1, Iowa
2. Michigan
3. Wisconsin
4. Ohio State
5. Illinois
6. Minnesota
7. Purdue
8. Rutgers
9. Michigan State
Maryland
Indiana
Northwestern
13. Penn State
14. Nebraska
So its been hard to decipher in the early going what is going on in the Big 10. What is so great about the league is on any given night probably any of 12 schools can beat each other. Everyone faces the gauntlet and there are no nights off. Getting wins in bunches is huge. Getting losses in bunches is equally huge. The past week or so though has made it a little easier to break things into some groupings. Michigan after pummeling Wisconsin, looked like they were emerging as a clear leader but suffered the trap game blues to a rapidly improving Minnesota. For now though they and Iowa look like they might have a bit of separation on the rest. Iowa has performed quite well of late. These two giants unfortunately only meet once and that is not until the last week of the season.
While Wisconsin had been touted as a conference title contender. I think their play in the past 2 weeks has shown they are cut below the top 2. They lost to middling Maryland and then were decimated at Michigan. They got the win at Rutgers but looked very unimpressive throughout. Ohio State has surprised somewhat where you really have to say they have moved into the top 5 of the league with their 3 win streak. Illinois still considered top 5 but the bloom is off somewhat. Probably the biggest surprise is their uneven performances even within the same game. No problem being very tough on them because they had extremely high expectations. Their schedule is extremely challenging ahead so we will know soon if they can get things going again.
Then you have Minnesota, biggest surprise in the league thus far IMO. They have 3 gigantic wins...Michigan and Iowa which are feather in their cap wins for NCAA tourney purposes. Also have a beatdown win over Michigan State. Yet they also have been blowout by double digits 4 times. Which way do they go? Honestly their schedule isnt exactly the toughest in the next month. Purdue another surprise and have picked up a bunch of impressive wins, 3 in a row. Defense will keep them in most games
Rutgers biggest enigma. Went from possible top 10 to hard to watch in a snap of the fingers. Almost impossible to gauge right now.
I would say there is a grouping of 4 schools that at this time are extremely tough to seperate Tough to place Michigan State. Underperforming for sure. Conference wins just Nebby and Rutgers but its hard to count an Izzo team out and now the Covid setback presents an issue going forward. Maryland has beaten Wisconsin and Illinois but looked rather average in its other games. Indiana has talent but not putting it together at all. Northwestern got those 3 great wins early but have absolutely been hammered in its 5 game skid and I think turning out to be a fraud.
Penn State covid issues were a major setback so I do not know how they recover their season
Nebraska looks awful and now Covid infecting virtually everyone, best to just shut them down.
2. Michigan
3. Wisconsin
4. Ohio State
5. Illinois
6. Minnesota
7. Purdue
8. Rutgers
9. Michigan State
Maryland
Indiana
Northwestern
13. Penn State
14. Nebraska
So its been hard to decipher in the early going what is going on in the Big 10. What is so great about the league is on any given night probably any of 12 schools can beat each other. Everyone faces the gauntlet and there are no nights off. Getting wins in bunches is huge. Getting losses in bunches is equally huge. The past week or so though has made it a little easier to break things into some groupings. Michigan after pummeling Wisconsin, looked like they were emerging as a clear leader but suffered the trap game blues to a rapidly improving Minnesota. For now though they and Iowa look like they might have a bit of separation on the rest. Iowa has performed quite well of late. These two giants unfortunately only meet once and that is not until the last week of the season.
While Wisconsin had been touted as a conference title contender. I think their play in the past 2 weeks has shown they are cut below the top 2. They lost to middling Maryland and then were decimated at Michigan. They got the win at Rutgers but looked very unimpressive throughout. Ohio State has surprised somewhat where you really have to say they have moved into the top 5 of the league with their 3 win streak. Illinois still considered top 5 but the bloom is off somewhat. Probably the biggest surprise is their uneven performances even within the same game. No problem being very tough on them because they had extremely high expectations. Their schedule is extremely challenging ahead so we will know soon if they can get things going again.
Then you have Minnesota, biggest surprise in the league thus far IMO. They have 3 gigantic wins...Michigan and Iowa which are feather in their cap wins for NCAA tourney purposes. Also have a beatdown win over Michigan State. Yet they also have been blowout by double digits 4 times. Which way do they go? Honestly their schedule isnt exactly the toughest in the next month. Purdue another surprise and have picked up a bunch of impressive wins, 3 in a row. Defense will keep them in most games
Rutgers biggest enigma. Went from possible top 10 to hard to watch in a snap of the fingers. Almost impossible to gauge right now.
I would say there is a grouping of 4 schools that at this time are extremely tough to seperate Tough to place Michigan State. Underperforming for sure. Conference wins just Nebby and Rutgers but its hard to count an Izzo team out and now the Covid setback presents an issue going forward. Maryland has beaten Wisconsin and Illinois but looked rather average in its other games. Indiana has talent but not putting it together at all. Northwestern got those 3 great wins early but have absolutely been hammered in its 5 game skid and I think turning out to be a fraud.
Penn State covid issues were a major setback so I do not know how they recover their season
Nebraska looks awful and now Covid infecting virtually everyone, best to just shut them down.