Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings (Vol. 4): Purdue's Resumé Continues to Impress

Purdue and Michigan State flexed their muscles after pulling off big wins vs. ranked opponents. Ohio State took down UCLA and Nebraska picked up an important road win vs. Kansas State.

Dustin Schutte | Dec 18, 2023

Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings (Vol. 4): Purdue's Resumé Continues to Impress /

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Last week wasn't extremely busy in the Big Ten, but the weekend provided plenty of highlights on the basketball front. Purdue knocked off No. 1 Arizona; Michigan State eviscerated No. 6 Baylor; Ohio State took down UCLA and Nebraska beat Kansas State.

Those were the biggest highlights from the past week in the conference. How much did it impact the power rankings? There are a few changes, but there are still plenty of questions about several teams as the non-conference schedule winds down.

1. Purdue Boilermakers

Records: 10-1, 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 Arizona 92-84.
This week: Jacksonville on Thursday, 6:30 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: Add another impressive victory to Purdue's resumé. The Boilermakers posted an impressive victory over top-ranked Arizona in Indianapolis over the weekend, the program's first win against a No. 1 team since 2000. Along with Zach Edey and Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer is starting to knock down shots from the perimeter, giving the Boilermakers plenty of weapons on the floor.

2. Illinois Fighting Illini

Records: 8-2 overall, 1-0 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: No. 13; Coaches: No. 11; KenPom: No. 14
Best wins/worst losses: Beat Oakland; Beat Florida Atlantic.
Last week: Beat Colgate 74-57.
This week: Missouri on Friday (Neutral site: Enterprise Center in St. Louis), 9 p.m. ET (TV: Fox Sports 1).
The skinny: We didn't learn much more about the Fighting Illini this past week, other than their starters can be incredibly dominant. Four guys all reached double figures in the Sunday victory over Colgate. Yes, it's an inferior opponent, but that kind of balance is what makes Illinois such a dangerous team in the Big Ten this season.

3. Wisconsin Badgers

Records: 8-3 overall, 1-0 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: No. 24; Coaches: No. 24; KenPom: No. 17
Best wins/worst losses: Beat No. 24 Virginia; Beat No. 3 Marquette; Beat Michigan State.
Last week: Beat Jacksonville State 75-60.
This week: Chicago State on Friday, 8 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: The one-two punch of Steven Crowl and Tyler Wahl is becoming more and more effective for Greg Gard's team. Once Big Ten play gets rolling again, we're going to find out even more about the Badgers. But Wisconsin is finding its identity as one of the tougher, more physical teams in the league.

4. Northwestern Wildcats

Records: 8-2 overall, 1-0 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: Dropped out, Received 5 votes; Coaches: Received 68 votes; KenPom: No. 65
Best wins/worst losses: Beat Dayton; Beat No. 1 Purdue; Lost to Chicago State.
Last week: Lost to Chicago State 75-73; Beat DePaul 56-46.
This week: Arizona State on Wednesday (Neutral site: Footprint Center in Phoenix), 8:30 p.m. ET (TV: ESPN2).
The skinny: Woof, Northwestern. After a stunning upset over No. 1 Purdue to open Big Ten play, the Wildcats laid an egg against a bad Chicago State team last weekend. Those type of performances are unacceptable from a team looking to compete atop the Big Ten. Credit to this team, though, for bouncing back with a win over DePaul and putting that ugly loss in the rearview mirror.

5. Ohio State Buckeyes

Records: 9-2 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: Received 12 votes; Coaches: Received 17 votes; KenPom: No. 26
Best wins/worst losses: Beat No. 17 Alabama; Lost to Penn State; Beat UCLA
Last week: Beat UCLA 67-60.
This week: New Orleans on Thursday, 6 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network-Plus).
The skinny: Ohio State also bounced back nicely after a crushing loss to Penn State a week earlier. The Buckeyes got a big game from Roddy Gayle Jr., who scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds in a seven-point win over UCLA. The most impressive part? Chris Holtmann's team found a way to win despite making just one shot from behind the 3-point line against the Bruins.

6. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Records: 9-2 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: Received 4 votes; KenPom: No. 42
Best wins/worst losses: Beat Michigan State; Lost to Minnesota; Beat Kansas State.
Last week: Beat Kansas State 62-46.
This week: North Dakota on Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network-Plus).
The skinny: Improvements on the defensive end have allowed Nebraska to get off to a 9-2 start. That was on display in Sunday's win over Kansas State — an important road win for the Huskers. Plus, Juwan Gary and Rienk Mast combined for 32 points and 30 rebounds in the game. This is another scrappy Big Ten team that is finding ways to win.

