Big Ten Power Rankings, Week 3

Beyond Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan State, the Big Ten will probably qualify one or two more teams to the tournament. It'll be the team that beats all the average and worse teams in the conference and wins a couple home games against the trio at the top. Minnesota had its chance this week and lost home games to Indiana and Michigan State. Ohio State and Purdue look like the only other viable candidates right now. On to the rankings.

Power Rankings (Last week's rank in parenthesis)

Contenders
1. (1) Indiana (5-0, 16-1)
The Hoosiers continue to dominate the Big Ten bottom feeders, with five wins against teams who have a combined 6-17 conference record. Eric Gordon might be scoring all the points, but he’s hasn’t dominated a game in the past month or so. The January 31 date in Madison is crucial.

2. (2) Wisconsin (5-0, 15-2)
The Badgers are giving the business to the terrible teams as well. Their 5-0 mark is - believe it or not – more pathetic than the Hoosiers, with the opponents’ conference record at 6-22. Without a star like Alando Tucker, Bo Ryan’s balanced team has seven players averaging between five and 13 points per game.

3. (4) Michigan St (4-1, 16-2)
Michigan State hasn’t played well on the road in recent history. Prior to a win in Minnesota, the team had lost six conference road games in a row and 11 of their last 12. “We don't have a lot of confidence away from the Breslin Center,” senior Drew Naymick said. “That's something that we need to change." Yeah, probably.

Maybe?
4. (6) Purdue (4-1, 13-5)
The Boilermakers feature the youngest starting lineup in Division I basketball. Everyone expects them to do well in a couple years. Are they good enough this year? If contributions continue to come from the least expecting players, like Marcus Green’s 22 against Ohio State, the freshman class should ease right into tougher Big Ten play.

5. (3) Minnesota (2-3, 12-5)
Between Minnesota and Penn State, these two teams were the dark horses to make a run in the Big Ten. Both teams lost that opportunity this week. Indiana and Michigan State came to town and left with victories. The loss against the Hoosiers was harsh, seeing as IU turned the ball over every 2.5 possessions.

6. (5) Ohio St (3-2, 12-6)
Two road losses to two teams (Michigan State and Tennessee) in the top 15 of the AP poll doesn’t necessarily hurt the Buckeyes’ season resume. It doesn’t help it either. When the selection committee looks at the middle-of-the pack Big Ten teams to see if any merit entrance, they’ll look for standout wins. Close losses don’t count.

Mid-majors
7. (7) Illinois (1-5, 9-10)
The Fighting Illini aren’t that great this year. In years the Big Ten qualifies seven teams for the tourney, Illinois might be the worst team in the conference. Too bad this year’s competition is very weak. Shaun Pruitt and Bruce Weber and the rest of the team won’t be able to replicate their gridiron counterparts at the university with a surprise season.

8. (9) Iowa (2-4, 9-10)
I wonder if Todd Lickliter wonders if he made the right decision to move to the Big Ten. Sure he’s making more money, but the team is “turrible,” as Charles Barkley might say (or at least Frank Caliendo as Charles Barkley might say). Home losses say a lot about a team’s ability – Iowa’s seven losses at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena are a big, black eye.

9. (8) Penn St (2-3, 10-7)
The other dark horse candidate in the Big Ten had a really bad week. Shoo-in first team Big Ten player Geary Claxton tore a knee ligament against Wisconsin and is out for the season. The team also had double-digit losses to the Badgers and Hoosiers. PSU needs someone besides Jamelle Cornley and Talor Battle to step up and fill the big, empty shoes.

10. (10) Michigan (1-5, 5-13)
The best Big Ten freshman not named Gordon is Manny Harris. Unlike Gordon, his teammates don’t provide much help. John Beilein questioned his team’s intensity. “The ball's up in the air, and we're waiting for somebody else to get it…Can I get the ball? Everybody should go after the ball. It's something we have to continue to address."

11. (11) Northwestern (0-5, 6-9)
The only way the Wildcats have found to win during the Big Ten season is to play local non-conference college teams, like it did against a 7-14 unaffiliated Chicago State team this week. It was back to reality Saturday with a loss to Wisconsin. The good news for the Wildcats? Another independent, Texas Pan-American, will be visiting next Wednesday.