Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings After Michigan State Tab to USC

On By Littum

The big ten basketball post received a shaking this week as first place Michigan State dropped its first match of the season.

The spartans remain at the top of the position. But the gap between the team that had been 9-0 in conference games before its road loss to USCAnd the rest of the conference has shrunk dramatically. It was expected to happen in the end because Michigan State went on his race without facing any of the conference’s next five highest ranked team. The first loss of the Spartans, which comes against a mid-tier USC team, casts doubt on the team’s place on No. 1 in the conference forces.

The headline-sparkling result also created a logjam at the top of the Big Ten position. Seven teams are within three matches of first place.

Across the conference, several top teams continued their ascension to the top of the power trangering with more strong results. On top of the list is Purdue. The annual challenger took some time to return to its typical status near the top of the conference’s pecking order after dropping several tough nonconference play early in the season. Also included in this category is MichiganAt UCLA and Maryland.

For more about a week’s results that created significant movement throughout the conference, here is our updated Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings:

18. Washington Huskies (11-10, 2-8 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Minnesota (W)

Previous rank: No. 18 (no change)

Analysis: Washington ended his six-match’s losing row with a road gain over Minnesota. The result gives the team an outside shot at making the conference tournament. It’s 1/2 games out of the three-way binding for 15. (Penn State, Northwestern and Minnesota all at 3-8). Washington will have to strict some wins to surpass this group.

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17. Minnesota Golden Gophers (11-11, 3-8 BIG TEN)

Week 13 Results: No. 7 Michigan State (L), Washington (L)

Previous rank: No. 16 (down 1)

Analysis: Minnesota had built up speed with consecutive victories over Michigan, Iowa and Oregon. This momentum evaporated with a blow -up loss to Michigan State and a home victory for Washington. The second result is the most effective as it draws Gophers closer to the bottom space of the conference. Like Washington, Minnesota has considerable work back to do the conference tournament.

16. Penn State Nittany Lions (13-9, 3-8 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Michigan (L), Ohio State (L)

Previous rank: No. 13 (down 3)

Analysis: Penn State’s victory in the early season over Purdue feels like it was happening many years ago. Nittany Lions are 1-7 in their last eight conference games after a 0-2 weeks. They are stuck in the basement of the Big Ten, sitting 1/2 match out of the last place.

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Week 13 Results: Rutgers (L), No. 17 Wisconsin (L)

Previous rank: No. 10 (down 5)

Analysis: Northwestern dropped hard fought games for Rutgers and Wisconsin this week. It also learned that Star Guard Brooks Barnhizer would miss the rest of the season with a foot injury. The team’s 2-7 record since January 1st and Outlook without Barnhizer led to a significant ranking drop.

14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (11-11, 4-7 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Northwestern (W), Michigan (L)

Previous rank: No. 13 (down 1)

Analysis: Rutgers went 1-1 without star-new joints Dylan Harper (18.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists) available for either competition. The team is a long shot to make the NCAA tournament because of its 3-6 record since January 1st. Still, it can interfere with any top competition if both Harper and Ace Bailey are healthy. Rutgers could act as a foil in the last weeks of conference games.

13. Iowa Hawkeyes (13-8, 4-6 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Ohio State (L)

Previous rank: No. 12 (down 1)

Analysis: According to Kenpom, Iowa is a bottom-four team at the conference (no. 66 overall). It has dropped dramatically after a 1-4 stretch, including a 17-point loss to Ohio State. Hawkeyes have to find their form quickly, or the discussion about Fran McCaffery’s job status could begin.

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12. Indiana Hoosiers (14-8, 5-6 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: No. 10 Purdue (L)

Previous rank: No. 11 (down 1)

Analysis: Indiana is 1-5 in its last six games after a five-point road loss to Purdue. The only result will not lead to a significant fall. But when it is paired with the Hoosiers’ expanded body of work, it enforces the team’s place as a low-to-mid-tier team at the conference. It is far from Indiana’s expectations after entering the season with a transfer -heavy list.

11. USC Trojans (13-8, 5-5 BIG TEN)

Week 13 Results: UCLA (L), No. 7 Michigan State (W)

Previous rank: No. 14 (up 3)

Analysis: The USC handed Michigan State his first conference loss in the season on Saturday. It leads to a significant increase. The Trojans are in eighth place alone in the big ten positions (four games left) after an extended 4-2 stretch. It represents a significant improvement after the team started season 1-3.

