Power Ranking Big Ten Conference as CBB Postseason Nears

The Big Ten has been the best conference in college basketball this season. There are six teams that could potentially make the NCAA Tournament and five teams are currently ranked in the AP Top 25.

The teams in the Big Ten are physical and consist of many talented players that will be in the NBA at some point.  

There have been so many memorable games this season from the Big Ten Conference and we should expect more as the season winds down and teams like Indiana and Michigan State are fighting for the Big Ten regular-season title. 

Don't be surprised if there are two Big Ten teams that make it to the Final Four. These teams can flat out play ball and can contend with any team from the Big East or Big 12 Conference. 

With the parity that we have in this conference, it can be difficult to figure out who is better than who. Who is the best team in the conference right now? Indiana, Michigan State or Michigan? 

Check out who the best team is in the Big Ten right now with the latest conference power rankings:

5. Wisconsin Badgers

5. Wisconsin Badgers 

Record: 17-7 (8-3 in Big Ten) 

The Wisconsin Badgers are coming off a crazy 65-62 overtime win over Michigan.

The 40-foot three-point launch as time expired in regulation from junior guard Ben Brust will be remembered as one of the best plays from this college basketball season. 

The Badgers have been inconsistent at times this season, but have won four of their last five games. Two of those wins were against teams ranked in the Top 12.

This Wisconsin team has been led by senior forward-center Jared Berggren, junior guard Ben Brust and senior forward Ryan Evans.

Berggren leads the Badgers with 11.9 points per game and has been a solid on the boards averaging 6.8 rebounds per game. 

Brust has been on fire as of late averaging 17.3 points in the Badgers last three games and his two three-pointers helped knock off the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines Saturday. He needs to keep his scoring up for the rest of the season, because it could be the difference in the Badgers winning and losing in a close game.

Like Brust, Evans has stepped his game up in the Badgers last three games by averaging 13.6 points and 9.0 rebounds. He has led this Wisconsin squad in rebounds this season averaging 7.7 rebounds per game. 

Wisconsin will be in the NCAA Tournament again this March and is in the race to win the Big Ten regular-season title.

The Badgers will have two tough games this week. They travel to Minnesota on Thursday and then host Ohio State on Saturday.

After this week's games, four of their last five games of the regular-season should be winnable. Their only tough game will be at Michigan State on Mar. 7. 

The Badgers are a solid team and are going to be a tough down the stretch. They have been clutch lately and we will see if they can keep their Big Ten regular-season title hopes alive. 

4. Ohio State Buckeyes

4. Ohio State Buckeyes 

Record: 17-6 (7-4 in Big Ten)

The Ohio State Buckeyes lost both games last week, but we can't be to harsh on them.

They played tough against No. 3 Michigan and only lost 76-74 in overtime, then had to host No. 1 Indiana. That game wasn't as close, 81-68, but it doesn't define how talented this Ohio State squad actually is. 

It's no secret that this Buckeye squad is led by junior forward Deshaun Thomas. Thomas is averaging an astounding 20.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game this season.

He carries this team on his back and will continue to do so for the rest of the season. 

Junior guard Aaron Craft and Lenzelle Smith, Jr. are also important players on this Ohio State team.

Kraft continues to be a floor leader and be a tough defender. He has averaged 9.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game this season. 

Smith has averaged 10.3 points and has recorded 5.3 rebounds per game this season. 

Ohio State will find themselves in the NCAA Tournament in March, but they still have their work cut out for them. 

They play Northwestern on Thursday and have a big meeting in Madison on Sunday against No. 20 Wisconsin. 

The Buckeyes will then finish the regular-season with four of their last five games against tough opponents. Ohio State must face Minnesota, Michigan State, Indiana and Illinois. 

If the Buckeyes end up coming out of this tough part of the schedule with at least a 4-1 record, it could give them a boost of confidence heading into the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament. 

3. Michigan Wolverines

3. Michigan Wolverines 

Record: 21-4 (8-4 in Big Ten)

So the Michigan Wolverines thought they had the game won at Wisconsin, then the miraculous shot happened and they ended up losing in overtime.

The Wolverines lost in a close game and everyone figured it was simply because of a lucky shot by Wisconsin.

