Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings (Vol. 13): Race Between Purdue, Illinois Returns

With Purdue losing to Ohio State and Illinois going 2-0 last week, the race for the Big Ten regular season title is heating up with only a few weeks left in the season. Plus, Wisconsin continues to stumble and Michigan State is surging. Here's the latest look at our power rankings.

Dustin Schutte | Feb 19, 2024

Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings (Vol. 13): Race Between Purdue, Illinois Returns /

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The race for the top spot in the Big Ten is back on. With Illinois going 2-0 last week and Purdue dropping a 73-69 decision to Ohio State, just 1.5 games separate the two teams. And we still have a head-to-head matchup looming in Champaign in early March. The drama is already beginning to surface.

A lot of basketball still remains for both the Boilermakers and the Fighting Illini, but there could be a lot at stake when the two teams meet again on March 5.

In other Big Ten news, Northwestern split road games with Rutgers (loss) and Indiana (win) with Ty Berry sidelined because of a torn meniscus. Wisconsin's struggles continued and Michigan State is still surging.

There's a lot going on in the Big Ten as we hit the final stretch of the season. Here's what the latest edition of the power rankings looks like:

1. Purdue Boilermakers

Records: 23-3, 12-3 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP Poll: No. 3; Coaches Poll: No. 3; KenPom: No. 3
Last Week's Power Ranking: No. 1 (No change)
Best wins/worst losses: Beat No. 11 Gonzaga; Beat No. 7 Tennessee; Beat No. 4 Marquette; Beat No. 1 Arizona; Beat No. 9 Illinois; Beat No. 6 Wisconsin; Lost to Ohio State.
Last week: Beat Minnesota 84-76; Lost to Ohio State 73-69.
This week: Rutgers on Thursday, 7 p.m. ET (TV: Fox Sports 1); Sunday at Michigan, 2 p.m. ET (TV: CBS).
The skinny: Purdue has played some ugly basketball in its last two games — at least when compared to the standard the Boilermakers have set. Not only did Purdue drop Sunday's game to Ohio State, it needed a huge second half effort to take down Minnesota at Mackey Arena. Even good teams go through some bumpy patches throughout a college basketball season. We'll see if Sunday's loss to Ohio State serves as a bit of a wake-up call for Purdue.

2. Illinois Fighting Illini

Records: 19-6 overall, 10-4 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: No. 12; Coaches: No. 12; KenPom: No. 8
Last Week's Power Ranking: No. 2 (No change)
Best wins/worst losses: Beat No. 11 Florida Atlantic; Beat Northwestern; Lost to Maryland.
Last week: Beat Michigan 97-68; Beat Maryland 85-80.
This week: At Penn State on Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network); Iowa on Saturday, 2:15 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: The Fighting Illini are right back in the race for a Big Ten title. Illinois took care of business, defeating both Michigan and Maryland to move within 1.5 games of Purdue. Perimeter defense was a big help in the two wins, holding the Wolverines and Terrapins to just a combined five-of-28 from 3-point range last week. Plus, it helps when Terrence Shannon Jr. scores 58 points in a two-game span.

3. Michigan State Spartans

Records: 17-9 overall, 9-6 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: Received 17 votes; Coaches: Received 64 votes; KenPom: No. 15
Last Week's Power Ranking: No. 4 (Up 1 spot)
Best wins/worst losses: Beat No. 6 Baylor; Beat No. 10 Illinois
Last week: Beat Penn State 80-72; Beat Michigan 73-63.
This week: Iowa on Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET (TV: Peacock); Ohio State on Sunday, 4 p.m. ET (TV: CBS).
The skinny: Why do we ever doubt Tom Izzo? Michigan State may not be the best team in the Big Ten this season, but it's playing its best basketball at an optimal time. The Spartans have now won eight of their last 10 games and are 4-1 in February. The road win was particularly impressive, with Tyson Walker and AJ Hoggard combining for just 10 points. It feels like Michigan State might finally trust one another on the floor.