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10. Nebraska Cornhuskers (14-8, 4-7 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: No. 18 Illinois (W), No. 16 Oregon (W)

Previous rank: No. 17 (up 7)

Analysis: The pendant in Nebraska’s season swings back and forth with any result. Nebraska had lost six straight matches in the week, a stretch that generated a fall to No. 17 in our power traiting. Cornhuskers then picked up two of the best winnings for any team at the conference. They surpassed Illinois at home and won on the road at Oregon. Nebraska is still far from the NCAA tournament competition. But the couple with statements wins could begin a resurgence in the season.

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9. Oregon Ducks (16-6, 5-6 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: UCLA (L), Nebraska (L)

Previous rank: No. 8 (down 1)

Analysis: Oregon had a golden opportunity to fight for the Big Ten in 2024-25 and played most of his big matches at home in Eugene. The team falls far below these soaring expectations of the forecast. Its downward trend was accelerated by a tough road loss to UCLA and a home loss to Nebraska this week. The ducks have lost three equal and four of five and have fallen to No. 38 in Kenpom.

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8. Ohio State Buckeyes (13-9, 5-6 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Iowa (W), Penn State (W), No. 18 Illinois (L)

Previous rank: No. 9 (up 1)

Analysis: Ohio State is up to No. 26 in Kenpom after a winning week. It is far better than its average record indicates. This is due to the recent close losses to Oregon, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois. The four losses came with a combined 13 points. Buckeyes should continue to be a tough for any opponent on their schedule.

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7. Illinois Fighting Illini (15-7, 7-5 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Nebraska (L), Ohio State (W)

Previous rank: No. 7 (no change)

Analysis: Illinois continued a season of strange results with a split against Nebraska and Ohio State. The match Illini had lost three of four and four of six before the Ohio State victory. These results do not match the team’s # 13 Kenpom ranking. It is reasonable to say that Illinois is understood after a promising start to the season.

6. UCLA Bruins (16-6, 7-4 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: USC (W), No. 16 Oregon (W)

Previous rank: No. 6 (no change)

Analysis: UCLA has won five just after a recent four-match losing row to start the calendar year. This stretch has the team right back in violation of winning the conference and sitting only 2 1/2 matches behind first place Michigan State. Bruins gets a shot on a top NCAA tournament seed if they continue their winning ways.

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5. Wisconsin Badgers (17-5, 7-4 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Maryland (L), Northwestern (W)

Previous rank: No. 3 (down 2)

Analysis: Wisconsin slipped after a tough road loss to Maryland began its week. This result is not an indictment in the form of Badgers, but more a testimony to Maryland’s top-end potential. The badger is still in the mixture near the top of the big ten with several Marquee games left.

4. Maryland Terrapins (17-5, 7-4 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Wisconsin (W)

Previous rank: No. 5 (up 1)

Analysis: Maryland is one of the hottest teams at the conference: Four straight wins and six out of seven matches. These results back up the team’s warm start of the year against a slight non -conference plan. Terrapins are up to No. 18 in Kenpom, the fifth highest brand at the conference.

3rd Michigan Wolverines (16-5, 8-2 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Penn State (W), Rutgers (W)

Previous rank: No. 4 (up 1)

Analysis: Michigan is in third place alone at the conference position after a 2-0 week. However, triumphs over Penn State and Rutgers do not win a conference title. Upcoming matches against Oregon, Purdue and Michigan State will define the team’s season. Still illustrates a No. 20 Kenpom ranking Wolverines’ place near the top of the conference position.

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2nd Michigan State Spartans (18-3, 9-1 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Minnesota (W), USC (L)

Previous rank: No. 1 (down 1)

Analysis: Michigan State falls somewhere after suffering his first loss of the season. The Spartans are still No. 17 in Kenpom and No. 16 in ESPN’s BPI. However, they were overtaken by Kenpom and NCAA Net’es top-ranked Big Ten team.

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1. Purdue Boilermakers (17-5, 9-2 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Indiana (W)

Previous rank: No. 2 (up 1)

Analysis: Purdue is the new # 1 team in the Big Ten after that win over Indiana sent it up to No. 8 in Kenpom, the highest location of any Big Ten team. Boilermakers is 1/2 games behind the Spartans for first place in the conference level. The conference race can come down to Purdues Road Trip to Michigan State on February 18. The team will first have to come by a sneaky-to-stretch: in Iowa, against the USC, in Michigan, against Wisconsin.

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