Big 10 Basketball: Week 2 Power Rankings

The Big Ten had a very successful second week of basketball. 

Indiana won the Legends Classic, Illinois won the EA Sports Maui Invitational and Michigan won the NIT Season Tip-Off.

Nine of the 12 Big Ten teams have either no losses or one loss so far this season. 

The conference has a tough road ahead as they face ACC competition on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

The Big Ten has won the ACC/Big Ten Challenge three years running; will that success continue?

12. Penn State

Last week: No. 12

Record: 3-2 (1-0 last week)

Games from last week:

Wins: Bucknell 60-57 on Nov. 23. 

Reasons for Ranking: The Nittany Lions looked better against Bucknell than I thought they would. The Bisons have defeated Purdue, George Mason and New Mexico State in their first four games. Beating Bucknell at home shows that Penn State might be adequate without Tim Frazier, but they will miss his presence throughout the year.     

Upcoming Opponents: Boston College (2-4) on Nov. 28 and Penn (1-5) on Dec. 1. 

11. Nebraska

Last week: No. 11  

Record: 4-1 (1-1 last week) 

Games from last week:

Wins: Tulane 61-57 on Nov. 21

Losses: Kent State 74-60 on Nov. 24

Reasons for Ranking: The Cornhuskers showed their strengths and weaknesses after splitting last week's games. Nebraska defeated Tulane by shooting 50 percent from the field and about 53 percent from the three-point line; these are the keys to their winning strategy. In the loss to Kent State, Nebraska shot 39 percent from the field and about 16 percent from three-point range.  

Upcoming Opponents: Wake Forest (3-2) on Nov 27. 

10. Purdue

Last week: No. 9 (Dropped one spot)

Record: 2-3 (1-0 last week)

Games from last week: 

Wins: UNC-Wilmington 66-40 on Nov. 21   

Reasons for Ranking: Terone Johnson scored 19 points against UNC-Wilmington and Travis Carroll added 10 points off the bench. This week won't be easy for the Boilermakers as they face Clemson on the road and Xavier at home. Losing both games is a possibility. ESPN's Joe Lunardi has the Boilermakers making the tournament in his Bracketology (Nov. 6), but I don't think they will be there in his next prediction.  

Upcoming Opponents: Clemson (4-1) on Nov. 28 and Xavier (5-1) on Dec. 1.

9. Northwestern

Last week: No. 8 (Dropped one spot)

Record: 6-0 (3-0 last week)

Games from last week:

Wins: Delaware State 69-50 on Nov. 20, TCU 55-31 on Nov. 23 and Illinois State 72-69 OT on Nov. 24.   

Reasons for Ranking: Northwestern stayed consistent and played very well last week. They dominated Delaware State and TCU, but had a difficult time with Illinois State. Maryland and UIC won't be as easy as DSU or TCU, but at least both contests are at home.   

Upcoming Opponents: Maryland (4-1) on Nov. 27 and UIC (4-1) on Dec. 1 

8. Iowa

Last week: No. 7 (Dropped one spot)

Record: 5-1 (1-1 last week) 

Games from last week:

Wins: Western Kentucky 65-55 on Nov. 20

Losses: Wichita State 75-63 on Nov. 21

Reasons for Ranking: The Hawkeyes went from shooting 47 percent from the field in the WKU win to 26 percent in the Wichita State loss. Give credit to the Shockers, who could be a tournament team in March. Not only have they beat the Hawkeyes, but VCU and Depaul as well. Playing Virginia Tech on the road won't be an easy task, but a cupcake team like Texas A&M-CC should be an easy win.

Upcoming Opponents: Virginia Tech (5-0) on Nov. 27 and Texas A&M-CC (1-3) on Dec. 1

7. Wisconsin

Last week: No. 5 (Dropped two spots) 

Record: 4-2 (2-1 last week)

Games from last week:

Wins: Presbyterian 88-43 on Nov. 20 and Arkansas 77-70 on Nov. 24

Losses: then-No. 14 Creighton 84-74 on Nov. 23  

Reasons for Ranking: The Badgers haven't looked good against ranked opponents so far and deserve to drop two spots in my power rankings. Both losses have either been on the road or at neutral sites to ranked teams. They lost to then-No. 14 Creighton because they couldn't stop All-American Doug McDermott. McDermott recorded 30 points and eight rebounds, and Ethan Wragge scored 17 points off the bench as well. I think the Badgers will defeat Virginia and Cal because both games are at home. 

Upcoming Opponents: Virginia (4-2) on Nov. 28 and Cal (6-0) on Dec. 2   

6. Illinois

National Ranking: No. 22 in AP and USA Today Polls

Last week: No. 10 (Moved up four spots) 

Record: 7-0 (4-0 last week)

Games from last week:

Wins: USC 94-64 on Nov. 19, Chaminade 84-61 on Nov. 20, Butler 78-61 on Nov. 21 and Gardner Webb 63-62 on Nov. 25.   

