Updated College Basketball Power Rankings for the Big Ten
The Big Ten Conference may not produce a slew of contenders for the national championship this year, but it has still provided us with plenty of entertainment over the first two months of conference play.
Everyone knows by now that Wisconsin is the top dog in the Big Ten, but the teams beneath the Badgers in the standings have plenty to play for over the final weeks of the season.
With four games to go for most teams in the conference, five teams have a chance to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten tournament and improve their respective NCAA tournament resumes.
Here's a look at the latest Big Ten power rankings with a few weeks left until Selection Sunday.
14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (10-17)
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What's Gone Right This Season
Before we get into the information that will make Rutgers fans start to dream about football season, the Scarlet Knights do have one major victory on their resume.
Against a weakened Wisconsin team, Rutgers defeated the top ballclub in the conference by five at home on January 11.
In the team's most recent victory, Myles Mack and Kadeem Jack scored over 20 points each.
What's Gone Wrong This Season
The Scarlet Knights have failed to win since their triumph over Wisconsin.
Eddie Jordan's team currently sits in the cellar of the Big Ten standings with two conference wins. The other win came at home against Penn State on January 3.
Rutgers has four games left on its schedule, but there is no guarantee it will end its 10-game losing streak in the process. Indiana, Purdue, Maryland and Michigan are the team's remaining opponents.
Postseason Potential
Even if the Scarlet Knights pulled off a miraculous four-game winning streak to end the regular season, they probably would not earn a postseason berth in any tournament.
The only way Rutgers can make the NCAA tournament is if it wins the Big Ten tournament.
13. Penn State Nittany Lions (15-12)
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What's Gone Right This Season
Despite putting up an atrocious record in conference play, the Penn State Nittany Lions do have a winning record.
Thanks to a terrific display in nonconference action, the Nittany Lions will be fighting to stay above .500 over their last four games.
Their best chance to earn win No. 16 comes Saturday, when they visit Northwestern.
What's Gone Wrong This Season
Penn State has failed to win a single game on the road in conference play, and it has just three wins on its home court.
On top of that, it only has one player averaging more than 10 points per game. D.J. Newbill leads the team with 21.1 points per contest, which is close to 12 full points ahead of Brandon Taylor's mark.
With so much disparity between the top scorers on the team, Newbill has been forced to take over 10 shots in all but one of his conference games.
Postseason Potential
The fans in State College are already focused on football season, but the basketball team could steal some headlines with a shocking run in the Big Ten tournament.
If the Nittany Lions produce a few wins in Chicago, they could receive an invite to the College Basketball Invitational or the NIT.
12. Northwestern Wildcats (12-14)
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What's Gone Right This Season
Unlike the two teams below them on this list, the Northwestern Wildcats are on a two-game winning streak.
The Wildcats were finally able to win a close game on February 15, when they defeated Iowa at home in overtime.
The victory created a bit of momentum that allowed the Wildcats to beat Minnesota on the road.
What's Gone Wrong This Season
Before the win over Iowa, Northwestern had the worst luck in close games.
The Wildcats lost six straight games by 10 points or less from January 11-31. They went 5-2 in games decided by the same margin in nonconference action.
Following the string of heartbreaking defeats, the Wildcats were blown out by Nebraska, Wisconsin and Michigan State.
Postseason Potential
Just like Rutgers and Penn State, Northwestern is in need of a miracle to make the postseason.
Home wins over Penn State, Indiana and Michigan would help the Wildcats' chances, but they would still need a lot of help to qualify for any postseason tournament.
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11. Nebraska Cornhuskers (13-13)
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What's Gone Right This Season
The Nebraska Cornhuskers had a decent start to the conference season with wins over Rutgers, Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan State.
The Huskers also have two players who average over 15 points per game in Terran Petteway and Shavon Shields.
Petteway and Shields also lead the team in rebounds and assists per contest.
What's Gone Wrong This Season
Since their January 24 win over Michigan State, the Huskers have lost six of their last seven games.
The only win during that span came at home over Northwestern by 16 points. In the victory, Petteway scored a game-high 28 points.
Nebraska also suffered a brutal loss at home during nonconference play to Incarnate Word, which was was part of a string of embarrassing losses for Big Ten teams early in the season.
Postseason Potential
Unless Tim Miles and Co. pull off a long winning streak, they will not be heading back to the NCAA tournament.
If the Huskers can beat either Ohio State or Maryland, they may have a chance of solidifying a berth in one of the minor tournaments.
10. Michigan Wolverines (13-13)
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What's Gone Right This Season
At least Michigan has defeated Rutgers and Penn State this season.
That is all you need to know about how the Wolverines' 2014-15 campaign has gone so far.
If they were to need them, the Wolverines have a pair of quality wins over Oregon and Syracuse from nonconference play.
What's Gone Wrong This Season
What hasn't gone wrong for Michigan this season?
John Beilein's team dropped games to NJIT and Eastern Michigan during a four-game losing skid in December, which also featured losses to SMU and Arizona.
