Big Ten Power Rankings for the 2015-16 NCAA Basketball Season as March Begins
Just seven days ago, we thought the Big Ten regular-season title race would come down to the first week of March.
As we enter the last week of the regular season, the Indiana Hoosiers already have clinched at least a share of the championship thanks to a few more unexpected results across the conference.
Those unpredictable outcomes forced a shift in our latest Big Ten power rankings. Two of the teams still in contention for a share of the regular-season crown fell a few places due to their poor strings of recent results.
The teams on the rise this week are ballclubs that have either locked up a spot in the Big Dance or have moved up on the bubble because of recent victories.
Continue reading to see which teams landed where in our first March edition of the Big Ten power rankings.
Nos. 14-10: Rutgers-Northwestern
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No. 14 Rutgers (6-23 Overall, 0-16 Big Ten; Previous Ranking: 14)
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights really outdid themselves in the futility department on Saturday, and that's saying something given the dire straits of their season before their trip to Welsh-Ryan Arena. The worst team in the Big Ten went into the locker room down by 30 after scoring just 18 first-half points against the Northwestern Wildcats. Things could get even uglier for Rutgers when the Michigan State Spartans come to town on Wednesday.
No. 13 Minnesota (8-20, 2-14; 12)
The Minnesota Golden Gophers used the momentum from their upset win over the Maryland Terrapins on February 18 to create their first winning streak of Big Ten play, albeit the second victory came against Rutgers. Head coach Richard Pitino's team has won two straight games on three occasions this season. However, a third victory in a row did not happen this time around, as Minnesota fell to the Illinois Fighting Illini on Sunday.
No. 12 Illinois (13-16, 5-11; 13)
Illinois reclaimed its spot over Rutgers and Minnesota this week thanks to a win over Minnesota on Sunday. The win came at the perfect time for the Illini, since they lost 74-47 to the Indiana Hoosiers at home on Thursday. Illinois will probably end the regular season with five conference wins, as it faces Maryland and the Penn State Nittany Lions on the road this week.
No. 11 Nebraska (14-15, 6-10; 10)
Since they extended their winning streak to four games on January 20 with an upset of Michigan State, the Nebraska Cornhuskers are 2-7. Nebraska enters the final week of the regular season on a three-game losing streak—and defeats in four of its last five contests.
No. 10 Northwestern (18-11, 6-10; 11)
Northwestern handed Rutgers a beatdown on Saturday as it won 98-59 at home. Although we don't count wins over Rutgers as ones that significantly alter this list, Northwestern jumps over Nebraska this week because it earned a victory over the last seven days. The Wildcats could finish with eight Big Ten wins if they take down Penn State and Nebraska on Thursday and Sunday, respectively.
9. Penn State
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Record: 15-14, 6-10
Previous Ranking: 9
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Penn State recorded its third three-game winning streak of the season with its 56-55 win over Nebraska on Thursday. Unfortunately, the Nittany Lions failed to extend the run to four games in East Lansing, Michigan, on Sunday, as they fell 88-57 to Michigan State.
If the Nittany Lions defeat Northwestern and Illinois in the upcoming days, they will avoid one of the two play-in games at the Big Ten tournament involving the four worst teams in the conference. As a potential No. 9 seed in Indianapolis, Penn State has a chance to play spoiler to one of the teams above it that can't afford a bad loss.
By the numbers
Shep Garner was Penn State's top performer last week, as he scored 22 points in each of the team's contests over the last seven days.
In four of the eight games in which he's scored 20 or more points, Garner has earned 22.
8. Michigan
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Record: 20-10, 10-7
Previous Ranking: 8
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The Michigan Wolverines haven't helped their bubble status since beating the Purdue Boilermakers on February 13. In the four games since the win over Purdue, Michigan is 1-3. Two of those losses came to the Ohio State Buckeyes and Wisconsin Badgers, both of whom are trying to separate themselves from the middle of the pack in the Big Ten like Michigan.
A win over the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday in their Big Ten finale would do wonders for the Wolverines resume. If Michigan can't pull off the upset, it will have some work to do in Indianapolis.
By the numbers
Although they went 1-1 last week, the Wolverines still had a solid week shooting the ball. Michigan shot 49 percent in its 72-63 win over Northwestern, and it recorded a field-goal percentage of 48 in the defeat to Wisconsin.
One number that may hurt the Wolverines over the next few weeks is their 2-7 record against the AP Top 25. If they fail to beat Iowa and lose early in the Big Ten tournament, the Wolverines will go through a nervy Selection Sunday.
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7. Iowa
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Record: 20-8, 11-5
Previous Ranking: 4
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In the last two weeks, Iowa has gone from a contender for the Big Ten regular-season title to a team fighting for one of the top four seeds in the conference tournament.
The Hawkeyes have lost four of their last five, and all of the defeats have come at the hands of unranked teams. Iowa could throw some chaos back into the title race on Tuesday if it beats Indiana. If that occurs, four teams will have a chance to tie Indiana for the regular-season crown if the Hoosiers lose out.
By the numbers
Iowa's bench production continues to be one of the most concerning statistics in the Big Ten. In the loss to Wisconsin on Wednesday, the Hawkeyes received four points in 47 combined minutes from their bench.
