Welcome to Big Ten basketball power rankings! We’ll be posting new weekly rankings until the end of conference play. This week, our rankings are made up of six WIUX Sports personalities: Adam Cohen (@adamcohenIU) Bobby Norell (@RENorell_III), Levi Snow (snowman2469), David Sugarman (Dshug24), Andrew Vailliencourt (@AndrewVcourt) and Tori Ziege (@ToriZiege).
Team Name, First Place Votes, Record, Average, High/Low
1. Wisconsin Badgers (6), (25-3, 13-2), Average: 1 High/Low: 1/1
What They’re Saying: "Did Wisconsin's loss at Maryland negatively affect how it's perceived nationally? Sure. The teams in the top five of the country don't seem to be losing much this season. But make no mistake, the Badgers are still the best team in the conference. A road loss in a hostile environment this time of year is not such a bad thing. It tends to toughen teams up. But, the Badgers may have dropped to the two-seed line come NCAA Tournament time." — Adam Cohen
2. Maryland Terrapins (23-5, 11-4) Average: 2.16, High/Low: 2/3
What They’re Saying: "Maryland is coming off a huge high by beating Wisconsin in their only meeting this season. With three games lef,t it does not seem that the Terps will be able to catch Wisconsin, but they have probably locked up the two seed in the B1G tournament unless the wheels really fall off in their last three games. On a side note, I give major props to the Maryland student section for the flash mob, but if you’re the 14th ranked team in the nation you should expect to win every time you’re at home and should not be rushing the court." — Cole Dunbar
3. Purdue Boilermakers (19-9, 11-4), Average: 2.83, High/Low: 2/3
What They’re Saying: "Going into the postseason, it’s all about playing your best basketball at the right time. Purdue is doing just that. Having won eight out of nine and four in a row, Purdue’s confidence is sky high. But the Boilermakers do still have some work to do to secure a top four seed in the Big Ten Tournament for a double bye. Their regular season ends with tough match ups at Ohio State, Michigan State and home for Illinois." — David Sugarman
4. Michigan State Spartans (19-9, 10-5), Average: 4, High/Low: 4/4
What They’re Saying: "An overtime loss to Minnesota was unexpected and will sting, but it isn’t catastrophic. What could be catastrophic, though, is the year-long trend for the Spartans: their abysmal free throw shooting. In a five-point loss to Illinois, they went 7-of-18, nine missed in a two-point double overtime loss against Maryland and 10 misses in their most recent venture against Minnesota. Come Big Ten Tournament and March Madness time, it doesn’t matter how good of a coach Tom Izzo is. If the Spartans continue to shoot the way they do from the free throw line, they could see an early exit." — David Sugarman
5. Ohio State Buckeyes (20-8, 9-6), Average: 5.33, High/Low: 5/6
What They’re Saying: "The Buckeyes have a lot of talent, but they are incredibly inconsistent. Lose to Michigan, and then beat Nebraska by 24. They are likely a lock for the NCAA Tournament, but they need D’Angelo Russell to stay healthy." — Andrew Vailliencourt
6. Iowa Hawkeyes (18-10, 9-6), Average: 6, High/Low: 5/7
What They’re Saying: "Iowa has been very difficult to figure out this year. Just look at the Hawkeye's schedule and you'll see how streaky they've been. With the way their regular season finishes, I predict they win five of their last 6 heading into the Big Ten Tournament. I wouldn't sleep on this talented team come March." — Adam Cohen
7. Indiana Hoosiers (19-10, 9-7), Average: 6.83, High/Low: 6/8
What They’re Saying: " I, probably along with many others, sunk back into my seat when the final buzzer sounded in Assembly Hall as the Hoosiers were officially swept by the Boilermakers this season. With that loss, Indiana needed a couple bounce-back games and it looked like they were going to come at Rutgers and Northwestern. Indiana flexed its muscles as it rolled all over the Scarlet Knights; however it then turned around and lost at Northwestern. It’s been tough for the Hoosiers to win consecutive games in the B1G as they have not done so since Jan. 22 when they beat Maryland after coming off a win against Illinois. The Hoosiers have two games left both at home, and hopefully they can break the spell and win two games in a row to gain some momentum heading into the B1G tournament." — Cole Dunbar
8. Illinois Fighting Illini (17-11, 7-8), Average: 8.33, High/Low: 7/10
What They’re Saying: "Illinois currently sits in Joe Lunardi's first four out. The Fighting Illini are going to have to live up to their namesake if they can hope to find themselves in the field of 68 Tournament time. To have a realistic chance, Illinois will have to pull out at least two wins against a surging Northwestern, angry Nebraska and Purdue, who is ironically among Lunardi's last four in." — Tori Ziege
9. Michigan (14-13, 7-8), Average: 9.5, High/Low: 8/11
What They’re Saying: "The Wolverines got a huge win against Ohio State last week that kept them alive for the NIT. A lot of young guys getting valuable playing time with Michigan's two stars still injured. However, don’t expect another win against a ranked opponent when the Wolverines travel to Maryland." — Andrew Vailliencourt
T-10. Minnesota Golden Gophers (17-12, 6-10), Average: 10, High/Low: 8/11
What They’re Saying: "If the Big Ten Tournament started today, IU would be facing Minnesota in the first round. Although IU won the first match-up handily, I wouldn't count out the Golden Gophers, who have quality wins against Iowa, Purdue and most recently Michigan State in overtime." — Tori Ziege
T-10. Northwestern Wildcats (14-14, 5-10), Average: 10, High/Low: 9/11
What They’re Saying: "IU looked bad, I mean really bad against Northwestern on Wednesday and a lot of that credit goes to the Wildcats' defense. Their ability to slow offenses down has kept them in close games time and time again, and now that Chris Collins has figured out the winning formula, here's my bold prediction: It would not surprise me if Northwestern won all of its remaining games." — Tori Ziege
12. Nebraska Cornhuskers (13-15, 5-11), Average: 12.33, High/Low: 12/13
What They’re Saying: "I've never heard of a team playing poorly enough to get banned from its own locker room. So thanks, Tim Miles, for proving once again there's a first time for everything. But as losers of six straight including back-to-back 20-point losses, maybe the Cornhuskers would benefit from being locked in Pinnacle Bank Arena until they learn how to play competitive basketball again." — Tori Ziege
13. Penn State Nittany Lions (15-13, 3-12), Average: 12.67, High/Low: 12/13
What They’re Saying: "They’re not as bad as Rutgers, but they’re still pretty bad. The Nittany Lions are on a four-game losing streak and are coming off a 21-point loss at the hands of Northwestern." — Bobby Norell
14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (10-19, 2-14), Average: 14, High/Low: 14/14
What They're Saying: *crickets* — WIUX Sports