4. Northwestern Wildcats

Records: 18-8 overall, 9-6 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 47
Last Week's Power Ranking: No. 3 (Down 1 spot)
Best wins/worst losses: Beat No. 1 Purdue; Lost to Chicago State; Beat Michigan State; Beat No. 10 Illinois; Lost to Rutgers
Last week: Lost to Rutgers 63-60; Beat Indiana 76-72.
This week: Michigan on Thursday, 9 p.m. ET (TV: Fox Sports 1).
The skinny: Is it fair to drop Northwestern a spot because of an injury to Ty Berry? Probably not, especially since it owns a head-to-head win over Michigan State. But it seems like the Spartans might be a little more consistent ... at least right now. Northwestern did pick up an impressive road win over Indiana, despite Boo Buie having foul trouble and going just three-of-14 from the floor. The Wildcats are still a top-four team in the Big Ten, but the loss of Berry is significant.

5. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Records: 18-8 overall, 8-7 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 40
Last Week's Power Ranking: No. 6 (Up 1 spot)
Best wins/worst losses: Beat Michigan State; Beat Kansas State; Beat No. 1 Purdue; Lost to Rutgers; Beat Northwestern; Beat No. 6 Wisconsin.
Last week: Beat Penn State 68-49.
This week: At Indiana on Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network); Minnesota on Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: Wednesday night's game against Indiana feels critically important for Nebraska. The road troubles are well documented and this team desperately needs another victory away from Pinnacle Bank Arena to help its NCAA Tournament resumé. Nebraska had little trouble with a pesky Penn State team over the weekend. Can the Huskers finally carry some of that momentum into a road game? Playing a struggling Indiana team gives this team a perfect opportunity to get a valuable win.

6. Wisconsin Badgers

Records: 17-9 overall, 9-6 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: Received 88 votes; Coaches: Received 16 votes; KenPom: No. 19
Last Week's Power Ranking: No. 5 (Down 1 spot)
Best wins/worst losses: Beat No. 24 Virginia; Beat No. 3 Marquette; Beat Michigan State (twice); Beat Nebraska; Lost to Penn State; Lost to Michigan; Lost to Rutgers.
Last week: Beat Ohio State 62-54; Lost to Iowa 88-86 (OT).
This week: Maryland on Tuesday, 9 p.m. ET (TV: Peacock).
The skinny: The month of February has taken Wisconsin completely out of the hunt for a Big Ten title. The Badgers are 1-5 this month, with the lone victory coming at home against Ohio State. Is this just a slump for Wisconsin? Or is Greg Gard's team completely worn down heading into the most important time of the season? After Tuesday's game against Maryland, Wisconsin gets a week off to rest and regroup. Maybe we'll see a refreshed team after a break.

7. Iowa Hawkeyes

Records: 15-11 overall, 7-8 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 57
Last Week's Power Ranking: No. 7 (No change)
Best wins/worst losses: Beat Seton Hall. Beat Nebraska. Lost to Indiana.
Last week: Lost to Maryland 78-66; Beat Wisconsin 88-86 (OT).
This week: At Michigan State on Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET (TV: Peacock); At Illinois on Saturday, 2:15 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: Iowa might be on the bumpiest roller coaster in the history of theme parks right now. The Hawkeyes have alternated wins and losses in their last eight games, unable to generate any momentum. The bright spot was the play of freshman Owen Freeman, who scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in an overtime win over Wisconsin. He also made all six field goal attempts and dished out six assists. It was one hell of a performance from the rookie.

8. Minnesota Golden Gophers

Records: 16-9 overall, 7-7 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 67
Last Week's Power Ranking: No. 8 (No change)
Best wins/worst losses: Lost to San Francisco; Beat Nebraska; Lost to Indiana; Beat Northwestern; Beat Michigan State.
Last week: Lost to Purdue 84-76; Beat Rutgers 81-70.
This week: Ohio State on Thursday, 8 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network); At Nebraska on Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: Ben Johnson absolutely deserves a seat at the table when it comes to the discussion of Big Ten Coach of the Year. It's far from a lock, but if Minnesota can find some level of consistency down the stretch, it might wiggle its way into the NCAA Tournament conversation. Is it a long shot? Absolutely. But the fact that we're even having this conversation is a huge leap for the program considering where it had been the previous two seasons.

9. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Records: 14-11 overall, 6-8 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 83
Last Week's Power Ranking: No. 11 (Up 2 spots)
Best wins/worst losses: Lost to Princeton; Beat Nebraska; Beat No. 11 Wisconsin.
Last week: Beat Northwestern 63-60; Lost to Minnesota 81-70.
This week: At Purdue on Thursday, 7 p.m. ET (TV: Fox Sports 1); Maryland on Sunday, 12 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: Steve Pikiell's team deserves a lot of credit for continually fighting. This is a team without many shooters and one that has battled the injury bug throughout the year. Yet Rutgers sits at 6-8 in conference play and has proven to be a real nuisance this season, taking down some of the top teams in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights have gone from a bottom-feeder to the most dangerous squad in the conference in the matter of a month.

10. Penn State Nittany Lions

Records: 12-14 overall, 6-9 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 93
Last Week's Power Ranking: No. 9 (Down 1 spot)
Best wins/worst losses: Lost to VCU; Lost to Bucknell; Beat No. 11 Wisconsin.
Last week: Lost to Michigan State 80-72; Lost to Nebraska 68-49.
This week: Illinois on Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network); Indiana on Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: The Nittany Lions had no answer for Nebraska's defense on Saturday, resulting in one of the uglier losses of the season. Penn State shot just 21.7% from 3-point range, 33.3% from 3-point range and made just eight-of-16 free throw attempts. These are the kinds of ups and downs a program with a new coach goes through. Life doesn't get much easier, hosting a ranked Illinois squad this week.

11. Indiana Hoosiers

Records: 14-11 overall, 6-8 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 98
Last Week's Power Ranking: No. 10 (Down 1 spot)
Best wins/worst losses: Lost to Rutgers; Lost to Penn State.
Last week: Lost to Northwestern 76-72.
This week: Nebraska on Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network); At Penn State on Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: Time is running out for Indiana. The Hoosiers had a full week to prepare for a depleted Northwestern team and still struggled with energy and effort early against the Wildcats, resulting in a second straight home loss. Kel'el Ware played extremely well on Sunday, but that was the only bright spot in Bloomington. The Hoosiers are now 1-3 in February.

12. Maryland Terrapins

Records: 14-12 overall, 6-9 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 52
Last Week's Power Ranking: No. 12 (No change)
Best wins/worst losses: Lost to Davidson; Lost to UAB; Beat No. 10 Illinois; Beat Nebraska; Lost to Rutgers; Lost to Ohio State.
Last week: Beat Iowa 78-66; Lost to Illinois 85-80.
This week: At Wisconsin on Tuesday, 9 p.m. ET (TV: Peacock); At Rutgers on Sunday, 12 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: It kind of feels like Maryland's NCAA Tournament hopes died in the loss to Illinois. The Terrapins have needed more quality wins, and Saturday presented the perfect opportunity at home. Instead, the Terps are now just 6-9 in Big Ten play and are just hoping to avoid playing on Wednesday in the conference tournament next month.

13. Ohio State Buckeyes

Records: 15-11 overall, 5-10 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 62
Last Week's Power Ranking: No. 13 (No change)
Best wins/worst losses: Beat No. 17 Alabama; Lost to Penn State; Lost to Michigan; Lost to Indiana; Beat No. 2 Purdue.
Last week: Lost to Wisconsin 62-54; Beat Purdue 73-69.
This week: At Minnesota on Thursday, 8 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network); At Michigan State on Sunday, 4 p.m. ET (TV: CBS).
The skinny: Ohio State decided to move on from Chris Holtmann following a loss to Wisconsin. The Buckeyes responded in a huge way, pulling off a massive upset by defeating No. 2 Purdue in Jake Diebler's debut as interim coach. Credit Bruce Thornton, Jamison Battle and an effective bench for Sunday's big win. We finally saw the Ohio State team we expected to see all season long.

14. Michigan Wolverines

Records: 8-18 overall, 3-12 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: 104
Last Week's Power Ranking: No. 14 (No change)
Best wins/worst losses: Lost to Long Beach State; Lost to McNeese; Lost to Rutgers; Beat No. 11 Wisconsin.
Last week: Lost to Illinois 97-68; Lost to Michigan State 73-63.
This week: At Northwestern on Thursday, 9 p.m. ET (TV: Fox Sports 1); Purdue on Sunday, 2 p.m. ET (TV: CBS).
The skinny: Juwan Howard says he has no plans of moving on from Ann Arbor after a rough and rocky season this year. He better find a way to finish the season strong, otherwise he may not have a choice in the matter.