The total improved a bit on Sunday in the defeat to Ohio State, as Iowa recorded 10 bench points at Value City Arena. However, that total was equal to the number of combined points earned by starters Adam Woodbury and Anthony Clemmons.
6. Maryland
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Record: 23-6, 11-5
Previous Ranking: 3
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Maryland has experienced the same drop-off in results Iowa has over the last two weeks. Since beating Purdue on February 6, the Terrapins are 2-3. The two wins have come against Bowie State and Michigan.
Even if they beat Indiana on Sunday and run the table at the Big Ten tournament, the Terrapins may be on the outside looking in for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Before Maryland can even think about where it lands in the Big Dance, it needs to win a game. The good news for the Terps is Illinois comes to town on Thursday.
By the numbers
Six days after recording 17 points and six rebounds in a win over Michigan, Robert Carter only contributed eight points and five rebounds in Saturday's loss to Purdue.
Maryland didn't have a good day from beyond the arc at Mackey Arena, as it shot 7-of-20 from three-point range—its starters went 4-of-15 from downtown.
5. Purdue
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Record: 22-7, 10-6
Previous Ranking: 7
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It's hard to believe a team like Purdue, which has been in the AP Top 25 for most of the season, could be as low as the No. 7 seed at the Big Ten tournament.
If the Boilermakers slip up at Nebraska on Tuesday, there is a real possibility that happens since they close out the regular season with Wisconsin at home. However, there is also a chance Purdue closes out the first week of March with two wins and earns as high as the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in Indianapolis.
By the numbers
Purdue has the second-best home record in the Big Ten at 16-1, and it has an improving 2-4 record versus teams in the AP Top 25. Wins over Michigan State and Maryland in the last month could be the confidence boost Purdue needs to win tough games in the postseason.
A.J. Hammons was the best player on the court for the Boilermakers on Saturday as they downed Maryland at Mackey Arena. Hammons scored 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting and pulled down seven rebounds in the 83-79 victory.
4. Ohio State
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Record: 19-11, 11-6
Previous Ranking: 6
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Ohio State needed to win at least one game against a ranked opponent last week, and it achieved that goal by defeating Iowa on Sunday, 68-64. The win over the Hawkeyes washed away the bad taste caused by the 19-point loss to Michigan State on Tuesday.
It's hard not to call Saturday's regular-season finale at the Breslin Center a must-win for the Buckeyes. Ohio State needs to improve its record against the AP Top 25, which stands at 2-5, and a victory would put it in contention for the No. 5 or No. 6 seed at the Big Ten tournament, both of which come with a favorable first-round opponent before the business end of the competition begins.
By the numbers
Ohio State upset Iowa at home despite not receiving points from two of its starters. Marc Loving carried the load with 25 points, while Keita Bates-Diop added 19 of his own.
Loving, who averages 13.3 points per game, has scored in double digits in every game since failing to score on February 13 versus Rutgers.
3. Wisconsin
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Record: 19-10, 11-5
Previous Ranking: 5
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Wisconsin improved its mark against teams in the AP Top 25 on Wednesday, as it beat struggling Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Four days later, the Badgers closed out their home slate with a victory over Michigan.
The Badgers head into March with wins in 10 of their last 11 contests and one more chance to solidify their NCAA tournament credentials with a road victory over Purdue on Sunday.
By the numbers
Wisconsin is tied with Iowa for the most wins against ranked opponents in the Big Ten. The Badgers also have an impressive 5-4 mark away from home. Indiana and Michigan State are the only other Big Ten teams with an away record above .500.
The Badgers received nine points from both Jordan Hill and Khalil Iverson off the bench in the win over Iowa. In Sunday's home finale against Michigan, Zak Showalter was the only starter not to score 12 or more points.
2. Michigan State
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Record: 24-5, 11-5
Previous Ranking: 2
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Michigan State is going to be a popular team when it comes time to fill out brackets in a few weeks. The only loss suffered by the Spartans since January 20 is an overtime defeat to Purdue on February 9. If they didn't lose four games at the start of conference play, the Spartans would be in play for a No. 1 seed.
With Rutgers and Ohio State left on their regular-season schedule, the Spartans have a good chance of earning the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten tournament since the other three teams at the top of the standings have to play each other over the next seven days.
By the numbers
Michigan State won its games last week by a combined 50 points. Based off the way they are playing right now, the Spartans could defeat Rutgers by that much on Wednesday.
Freshman Deyonta Davis recovered from a zero-point outing against Ohio State with 15 in the 88-57 win over Penn State. His double-digit performance on Sunday was his first since January 20.
1. Indiana
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Record: 23-6, 13-3
Previous Ranking: 1
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Indiana has come a long way since losing to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and UNLV Rebels during the first month of the season.
Thanks to Iowa's loss on Sunday, the Hoosiers clinched a share of the Big Ten regular-season title. If they beat either Iowa or Maryland this week, the Hoosiers will win the championship outright.
By the numbers
Yogi Ferrell recorded his third-highest point total of the season on Thursday in the blowout victory over Illinois. Ferrell, who previously scored 38 and 30 this season, put up 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting.
The 74 points needed to beat Illinois was the lowest total recorded by the Hoosiers in a win since their 74-68 triumph over Minnesota on January 30.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
All statistics obtained from ESPN.com.
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