Big Ten Power Rankings Week 1: Aerosmith Style

Over the past eight years, we have been witness to some of the most electrifying entertainment that the NBA has had to offer.

The Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade has captivated the NBA world from the start with his flashy style of play that features lightning-quick crossovers, incredible ball-handling skills, finesse layups, and powerful throw downs over the top of some of the league's top defensive players. He also won our hearts with his 2006 NBA Finals performance, when he led his team back from a 2-0 deficit to an eventual 4-2 win.

The best part about Wade and his unbelievable knack of playing the game? He's extremely humble and modest while doing so. He's not the type of player who will talk smack before, during, or after a game, and he's certainly not the type of player who could tear a franchise apart the same way some of these elite players do when they don't get their way. He's as humble as you'll ever see from a player of his caliber, and it's a breath of fresh air to see that some players don't need to run their mouths to get the media's attention.

While Wade has performed the impossible game in and game out, it has proved costly to his body and his overall healthy. He's had to go through a number of surgeries over the past eight years and has missed over a year's worth of games that he could have played if not for the ailments that he has suffered from.

Soon to be 30 years old, Wade's going to need to relax a bit when it comes to the reckless style of abandon that he currently plays at. His body won't be able to take as much damage before it regresses, and he'll need to take some measures if he wants to avoid that while still being a reliable part of the Heat franchise.

Here are five things that Wade could do to still be reliable part of the team years from now.

You can follow John Friel and his ramblings on twitter @JohnFtheheatgod

12. Minnesota (0-0)

Theme Song—Full Circle

Like Aerosmith in the 90s, MarQueis Gray has now come full circle by returning to the quarterback position for his junior season. Gray will need to start quickly for Minnesota to pull a major upset this week at the LA Coliseum against USC.

Jerry Kill is good at motivating teams right away, but his Golden Gophers are simply stuck at the bottom of the class—at least for now. The good news is that the schedule gets easier following this week.

11. Indiana (0-0)

Theme Song—You See Me Crying

The Hoosiers have a new attitude under new head coach Kevin Wilson, but unfortunately not much left in the cupboard from last season. This will be a rebuilding year for Indiana, but the non-conference slate could bring four wins that will give the Hoosiers a chance at bowl eligibility.

Indiana lost their last game against first-week opponent Ball State in 2008, so this would be a good week for some redemption. Otherwise, there will be nothing left but crying at the bottom of the power rankings next week.

10. Purdue (0-0)

Theme Song—Monkey On My Back

The Boilermakers were derailed by injuries, especially on offense last year. Now sophomore quarterback Rob Henry is lost for the season with an ACL tear and a banged-up Robert Marve will need to take the snaps. If Marve is not ready to go, unknown Caleb Terbush will be the starter.

With a home game against Middle Tennessee State to start the year, Purdue should be able to get off on the right foot this season. The Boilermakers must shake the injury monkey off their back or else this will be another long season.

9. Michigan (0-0)

Theme Song—Sweet Emotion

Brady Hoke pushed all the right buttons that Rich Rodriguez could not this offseason, building a sense of momentum and sweet feelings all over the Wolverines fan base. However, it will take some time to rebuild the wreck of a defense from the past three seasons.

Michigan should receive a moderate test from a good Western Michigan team in the Big House, in what will need to be a good tune up before Notre Dame comes calling. Watch the defense this week to see how far Hoke has actually brought the Wolverines this spring and fall.

8. Illinois (0-0)

Theme Song—Home Tonight

The Fighting Illini need to take advantage of their home field this year with eight home games and only one moderately difficult road game at Penn State. The last two times Illinois went to the Rose Bowl, they were 6-0 (2001) and 5-1 (2007) at Memorial Stadium.

Nathan Scheelhaase could drive this team up these rankings quickly if the Fighting Illini take home wins in the first six games of the season. But to start the season, the most inconsistent team in the conference plugs in at eighth place.

7. Iowa (0-0)

Theme Song—Toys In The Attic

The Hawkeyes also had a difficult offseason with illnesses brought on by some killer workouts. However, Iowa has moved on and now faces the tough task of replacing 28 lettermen and 14 starters.

While Kirk Ferentz has the most inexperienced team in the conference, he also has dug out some good new toys from recent recruiting classes to plug into his system. For example, DE Broderick Binns could have a breakout season in his first year of starting. The schedule starts with a true tune-up game against Tennessee Tech, so don't expect to learn much this week.

6. Northwestern (0-0)

Theme Song—I Don't Want To Miss A Thing

Aerosmith would agree that Dan Persa doesn't want to miss any more playing time in his senior season after an injury ruined the end of 2010 for the Wildcats. The Purple Power has one of the best young coaches in the game and a Heisman-candidate quarterback, but the defense will need to improve dramatically for NU to climb this list.

Northwestern has the toughest opener of any conference team with a road trip to Boston College. Unlike many of the other teams, we will likely learn a lot about Persa and the Wildcats this weekend.

5. Michigan State (0-0)

Theme Song—Love Me Two Times

Kirk Cousins is yet another highly-talented senior quarterback in the conference this season, and Cousins returns most of his weapons, including receivers BJ Cunningham and Keshawn Martin. Look for the Spartans to rally around Coach Dantonio, who lost his father this week, when they take on Youngstown State in Week 1.

Michigan State might not have been the best team in the league last year, but they took all the breaks including a favorable schedule to win the title. This year they must hope lady luck continues to love them for a second season, as the schedule stiffens up considerably.

4. Ohio State (0-0)

Theme Song—Come Together

The one team that has to be happiest about the return of football is Ohio State, which hopes that the remaining players come together and hold the line until Dan Herron, Devier Posey and others come back from suspensions at midseason. The Buckeyes will need to rely on the running game as they break in two new quarterbacks Joe Bauserman and Braxton Miller.

Week 1 provides little test as Akron is one of the worst teams in the MAC, but Week 2 against Toledo could be much more of a battle.

3. Penn State (0-0)

Theme Song—Same Old Song and Dance

It's the same old song and dance for Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions, who will continue to play both quarterbacks Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin this season despite a wealth of evidence that two-quarterback systems usually do not work. Penn State, however, will be right back in the mix with one of the conference's best defenses.

The Nittany Lions warm up against Indiana State this week, but Alabama looms in Week 2 to put this team right to the fire.

2. Nebraska (0-0)

Theme Song—Falling in Love (Is Hard on The Knees)

There is no shortage of love between Nebraska and the Big Ten since the announcement was made to welcome the Huskers to the conference. Now Nebraska will get to finally start testing themselves against their new rivals and conference foes, and we will see how long the love lasts.

The conference schedule is brutal, but Nebraska will have time to get ready for Wisconsin and Ohio State with some relatively easy warm up games out of conference. Chattanooga will be the first test, but the Cornhuskers will roll this week.

1. Wisconsin (0-0)

Theme Song—Train Kept A-Rollin

The Badgers start the season at the top of the class thanks in large part to bringing in Russell Wilson as the new quarterback. Wisconsin starts a couple of days earlier than everyone else with a Thursday night game against UNLV.

While we won't know much about the Badgers' offense until week 2, watch to see how smoothly Wilson fits into Bret Bielema's schemes in this opening game. Wisconsin is the conference favorite until they are knocked from that perch.

Tomorrow's article will preview Week 1 games in the Big Ten. See you then!