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Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings (Vol. 6): Conference Play Returns This Week

Outside of Purdue, there are a lot of questions about the Big Ten. We should start finding some answers in the next few weeks, with conference play returning on Tuesday night.

In this story:

Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini
Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers
Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa Hawkeyes
Maryland Terrapins
Maryland Terrapins
Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines
Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State Spartans
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern Wildcats
Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes
Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State Nittany Lions
Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue Boilermakers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers

We're about to start separating the contenders from the pretenders in the Big Ten. Now that the calendar has officially flipped to 2024, conference play returns this week with plenty of interesting matchups on the docket.

Nonconference play usually paints a pretty good picture of what to expect when league games finally roll around. This year, though, there's still a lot of mystery about the conference.

Essentially, the first two months can be described as "Purdue ... then who?" In the next few weeks, we should start to get a better understanding of the Big Ten. 

Here's how the power rankings look with conference play resuming this week:

1. Purdue Boilermakers

  • Records: 12-1, 1-1 in Big Ten
  • Rankings: AP Poll: No. 1; Coaches Poll: No. 1; KenPom: No. 2
  • Best wins/worst losses: Beat No. 11 Gonzaga; Beat No. 7 Tennessee; Beat No. 4 Marquette (all in Maui Invitational); Beat Alabama; Beat No. 1 Arizona.
  • Last week: Beat Eastern Kentucky 80-53.
  • This week: At Maryland on Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET (TV: Peacock); Illinois on Friday, 8:30 p.m. ET (TV: Fox Sports 1).
  • The skinny: Purdue has made it through a third straight season with a perfect nonconference record in the regular season. Now, the Boilermakers begin their quest for a second consecutive Big Ten regular season title. Last year, Matt Painter's squad lost a road game to Maryland, so Purdue will be looking for redemption this week. 

2. Illinois Fighting Illini

  • Records: 10-2 overall, 1-0 in Big Ten
  • Rankings: AP: No. 9; Coaches: No. 13; KenPom: No. 10
  • Best wins/worst losses: Beat Oakland; Beat Florida Atlantic.
  • Last week: Beat Fairleigh Dickinson 104-71.
  • This week: Northwestern on Tuesday, 9 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network); At Purdue on Friday, 8:30 p.m. ET (TV: Fox Sports 1).
  • The skinny: The Terrence Shannon Jr. suspension is probably going to significantly impact Illinois now that Big Ten play has arrived. We're going to find out if the Fighting Illini have enough talent to find success without the guard on the floor. 

3. Wisconsin Badgers

  • Records: 9-3 overall, 1-0 in Big Ten
  • Rankings: AP: No. 21; Coaches: No. 24; KenPom: No. 14
  • Best wins/worst losses: Beat No. 24 Virginia; Beat No. 3 Marquette; Beat Michigan State.
  • Last week: No games.
  • This week: Iowa on Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network); Nebraska on Saturday, 2:15 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
  • The skinny: The Badgers return to conference action after a lengthy layoff. Prior to the break, Wisconsin found ways to win games by crashing the glass and getting to the free throw line. There were some question marks surrounding the Badgers entering the season, but this looks like one of the tougher teams in the Big Ten.

4. Ohio State Buckeyes

  • Records: 11-2 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten
  • Rankings: AP: Received 8 votes; Coaches: Received 17 votes; KenPom: No. 29
  • Best wins/worst losses: Beat No. 17 Alabama; Lost to Penn State; Beat UCLA
  • Last week: Beat West Virginia 78-75 (OT).
  • This week: Rutgers on Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network); At Indiana on Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (TV: Fox). 
  • The skinny: Ohio State survived a scare from West Virginia, needing overtime to secure the 11th win of the season. Roddy Gayle Jr. put on a show, scoring 32 points in the victory. While the Buckeyes appear to be an improved team from last year, they're still battling some consistency issues.

5. Northwestern Wildcats

  • Records: 10-2 overall, 1-0 in Big Ten
  • Rankings: AP:Received 3 votes; Coaches: Received 68 votes; KenPom: No. 58
  • Best wins/worst losses: Beat Dayton; Beat No. 1 Purdue; Lost to Chicago State.
  • Last week: Beat Jackson State 74-63.
  • This week: At Illinois on Tuesday, 9 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network); Michigan State on Sunday, 7:30 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network). 
  • The skinny: On Tuesday night, Northwestern is going to have a chance to get to 2-0 in conference play with wins over the two highest-ranked teams in the conference. The Wildcats continue to find success by limiting turnovers, averaging just nine per game. 

6. Nebraska Cornhuskers

  • Records: 11-2 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten
  • Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: Received 4 votes; KenPom: No. 53
  • Best wins/worst losses: Beat Michigan State; Lost to Minnesota; Beat Kansas State.
  • Last week: Beat South Carolina State 91-62.
  • This week: Indiana on Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network); At Wisconsin on Saturday, 2:15 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network). 
  • The skinny: Nebraska put together its most complete half of basketball on Friday, owning a 50-11 lead after 20 minutes in a win over South Carolina State. The Huskers have recorded some big wins already, but we're about to see if Fred Hoiberg's squad is prepared for the brunt of the conference schedule. 

