 3-game losing streak (all to Quad 1 opponents) by nuking Saint Peter’s by 30 on Thursday, giving the Terrapins a chance to get to 10 wins in the non-conference if they can beat UMBC on Thursday. Not many would have predicted that for this Maryland team, which was thought to be rebuilding, under a new coach, after a tumultuous season. Starting center Julian Reese missed the Peacocks game, due to a sore shoulder, but it’s hoped he’ll be back soon.
2. Wisconsin
Record: 9-2, 2-0 | Last week: 2
Wisconsin canceled its game vs. Gambling State, which was scheduled for last Friday, due to travel problems caused by the winter storm, so the Badgers ended up with a 2-week break. They’ll take the court again Friday against Western Michigan, then get into the Big Ten again. Wisconsin has been great in the non-conference, including 3 Quad 1 victories, positioning themselves to be one of the surprise teams in the conference for a 2nd straight season.
1. Purdue
Record: 12-0, 2-0 | Last week: 1
Even without Edey, who was sidelined with an illness, the Boilermakers kept their undefeated streak alive, beating New Orleans on Wednesday. Freshman Trey Kaufman-Renn filled the void on the interior, going for a career-high 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting, as he became Purdue’s go-to interior scorer. Purdue still needs to shoot the ball better from the perimeter, with a lack of consistency that is becoming concerning.
Kyle Charters, a familiar face at Gold & Black, covers Purdue, Indiana and college basketball for Saturday Tradition.