7. Michigan State Spartans

Records: 5-5 overall, 0-2 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: Received 10 votes; Coaches: Received 18 votes; KenPom: No. 23
Best wins/worst losses: Beat Butler; Beat No. 6 Baylor.
Last week: Beat Baylor 88-64.
This week: Oakland on Monday, 7 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network); Stony Brook on Thursday, 6:30 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network-Plus).
The skinny: Has Michigan State finally found the much-needed spark? The Spartans obliterated an undefeated Baylor team on Saturday, showing signs of life for the first time this season. The Spartans shot better than 63% from the floor and forced 21 turnovers in the game. Maybe Tom Izzo's team benefited from having a week off after losses to Wisconsin and Nebraska.

8. Indiana Hoosiers

Records: 7-3 overall, 2-0 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 79
Best wins/worst losses: Beat Wright State; Beat Maryland.
Last week: Lost to Kansas 75-71.
This week: Morehead State on Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network); North Alabama on Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: It was still a loss, but Indiana provided its fans with a reason for optimism on Saturday. The Hoosiers went toe-to-toe with the second-ranked Jayhawks, leading for most of the game. Indiana has a long way to get to develop and jell, but if IU can consistently put this type of effort together, it is more than capable of beating anyone in the league on any given night.

9. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Records: 7-3 overall, 0-1 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 77
Best wins/worst losses: Lost to Princeton
Last week: Beat Long Island 83-61.
This week: Mississippi State on Saturday (Neutral site: Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.), 12 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: Because the performance came against Long Island, we didn't learn anything new about Rutgers this week. This does provide an opportunity to give a shoutout to Cliff Omoruyi, who scored 25 points and collected 12 rebounds in the win. Aundre Hyatt also finished with a double-double, scoring 12 pints and grabbing 12 boards.

10. Michigan Wolverines

Records: 6-5 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: 45
Best wins/worst losses: Lost to Long Beach State; Beat Memphis.
Last week: Beat Eastern Michigan 83-66.
This week: Florida on Tuesday (Neutral site at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C.), 7 p.m. ET (TV: ESPN).
The skinny: Welcome back, Juwan Howard. Michigan got its head coach back this weekend and the Wolverines earned a win over in-state MAC foe Eastern Michigan. The Maize and Blue thrived from behind the 3-point line over the weekend, connecting on 12-of-27 shots from deep.

11. Minnesota Golden Gophers

Records: 8-3 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 88
Best wins/worst losses: Lost to San Francisco; Beat Nebraska.
Last week: Beat IUPUI 101-65.
This week: Ball State on Thursday, 8 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network-Plus).
The skinny: The verdict is still out on Minnesota, but the Gophers have looked much better in their last three games, beating Nebraska, Florida Gulf Coast and IUPUI by double digits. Minnesota ends non-conference action with games against Ball State and Maine, so this should be a 10-win squad entering Big Ten action in January.

12. Maryland Terrapins

Records: 6-4 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 72
Best wins/worst losses: Lost to Davidson; Lost to UAB.
Last week: Beat Alcorn State 105-65.
This week: Nicholls on Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network); At UCLA on Friday, 9 p.m. ET (TV: ESPN2).
The skinny: Has Maryland finally figured out how to shoot? The Terrapins were 52.6% from the floor in the blowout win over Alcorn State. No, that's not the greatest test in the world, but perhaps it will give the Terrapins the confidence they need to start shooting more effectively. It's going to be interesting to see if this is a turning point for Kevin Willard's team.

13. Iowa Hawkeyes

Records: 6-5 overall, 0-2 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 50
Best wins/worst losses: Beat Seton Hall.
Last week: Beat Florida A&M 88-52.
This week: UMBC on Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET (TV: Big Ten Network).
The skinny: Iowa is finally back in the win column, beating Florida A&M by 36 over the weekend. There was nothing particularly special about this victory, but it does end a three-game losing skid and puts the Hawkeyes back in a more positive mindset to close out a tough month on the hardwood.

14. Penn State Nittany Lions

Records: 5-6 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten
Rankings: AP: NR; Coaches: NR; KenPom: No. 108
Best wins/worst losses: Lost to VCU; Lost to Bucknell; Beat Ohio State.
Last week: Lost to Georgia Tech 82-81 (OT).
This week: Le Moyne on Thursday, 7 p.m. ET (TV: Peacock).
The skinny: Is it fair to say Penn State is the most dramatic team in the Big Ten? Two of the Nittany Lions' last three games have gone to overtime. Unfortunately for Mike Rhoades, Penn State has lost both. Without question, this is still a work in progress. But the Lions continue to fight each and every night, and that's the first big step for a new coaching staff.