Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings (Vol. 16): Hoosiers, Buckeyes Dangerous in Big Ten Tournament

Both Indiana and Ohio State finished the regular season on a high note. The Hoosiers and Buckeyes might be the most dangerous teams heading into the Big Ten Tournament. How do they stack up in this edition of the conference power rankings?

Dustin Schutte | Mar 11, 2024

Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings (Vol. 16): Hoosiers, Buckeyes Dangerous in Big Ten Tournament /

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The Big Ten regular season is over, which means we are gearing up for the conference tournament, scheduled for March 13-17 at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Based on how the season finished, we should be in store for plenty of excitement.

Everyone understands that — after outstanding seasons — Purdue and Illinois are the favorites to raise the trophy in Minneapolis on Sunday. But these tournaments rarely go according to schedule. Plus, it's way more fun to talk about the dangerous teams this time of year.

Indiana and Ohio State are prime candidates to upset the apple cart this week. The Hoosiers have won four straight games and look like a completely different team since the return of Xavier Johnson. The Buckeyes are 5-1 since Jake Diebler took over, which includes wins over Purdue, Nebraska and Michigan State.

Could those teams make a deep run? Will Nebraska or Northwestern carry their regular season success into the tournament? Or will someone else surprise us in March?

So many fun scenarios to discuss. But first, let's take a look at the latest edition of the power rankings.

1. Purdue Boilermakers

Records: 28-3 overall, 17-3 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP Poll: No. 3; Coaches Poll: No. 3; KenPom: No. 3
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; Beat. No. 12 Illinois.
Last week: Beat Illinois 77-71; Beat Wisconsin 78-70.
This week: Big Ten Tournament on Friday (double-bye); Opponent TBD (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: For a second straight year, Purdue has won the Big Ten regular season outright by a three-game margin. It was another impressive run for Zach Edey and the Boilermakers. Now, the question has to be asked: Does Matt Painter limit the minutes of guys like Edey, Braden Smith and others to prepare for the NCAA Tournament? Or does Purdue attempt to win a second consecutive Big Ten Tournament title, as well? Right now, the Boilers have a good shot at the No. 1 overall seed, so results in the conference tournament probably don't matter too much.

2. Illinois Fighting Illini

Records: 23-8 overall, 14-6 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: No. 13; Coaches: No. 14; KenPom: No. 10
Best wins/worst losses: Beat No. 11 Florida Atlantic; Beat Northwestern; Lost to Maryland; Beat Wisconsin.
Last week: Lost to Purdue 77-71; Beat Iowa 73-61.
This week: Big Ten Tournament on Friday (double-bye); Opponent TBD (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: Well, the Fighting Illini couldn't get a share of the Big Ten regular season title, but they still finished the year strong with a double-digit road win against Iowa. There's no question, Illinois has the pieces to be a tough out in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments this year. A lineup featuring Coleman Hawkins, Terrence Shannon Jr. and Marcus Domask is dangerous. But the Illini need to have a little more consistency, particularly on the defensive end.

3. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Records: 22-9 overall, 12-8 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: Received 6 votes; Coaches: Received 7 votes; KenPom: No. 32
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 Michigan 85-70.
This week: Big Ten Tournament on Friday (double-bye); Opponent TBD (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: Have I mentioned that Fred Hoiberg deserves Big Ten Coach of the Year honors yet? The Huskers ended the season third in the Big Ten standings, the highest finish for the program since joining the league. Nebraska has also won six of their last seven games and roll into Minneapolis with a lot of confidence. If Keisei Tominaga and CJ Wilcher light it up from downtown, watch out.

4. Northwestern Wildcats

Records: 20-9 overall, 11-7 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: Received 1 vote; KenPom: No. 42
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 Michigan State 53-49; Beat Minnesota 90-66.
This week: Big Ten Tournament on Friday (double-bye); Opponent TBD (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: Northwestern deserves credit for going 6-3 in the final nine games of the Big Ten season without Ty Berry. Even without his sharp-shooting ability, the Wildcats found a way to earn a double-bye for the Big Ten Tournament. Having Boo Buie in the lineup certainly helps, doesn't it? After being held to a season-low 49 points in a loss to Michigan State, the Wildcats bounced back nicely and scored an impressive 90-66 victory over Minnesota on Senior Day.

5. Ohio State Buckeyes

Records: 19-12 overall, 9-11 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 49
Best wins/worst losses: Beat No. 17 Alabama; Lost to Penn State; Lost to Michigan; Lost to Indiana; Beat No. 2 Purdue; Beat Michigan State; Beat Nebraska.
Last week: Beat Rutgers 73-51.
This week: Big Ten Tournament on Thursday vs. Iowa (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: After all the turmoil this season, Ohio State finds itself with a chance to make the NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes are 5-1 under interim coach Jake Diebler and are playing their best basketball of the season. Sure, Ohio State is still the No. 10 seed, but not many teams have played as consistently as the Buckeyes down the stretch. This could be a very dangerous team in the Big Ten Tournament with guys like Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle Jr and Jamison Battle.

6. Indiana Hoosiers

Records: 18-13 overall, 10-10 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 86
Best wins/worst losses: Lost to Rutgers; Lost to Penn State (twice); Beat Wisconsin; Beat Michigan State.
Last week: Beat Minnesota 70-58; Beat Michigan State 65-64.
This week: Big Ten Tournament on Thursday (single-bye); Opponent TBD (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: Better late than never? Indiana has won four straight games to close out the regular season, giving fans in Bloomington something to cheer about. A big reason for the success has been the play of big man Kel'el Ware and the return of guard Xavier Johnson. Without a true signature win on the resume, Indiana's shot at a March Madness bid is likely out the window unless it wins the Big Ten Tournament. But could the Hoosiers play spoiler this week in Minneapolis? Absolutely.