Reasons for Ranking: The Fighting Illini looked very good in the EA Sports Maui Invitational, defeating three teams in three days. Their most impressive win of the tourney was defeating Butler by 17 points, who had upset then-No. 9 UNC the day before. Illinois has looked good thus far mostly because of Brandon Paul, one of the best guards in the Big Ten. Paul averages 18.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Also, the Fighting Illini have three other players averaging double-digits per game.   

Upcoming Opponents: Georgia Tech (4-1) on Nov. 28

5. Minnesota

National Ranking: No. 21 in AP Poll and unranked in USA Today poll

Last week: No. 6 (Moved up one spot) 

Record: 6-1 (2-1 last week)

Games from last week:

Wins: then-No. 19 Memphis 84-75 on Nov. 23 and Stanford 66-63 on Nov. 24.

Losses: No. 5 Duke 89-71 on Nov. 22     

Reasons for Ranking: Minnesota fared well in the Battle 4 Atlantis; they lost the first round to No. 5 Duke, but then won their next two games against then-No. 19 Memphis and Stanford. In the first game against the Tigers, Andre Hollins had a career-best 41 points. The Golden Gophers also shot almost 10 percent better from the field than the Cardinals to get a three-point victory. Minnesota has proven that they have depth like the other top Big Ten teams.    

Upcoming Opponents: Florida State (4-1) on Nov. 27 and North Florida (1-4) on Dec. 1

4. Michigan State

National Ranking: No. 13 in AP Poll and No. 14 in USA Today Poll

Last week: No. 4 

Record: 5-1 (3-0 last week)

Games from last week:

Wins: Boise State 74-70 on Nov. 20, Oakland 70-52 on Nov. 23 and Louisiana-Lafayette 63-60 on Nov. 25. 

Reasons for Ranking: While the Spartans won all three of last week's games, what might worry fans is the injury of Gary Harris. However, MSU doesn't play any notable opponent till the Big Ten opener against Minnesota on Dec. 31. Keith Appling has continued to play well, averaging 16.8 on the season. The Spartans should've defeated Louisiana-Lafayette at home by more than three points, but a win is a win.      

Upcoming Opponents: Miami (3-1) on Nov. 28 and Nicholls State (0-2) on Dec. 1 

3. Ohio State

National Ranking: No. 4 in AP Poll and USA Today Poll

Last week: No. 3 

Record: 4-0 (1-0 last week)

Games from last week: 

Wins: Missouri-Kansas City 91-45 on Nov. 23.     

Reasons for Ranking: As expected, OSU dominated UMKC. The Kangaroos didn't stand a chance, especially with the Buckeyes shooting 61 percent from the field. Deshaun Thomas led scoring with 21 points in the game. It's going to be difficult to defeat No. 2 Duke on the road, but it will show what this Buckeye team is made of. If OSU can go into Cameron Indoor Stadium and defeat the Blue Devils many people will be impressed, including me.      

Upcoming Opponents: No. 2 Duke (6-0) on Nov. 28 and Northern Kentucky on Dec. 1  

2. Michigan

National Ranking: No. 3 in AP Poll and USA Today Poll

Last week: No. 2 

Record: 5-0 (2-0)

Games from last week:

Wins: Pittsburgh 67-62 on Nov. 21 and Kansas State 71-57 on Nov. 23.  

Reasons for Ranking: The Wolverines are a very good team this year because of their backcourt. Guard Tim Hardaway Jr. is averaging 18.2 points per game and Trey Burke is averaging 16.4. Not much has been said about Nik Stauskas, who just won Big Ten Freshman of the Week after shooting 50 percent from the field and 43 percent from the three-point range. NC State will be a threat to the Wolverines tomorrow, but UM should come out on top. 

Upcoming Opponents: NC State (5-1) on Nov. 27 and Bradley (4-1) on Dec. 1

1. Indiana

National Ranking: No. 1 in AP Poll and USA Today Poll

Last week: No. 1 

Record: 6-0 (3-0 last week)

Games from last week:

Wins: Georgia 66-53 on Nov. 19, Georgetown 82-71 OT on Nov. 20 and Ball State 101-53 on Nov. 25.    

Reasons for Ranking: Indiana's two performances in the Legends Classic were very different. IU didn't shoot as well as they normally do (44 percent from the field), which let Georgia to stay in the game. The Hoosiers shot better against Georgetown, but Markel Starks and other starters fouled out in crucial minutes. Both games proved Indiana can overcome adversity on the road and find ways to win. Guard Jordan Hulls has looked very good, averaging 16 points over the past three games. IU will face a tough opponent in North Carolina tomorrow, but it's at home—where they have won 22 of the last 23 games.  

Upcoming Opponents: No.14/13 North Carolina (5-1) on Nov. 27 and Coppin State (1-4) on Dec. 1