Michigan was, of course, one of the best teams in the country and would bounce back at in-state rival Michigan State. Right?

Not only did Michigan not bounce back Tuesday at Michigan State, they were absolutely manhandled all game by the Spartans and ended up losing 75-52. 

The Wolverines were flying on cloud 9 a few weeks ago, now they have lost three of their last four games. 

Things are not going to get any easier for this squad, but they have the opportunity to make a comeback in conference play with talented players like sophomore guard Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. leading the way.

Burke has averaged 18.1 points and 6.9 assists per game this season.

Hardaway was held to a total of two points against Michigan State, but in the three games prior to Tuesday night's game, he had been on fire averaging 19.6 points and shooting 58.8 percent from beyond the arc.

Other players that need to help the Wolverines get back on track are Glenn Robinson III, Nik Stauskas and Mitch McGary. 

The Wolverines have only six games remaining on the schedule, two of which are against Penn State, meaning they are at least guaranteed three or four more wins. This team is pretty much a guaranteed lock to make the NCAA Tournament for the third-straight year in a row.  

The real question will be if this team can bounce back and be the Top Five team they are capable of being. They cannot afford to limp their way into the NCAA Tournament and then expect to win games. 

2. Michigan State Spartans

2. Michigan State Spartans

Record: 21-4 (10-2 in Big Ten)

The Michigan State Spartans have been battling with players being banged-up and have just been hanging around to make their way to the top of the Big Ten Conference standings.

Since Jan. 5, the Spartans have lost only once in their last 11 games.

This team is peaking at the right time and they showed just how talented they were as a team when they dominated Michigan at home 75-52 on Tuesday night. 

This is definitely one of the most dangerous teams in the country right now.

What has made this team so tough to beat has been their physical defensive play. Michigan's Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. could not get anything going on offense, because of how suffocating the Spartan defense was. 

Michigan State has been led this season by junior guard Keith Appling, who has averaged 16.5 points in the Spartans last four games.

Sophomore forward Branden Dawson and junior forward Adreian Payne have also helped this surging Michigan State team as well. Dawson has averaged 12.5 points in the Spartans last four games and Payne has been strong on the boards this season averaging 6.7 rebounds per game.

Michigan State may be first in the Big Ten standings right now, but after they play at Nebraska on Saturday it is going to get tough.

The Spartans will go through a four-game gauntlet against Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin. If they win all four of those games they are the Big Ten regular-season champions and are the real deal heading into March Madness. 

1. Indiana Hoosiers

1. Indiana Hoosiers

Record: 21-3 (9-2 in Big Ten)

The Indiana Hoosiers are still ranked No. 1 in the nation, even after losing a heartbreaker last Thursday at Illinois.

A defensive collapse caused the Hoosiers to lose that game at the buzzer, 74-72, but they bounced back on Sunday at Ohio State winning 81-68.

The Hoosiers may be the most talented team in the country with sophomore forward Cody Zeller and junior guard Victor Oladipo.

This may be the best two-man tandem in college basketball.  

Indiana's offense has given opponents nightmares this season, as they have averaged 83.2 points per game and a 50.2 field goal percentage. 

Zeller and Oladipo have played a major role in the Hoosier offense.

Zeller has averaged 16.5 points per game this season and has averaged 19.0 points in his past four games. He also has averaged 8.3 rebounds per game this season. 

Oladipo has been exciting to watch all season long and scored an astounding 26 points at Ohio State on Sunday. He has averaged 14.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this season. 

Senior forward Christian Watford has played well averaging 13.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

Senior guard Jordan Hulls has averaged 10.8 points per game this season and Junior forward Will Sheehey has established himself as potentially the best sixth man in the country by averaging 9.8 points per game this season.

The Hoosiers are loaded with talent and will be a team that goes deep in the NCAA Tournament. Winning the Big Ten regular-season title is going to be difficult though.  

With seven games remaining, Indiana has to play on the road at Michigan State, Minnesota and Michigan. They also have to host Ohio State. 

The Hoosiers most crucial game down the stretch will be at surging Michigan State on Feb. 19. If they can pull a win out in East Lansing, they have a chance to win the Big Ten regular-season title.