My first Big Ten power rankings for men’s basketball
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – I had a choice on Friday between doing 10 sit-ups or my first Big Ten power rankings in men’s basketball.
As you can tell, I took the easy route by avoiding any kind of exercise. Or, at least, I thought I did.
There was nothing easy about ranking the 14 men’s basketball team’s in the conference. And remember, these picks are fluid, and probably will change by Monday.
It was hard enough just picking the top team between Wisconsin and Michigan State. The Badgers have the slightest edge because their key players are veterans who have experienced the Big Ten grind multiple times, whereas Michigan State relies heavily on freshmen.
The Spartans are battled tested, though, after playing a brutal non-conference schedule, which is typical for them.
As for Iowa, it is one of the Big Ten’s most pleasant surprises at this stage, already with victories over Iowa State, Michigan and Purdue at home this season. Iowa also has the conference's top scorer in 6-foot-6 senior Peter Jok, who has scored at least 25 points in eight games this season.
1. Wisconsin: 3-1, 14-3 – Is Wisconsin a football or a basketball school?
2. Michigan State: 4-1, 12-6 – Tom Izzo probably would have the Spartans plays all their nonconference games against NBA teams if the NCAA would allow it.
3. Maryland: 3-1, 15-2 – Most of the key players have changed from last season, but the positive results haven’t, nor has the situation at point guard where Melo Trimble continues to perform at a star level.
4. Minnesota: 3-2, 15-3 – Unlike in football where it takes numerous players to lead a turnaround, two or three players can make a huge difference in basketball. Minnesota is proof of that under fourth-year head coach Richard Pitino.
The addition of transfers Reggie Lynch and Akeem Springs and freshman Amir Coffey have helped to turn the Gophers into a legitimate Big Ten contender after finishing 2-16 in the conference and 8-23 overall last season.
5. Purdue: 3-2, 14-4 – The size of Purdue center Isaac Haas – he is 7-foot-2 and approximately 300 pounds – is the most incredible thing to hit West Lafayette since Gene Keady’s comb over and scowl
6. Nebraska: 3-1, 9-7 – Cornhusker fans are excited about the possibility of making the NCAA Tournament as sort of a warm-up for winning the 2017 national title in football.
7. Northwestern: 3-2, 14-4 – Barring a collapse, Chicago’s team might finally became an NCAA Tournament team for the first time ever. The Wildcats will face Iowa in a key game on Sunday in Evanston, Ill.
And speaking of Iowa…
8. Iowa: 3-2, 11-7 – The future looks promising for Iowa, which currently starts four freshmen, but the present doesn’t look too bad, either. Jok is scoring points at a record pace and making shots that cause you to shake your head. Freshman point guard Jordan Bohannon also has performed well this season. He scored 12 points, dished out nine assists and had just one turnover in Thursday's 83-78 victory over Purdue at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Bohannon now has 91 assists and just 40 turnovers in 18 games this season.
9. Indiana: 1-3, 11-6 – The Hoosiers are without question the Big Ten's biggest disappointment at this stage. You could argue they should be ranked below Illinois and Penn State, considering they both have better conference records, but Indiana has more potential.
10. Illinois: 2-2, 12-5 – Illinois has been slightly below average under fifth-year head coach John Groce. That probably has to change this season to avoid a coaching change.
11. Michigan: 1-3, 11-6 – The Wolverines are proof that you can be coached in spectacular fashion, as is the case with John Beilein’s influence, but still struggle.
12. Penn State: 2-2, 10-7 – The Nittany Lions are finally showing a pulse under head coach Pat Chambers. Now if they could just get their fans to do the same.
13. Ohio State: 0-4, 10-7 – Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
14. Rutgers: 0-5, 11-7 – The Scarlet Knights have nowhere to go but up, at least until the Big Ten expands again.