Since leading scorer Caris LeVert was ruled out for the season before the January 20 game against Rutgers, the Wolverines are 2-6.
Postseason Potential
At this point in the season, Michigan fans would rather focus on Jim Harbaugh and the promise of the football team than the postseason potential of the basketball team.
There is a rare chance the Wolverines qualify for the NCAA tournament with nine conference wins and a win or two in the Big Ten tournament, but that is more of a dream scenario than anything.
9. Minnesota Golden Gophers (16-11)
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What's Gone Right This Season
Richard Pitino's Minnesota Golden Gophers have displayed signs of promise throughout the season, but they have not been able to put it all together at once.
Minnesota did earn nonconference victories over a few foes from power conferences, but its progress stalled in Big Ten play.
After a rough start to the conference season, the Golden Gophers have won three of their last five games.
What's Gone Wrong This Season
Minnesota has failed to deliver any consistency when it needs it the most.
Following a two-loss nonconference campaign, the Golden Gophers lost their first five Big Ten contests.
They have been able to pull things together and earn a 5-9 Big Ten record, but the Gophers' resume contains defeats to Penn State and Northwestern.
Postseason Potential
Minnesota might not be able to shake its spell of bad Big Ten losses to qualify for the postseason.
Even if they put together a few wins in Chicago in March, the Gophers might be sitting out from the Big Dance this season.
8. Iowa Hawkeyes (16-10)
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What's Gone Right This Season
The Iowa Hawkeyes have earned a few key wins in conference play, as they have taken down Ohio State on two occasions as well as Maryland at home on February 8.
Despite their 7-6 record in the Big Ten, the Hawkeyes have a favorable schedule to end the season that could catapult them into the NCAA tournament.
Iowa has also received strong play from Aaron White, who leads the team in points (14.5) and rebounds (7.0) per game.
What's Gone Wrong This Season
Iowa suffered a few major defeats in nonconference play, as it fell to Texas, Syracuse and Iowa State. All three of the teams were ranked at the time, but only Iowa State remains in the Top 25.
The Hawkeyes also dragged themselves into a bit of controversy after Adam Woodbury poked the eyes of a few opponents.
The actions of Woodbury have not helped the team during their current losing spell, as the Hawkeyes have lost five of their last eight games.
Postseason Potential
With five games remaining on their schedule, the Hawkeyes have a great opportunity to vault themselves into the NCAA tournament discussion.
Wins over Nebraska, Illinois, Penn State, Indiana and Northwestern would put Fran McCaffery's team at 12-6 in conference action.
7. Illinois Fighting Illini (17-9)
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What's Gone Right This Season
Peaking at the right time of the season is ideal for any college basketball program.
The Illinois Fighting Illini are doing just that at the moment, as they have won five of their last seven games.
John Groce's team could also benefit from the wins over Baylor and Missouri it recorded in nonconference play.
What's Gone Wrong This Season
Before Illinois' January 31 game against Penn State, Rayvonte Rice and Aaron Cosby were suspended indefinitely for violating team rules.
Rice has since returned for the team's last two games, but he has only scored a combined 14 points against Michigan and Wisconsin. Cosby and the program parted ways Friday, per Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times.
On the court, Illinois has not been able to defeat a ranked opponent this season. Baylor is currently ranked, but it was not in the Top 25 at the time of Illinois' victory over the Bears.
Postseason Potential
With momentum behind them from wins in four of their last five games, the Fighting Illini have a chance to finish off the season on a high note.
If it can take down Michigan State and Purdue in the stretch run of the season, Illinois will thrust itself into a high seed on Selection Sunday.
6. Indiana Hoosiers (18-9)
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What's Gone Right This Season
Tom Crean's Indiana Hoosiers have four victories over ranked opponents, including wins against Ohio State and Maryland in January.
Indiana has also benefited from its terrific guard combination of James Blackmon Jr. and Yogi Ferrell, who both average 16.1 points per game.
Sophomore forward Troy Williams has developed into a strong threat in the paint, as he has put up 13.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
What's Gone Wrong This Season
The Hoosiers are consistent, but it's not in a way they expected to be at this point in the season.
Since their January 31 victory over Rutgers, the Hoosiers have alternated between a win and a loss over their last six games.
The three losses came at the hands of Ohio State, Maryland and Purdue. All three of those teams would have provided the Hoosiers with a quality win on their resume.
Postseason Potential
If they can get their act together over the last few weeks of the season, the Hoosiers have a chance to create a ton of momentum heading into the postseason.
Wins in at least three of its last four games and a win or two in Chicago are needed for Indiana to avoid the bubble conversation heading into Selection Sunday.
5. Michigan State Spartans (18-8)
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What's Gone Right This Season
If Denzel Valentine's game-winning shot against Ohio State on February 14 did not fall, we might be talking in a more negative tone about the Michigan State Spartans.
