Here are my current Big 10 power rankings halfway through the conference slate.....
1. MARYLAND (19-3/8-2)....most equipped team in the conference to make a Final 4 run. A very favorable conference slate ahead with only trips to Purdue/Indiana at the end of the year standing in their way of winning the league
2. IOWA (17-4/8-1)...Co biggest surprise of the year has already amassed 7 top 50 rpi wins including huge sweep of MSU. Lone loss is to Maryland but they don't play again.
3. MICHIGAN STATE (19-4/6-4)...after a hiccup of 3 straight losses include a bad one to Nebby, Spartans are healthy and on a roll. Next 5 are brutal especially with 3 of them on the road.
4. PURDUE (19-4/7-3)....Somewhat under the radar after being swept by Iowa and that inexplicable loss at Illinois, Boilermakers have the pieces to be a tough out in the NCAA tourney. Schedule gets brutal real soon though.
5. INDIANA (18-4/8-1)....the other biggest surprise and is even more surprising is that they have improved defensively. Note that 7 of their 8 wins are to the bottom half of the league and it would be shocking to see them remain at the top with such a tough back half of the conference schedule
6. MICHIGAN (17-5/7-2)....Feather in their cap win over Maryland but the schedule has been largely favorable. Opportunity though in the back half as the Wolverines get a bunch of top teams at home starting with Indiana/MSU this week.
7. WISCONSIN (13-9/5-4)....Like a phoenix rising through the ashes the Badgers are now back in the NCAA hunt after wins over MSU and Indiana. They are going to have to overcome a few bad losses on their resume and are going to have do some damage in their 3 road tilts against MD,MSU and Iowa.
8. OHIO STATE (14-9/6-4)....here's a team that will likely be riding the wrong side of the bubble come March but with only 1 top 100 rpi win (Kentucky) the Buckeyes have to start beating the best in this league. All 6 of their wins are to the bottom 5 schools in the league.
9. NEBRASKA (12-10/4-5)....back to reality after feasting on the conference dregs and the MSU upset. Schedule seems workable though for the Cornhuskers to be able to win enough games to make the NIT.
10. NORTHWESTERN (15-8/3-7)...rode a hot start against sister of the poor OOC that led to NCAA talk, that seems to be out of reach now but this is still a dangerous team that can surprise on any given night. Can they separate themselves from the bottom 4?
11. PENN STATE (11-11/2-7)...supposedly Chambers has the #2 recruiting class in the Big 10 coming in next year and that figures to save his job after another disappointing season thus far
12. ILLINOIS (10-12/2-7)....Illini are reeling and injuries mounting. they seem far away from the team that upset Purdue and Groce will be under fire if he cant get a bunch of wins in the 2nd half of the season.
13. MINNESOTA (6-16/0-10).....Oh Ricky what happened here. As bad as it looks, they may not be as bad as it seems, their last 5 losses have been by 7 points or less. There are a few opportunities for them to finally punch it in down the stretch
14. RUTGERS (6-16/0-9).....Simply overmatched in league play thus far whether its injuries or talent level, they just don't have enough to threaten against any of the top 9 in league. The good news is 6 of their last 9 are against teams 10-13 in league so they should be able to find a win or two in there somehere
1. MARYLAND (19-3/8-2)....most equipped team in the conference to make a Final 4 run. A very favorable conference slate ahead with only trips to Purdue/Indiana at the end of the year standing in their way of winning the league
2. IOWA (17-4/8-1)...Co biggest surprise of the year has already amassed 7 top 50 rpi wins including huge sweep of MSU. Lone loss is to Maryland but they don't play again.
3. MICHIGAN STATE (19-4/6-4)...after a hiccup of 3 straight losses include a bad one to Nebby, Spartans are healthy and on a roll. Next 5 are brutal especially with 3 of them on the road.
4. PURDUE (19-4/7-3)....Somewhat under the radar after being swept by Iowa and that inexplicable loss at Illinois, Boilermakers have the pieces to be a tough out in the NCAA tourney. Schedule gets brutal real soon though.
5. INDIANA (18-4/8-1)....the other biggest surprise and is even more surprising is that they have improved defensively. Note that 7 of their 8 wins are to the bottom half of the league and it would be shocking to see them remain at the top with such a tough back half of the conference schedule
6. MICHIGAN (17-5/7-2)....Feather in their cap win over Maryland but the schedule has been largely favorable. Opportunity though in the back half as the Wolverines get a bunch of top teams at home starting with Indiana/MSU this week.
7. WISCONSIN (13-9/5-4)....Like a phoenix rising through the ashes the Badgers are now back in the NCAA hunt after wins over MSU and Indiana. They are going to have to overcome a few bad losses on their resume and are going to have do some damage in their 3 road tilts against MD,MSU and Iowa.
8. OHIO STATE (14-9/6-4)....here's a team that will likely be riding the wrong side of the bubble come March but with only 1 top 100 rpi win (Kentucky) the Buckeyes have to start beating the best in this league. All 6 of their wins are to the bottom 5 schools in the league.
9. NEBRASKA (12-10/4-5)....back to reality after feasting on the conference dregs and the MSU upset. Schedule seems workable though for the Cornhuskers to be able to win enough games to make the NIT.
10. NORTHWESTERN (15-8/3-7)...rode a hot start against sister of the poor OOC that led to NCAA talk, that seems to be out of reach now but this is still a dangerous team that can surprise on any given night. Can they separate themselves from the bottom 4?
11. PENN STATE (11-11/2-7)...supposedly Chambers has the #2 recruiting class in the Big 10 coming in next year and that figures to save his job after another disappointing season thus far
12. ILLINOIS (10-12/2-7)....Illini are reeling and injuries mounting. they seem far away from the team that upset Purdue and Groce will be under fire if he cant get a bunch of wins in the 2nd half of the season.
13. MINNESOTA (6-16/0-10).....Oh Ricky what happened here. As bad as it looks, they may not be as bad as it seems, their last 5 losses have been by 7 points or less. There are a few opportunities for them to finally punch it in down the stretch
14. RUTGERS (6-16/0-9).....Simply overmatched in league play thus far whether its injuries or talent level, they just don't have enough to threaten against any of the top 9 in league. The good news is 6 of their last 9 are against teams 10-13 in league so they should be able to find a win or two in there somehere
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