7. Michigan State Spartans

  • Records: 8-5 overall, 0-2 in Big Ten
  • Rankings: AP: Received 15 votes; Coaches: Received 18 votes; KenPom: No. 20
  • Best wins/worst losses: Beat Butler; Beat No. 6 Baylor.
  • Last week: Beat Indiana State 87-75.
  • This week: Penn State on Thursday, 7 p.m. ET (TV: Peacock); At Northwestern on Sunday, 7:30 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network). 
  • The skinny: Maybe that 8-5 record is a little deceiving, after all. Michigan State has looked like a completely different team over the last few weeks — one capable of competing in the top tier of the Big Ten. It's going to be interesting to see if the Spartans can keep the momentum rolling to offset an 0-2 start in league play.

8. Indiana Hoosiers

  • Records: 10-3 overall, 2-0 in Big Ten
  • Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 87
  • Best wins/worst losses: Beat Wright State; Beat Maryland.
  • Last week: Beat Kennesaw State 100-87.
  • This week: At Nebraska on Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network); Ohio State on Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (TV: Fox). 
  • The skinny: Welcome to the 100-Point Club, Indiana. The Hoosiers hit triple digits in a win over Kennesaw State, but the victory didn't come easy. IU struggled to defend the 3-point line and found itself in a tight game with the Owls. Mike Woodson's bunch is going to have its hands full with games against Nebraska and Ohio State this week.

9. Maryland Terrapins

  • Records: 9-4 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten
  • Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 74
  • Best wins/worst losses: Lost to Davidson; Lost to UAB.
  • Last week: Beat Coppin State 75-53.
  • This week: Purdue on Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET (TV: Peacock); At Minnesota on Sunday, 5:30 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
  • The skinny: Maryland might be the biggest mystery in the Big Ten right now. The Terrapins have recovered nicely after an ugly start to the season, but they continue to struggle shooting. That's going to be a problem if it lasts throughout league play. Right now, Maryland looks like an NCAA bubble team, needing some big wins to add to its resumé. 

10. Minnesota Golden Gophers

  • Records: 10-3 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten
  • Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 81
  • Best wins/worst losses: Lost to San Francisco; Beat Nebraska.
  • Last week: Beat Maine 80-62.
  • This week: At Michigan on Thursday, 9 p.m. ET (TV: Peacock); Maryland on Sunday, 5:30 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
  • The skinny: Credit Ben Johnson for getting Minnesota to 10 wins before the bulk of the conference schedule arrives. But over the past few weeks, the Gophers haven't played the toughest competition. The starters have been playing at a high level recently, a good sign with a more difficult schedule ahead. 

11. Iowa Hawkeyes

  • Records: 8-5 overall, 0-2 in Big Ten
  • Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 54
  • Best wins/worst losses: Beat Seton Hall.
  • Last week: Beat Northern Illinois 103-74.
  • This week: At Wisconsin on Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network); Rutgers on Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
  • The skinny: Exactly how tough is Iowa? That's a question that's about to be answered this week. Both Wisconsin and Rutgers tend to play a more physical brand of basketball, which has been tough for the Hawkeyes this season, especially on the defensive side. 

12. Michigan Wolverines

  • Records: 6-7 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten
  • Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: 62
  • Best wins/worst losses: Lost to Long Beach State; Lost to McNeese.
  • Last week: Lost to McNeese 87-76.
  • This week: Minnesota on Thursday, 9 p.m. ET (TV: Peacock); At Penn State on Sunday, 12 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network). 
  • The skinny: It seems like Michigan is free-falling at this point. The Wolverines have no signature wins and have now lost two home games to mid-major opponents. If Juwan Howard doesn't find a solution quickly, this season could turn really ugly, really fast.

13. Penn State Nittany Lions

  • Records: 7-6 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten
  • Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 104
  • Best wins/worst losses: Lost to VCU; Lost to Bucknell; Beat Ohio State.
  • Last week: Beat Rider 90-63.
  • This week: At Michigan State on Thursday, 7 p.m. ET (TV: Peacock); Michigan on Sunday, 12 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
  • The skinny: Penn State ended nonconference play on a high note with a sizable win over Rider. The Nittany Lions already scored one impressive win this season, beating Ohio State in December, Can Mike Rhoades' team possible pull off an upset against Michigan State this week?

14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

  • Records: 8-4 overall, 0-1 in Big Ten
  • Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 93
  • Best wins/worst losses: Lost to Princeton
  • Last week: Beat Stonehill 59-58.
  • This week: At Ohio State on Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network); At Iowa on Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
  • The skinny: Well, Rutgers avoided the ugliest loss of the season, escaping with a 59-58 win over Stonehill. For the record, that's a team that ranks No. 348 in the KenPom. After that type of outing, there's nowhere else to put the Scarlet Knights right now.
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