The big shot from Valentine handed Tom Izzo's team the quality win it desperately was in search of.
Before the victory over then-No. 23 Ohio State, the Spartans dropped games to Kansas, Duke and Maryland.
What's Gone Wrong This Season
The one big Achilles' heel for the Spartans this season has been their performance against teams in the top 25.
Two losses to Maryland in the first five games of Big Ten play halted the progress of Michigan State, and it suffered upset losses to Nebraska and Illinois after the rough stretch.
Postseason Potential
Counting out a Tom Izzo team in March is just downright silly.
Izzo will have his team ready to play in the NCAA tournament no matter what situation he faces, which is why the Spartans could be viewed as a dark-horse candidates to make a run deep in March.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes (19-7)
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What's Gone Right This Season
Freshman guard D'Angelo Russell has been the talk of the town in Columbus, thanks to his terrific displays on the court for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Russell is averaging 19.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game in his first, and potentially only, collegiate season.
The Buckeyes have also racked up critical wins over Maryland and Indiana in recent weeks to secure their standing in the NCAA tournament discussion.
What's Gone Wrong This Season
Defeats to Louisville and North Carolina in nonconference action could potentially hurt Ohio State's chance of earning a high seed on Selection Sunday.
The Buckeyes have also suffered losses to Iowa on two occasions as well as one to Indiana, Purdue and Michigan State.
The good news, if there is any, regarding Ohio State's schedule is it has not suffered any terrible defeats.
Postseason Potential
Powered by Russell and a few experienced seniors, the Buckeyes have a chance to make waves late in the NCAA tournament.
However, Ohio State must prove itself against a few top teams in the Big Ten tournament to be considered a legitimate title contender.
3. Maryland Terrapins (22-5)
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What's Gone Right This Season
The Maryland Terrapins have exceeded expectations this season by earning a spot in the top two of the Big Ten standings.
Behind the trio of Melo Trimble, Dez Wells and Jake Layman, the Terps have handled most of the competition in their new conference with ease.
If it wasn't for Russell's exploits, Trimble would be receiving more attention for his freshman season. Trimble leads Maryland in scoring with 16.1 points per game, and he has contributed 3.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per contest.
What's Gone Wrong This Season
While their record is impressive on paper, the Terrapins have just one win against a team in the Top 25 this season. That victory came against Iowa State on November 25.
Maryland has fallen at the hands of Virginia and Indiana by a combined total of 30 points, which does not look well on its resume at the moment.
That can all change if the Terps defeat Wisconsin in College Park Tuesday night.
Postseason Potential
The big three in the Maryland attack will pose a matchup problem to a few opponents outside of the Big Ten in March.
However, the Terps need to prove themselves against Wisconsin to be considered as a major player in the second week of the NCAA tournament.
2. Purdue Boilermakers (18-9)
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What's Gone Right This Season
Since their overtime victory over Penn State on January 17, the Purdue Boilermakers are 8-2.
During that stretch, Matt Painter's team has defeated three ranked opponents and jumped into third place in the Big Ten standings.
Purdue has a ton of balance in its lineup, as five different players are averaging over nine points per game.
What's Gone Wrong This Season
Before catching fire at the right point of the season, Purdue suffered a few brutal defeats in nonconference play.
Because they fell to North Florida and Gardner-Webb at home in December, the Boilermakers have a bad resume heading into Selection Sunday.
Purdue also caught Wisconsin and Maryland at the wrong part of the schedule, as it lost to the pair of teams in two of the first four Big Ten games.
Postseason Potential
Purdue is currently on the bubble in most projected brackets because of its nonconference losses.
Despite what their resume says about them right now, the Boilermakers have turned into a different team recently and should enter the field of 68.
1. Wisconsin Badgers (24-2)
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What's Gone Right This Season
Almost everything has gone right for the fifth-ranked Wisconsin Badgers through the first 26 games of the season.
Frank Kaminsky is one of the top candidates for the Player of the Year award, thanks to his 17.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. In all but one of his games this season, Kaminsky has scored in double digits.
Sam Dekker and Nigel Hayes are both averaging over 12 points per game for a team that has very few flaws.
What's Gone Wrong This Season
The two only two slip-ups the Badgers have suffered this season came on December 3 and January 11 against Duke and Rutgers.
In the loss to Duke, the Badgers were outmatched by the Blue Devils' pair of Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafor. Against Rutgers, Bo Ryan's team was without the services of Kaminsky and Traevon Jackson.
Jackson has been out due to injury since the loss to Rutgers, but the Badgers haven't missed a beat with Bronson Koenig filling in.
Postseason Potential
Wisconsin is being tabbed as one of the favorites to win the national championship in Indianapolis in April along with Kentucky and Duke.
In Kaminsky, the Badgers have a player who has the potential to outmatch the young powerful frontcourts of the Wildcats and Blue Devils.
If any team in the Big Ten has a chance to lift the trophy on April 6, it is Wisconsin.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
All statistics obtained from ESPN.com.
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