7. Iowa Hawkeyes

Records: 18-13 overall, 10-10 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 52
Best wins/worst losses: Beat Seton Hall. Beat Nebraska. Lost to Indiana; Beat Michigan State; Beat Northwestern.
Last week: Lost to Illinois 73-61.
This week: Big Ten Tournament on Thursday vs. Ohio State (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: Another Big Ten bubble team. The Hawkeyes really could have used a season-ending win over a ranked Illinois team on their home court on Sunday. Iowa will probably need some luck in the Big Ten Tournament. Give Fran McCaffery credit, as the Hawkeyes improved throughout the course of the season — always a great quality. They just have lacked consistency.

8. Minnesota Golden Gophers

Records: 18-13 overall, 9-11 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 75
Best wins/worst losses: Lost to San Francisco; Beat Nebraska; Lost to Indiana; Beat Northwestern; Beat Michigan State.
Last week: Lost to Indiana 70-58; Lost to Northwestern 90-66.
This week: Big Ten Tournament on Thursday vs. Michigan State (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: It's been tough sledding for the Golden Gophers down the stretch. Minnesota has lost four of its last five games, losing three of those contests by double digits. Minnesota is a much-improved team from a season ago, but it still lacks the necessary depth to get through a grueling Big Ten season. We'll find out if Ben Johnson's team has anything left in the tank on Thursday in the conference tournament.

9. Michigan State Spartans

Records: 18-13 overall, 10-10 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 19
Best wins/worst losses: Beat No. 6 Baylor; Beat No. 10 Illinois; Lost to Ohio State; Beat Northwestern.
Last week: Beat Northwestern 53-49; Lost to Indiana 65-64.
This week: Big Ten Tournament on Thursday vs. Minnesota (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: Speaking of teams that have struggled at the end of the season, Michigan State is another squad that has lost four of its last five games. Because of the tough nonconference schedule, the Spartans might still be a tournament team, but winning at least one game in the Big Ten Tournament is critical. There's no other way to slice it, with a team full of stars like Tyson Walker, AJ Hoggard, Jaden Akins and more, this year has been a massive disappointment for the Spartans.

10. Wisconsin Badgers

Records: 19-12 overall, 11-9 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 21
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; Lost to Indiana.
Last week: Beat Rutgers 78-66; Lost to Purdue 78-70.
This week: Big Ten Tournament on Thursday, (single-bye); Opponent TBD (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: There was a time when Wisconsin was 8-1 in the Big Ten and appeared to be a true challenger to Purdue in the regular season race for a Big Ten championship. But the Badgers have taken a nosedive in the last month of the season, going just 3-8 in their final 11 conference games. Although Wisconsin's offense got better with the arrival of AJ Storr, the defense has suffered. The Badgers have been abysmal at defending the 3-point line, a huge reason for their downfall.

11. Penn State Nittany Lions

Records: 15-16 overall, 9-11 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 77
Best wins/worst losses: Lost to VCU; Lost to Bucknell; Beat No. 11 Wisconsin; Beat No. 12 Illinois.
Last week: Beat Maryland 85-69.
This week: Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday vs. Michigan (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: Penn State ended a rocky year on a positive note, blowing out Maryland on Senior Day. More good news? The Nittany Lions get Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament, giving Mike Rhoades' team a legitimate shot to reach Day 2 of the event. Maybe this hasn't been the best season in State College, but guys like Ace Baldwin Jr., Nick Kern Jr., Zach Hicks and Qudus Wahab have been fun to watch this year.

12. Maryland Terrapins

Records: 15-16 overall, 7-13 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 58
Best wins/worst losses: Lost to Davidson; Lost to UAB; Beat No. 10 Illinois; Beat Nebraska; Lost to Rutgers; Lost to Ohio State; Lost to Indiana; Lost to Penn State.
Last week: Lost to Penn State 85-69.
This week: Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday vs. Rutgers (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: If there was an award for Big Ten Most Disappointing Team, it would go to Maryland. Even with a strong combination in Jahmir Young and Julian Reese, the Terrapins were six games below .500 in conference play and finished with a losing record. Shooting the 3-pointer at a 28.4% clip for an entire season will do that to a team.

13. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Records: 15-16 overall, 7-13 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 98
Best wins/worst losses: Lost to Princeton; Beat Nebraska; Beat No. 11 Wisconsin; Lost to Maryland.
Last week: Lost to Ohio State 73-51.
This week: Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday vs. Maryland (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: There was a stretch this season where Rutgers looked like it might be a dangerous team in the conference. But the Scarlet Knights lost six of their final seven games in the Big Ten. Like Maryland, Rutgers just struggled to put the ball in the basket. They continued to play hard, but that only goes so far when shots aren't falling.

14. Michigan Wolverines

Records: 8-23 overall, 3-17 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: 127
Best wins/worst losses: Lost to Long Beach State; Lost to McNeese; Lost to Rutgers; Beat No. 11 Wisconsin; Lost to Rutgers.
Last week: Lost to Nebraska 85-70.
This week: Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday vs. Penn State (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: Michigan ends the regular season on an eight-game losing streak. Not really much left to say.