2018 Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings (2/16/18)

1) Michigan State Spartans – Led by Miles Bridges, the Spartans are a legit threat in March.

2) Ohio State Buckeyes – The Buckeyes erased all questions about how legit they were when they snapped Purdue’s 19-game winning streak at Mackey Arena. Then they went to Penn State and got manhandled, I don’t think the Penn State games means that much but you have to drop them from number one after that beating.

3) Purdue Boilermakers – The Boilermakers now have lost three straight games and with the history of Purdue Basketball, Boilermaker fans have to be uneasy.

4) Penn State Nittany Lions – The Nittany Lions are a different team than they were just one month ago. A huge win over Ohio State bodes well for the Nittany Lions having a shot at the Big Dance.

5) Michigan Wolverines – The Wolverines are defined by inconsistency this season. They look great on offense in one game and then the next they are struggling to break 50 points.

6) Nebraska Cornhuskers – The Cornhuskers have no signature wins this season except a home win against Michigan. With an easy schedule, it is hard to tell if this team is for real or not?

7) Indiana Hoosiers – Much like Penn State it seems that Indiana has found its identity. The big question will be, did they find it too late?

8) Maryland Terrapins – This is where the drop off starts in the Big Ten. The seven teams ranked above Maryland are all solid teams, but from here on down the big ten conference is not very good.

9) Northwestern Wildcats – Maybe the biggest disappointment in the Big Ten this year.

10) Wisconsin Badgers – The Badgers got a huge win over Purdue and are playing better as of late.

11) Iowa Hawkeyes – The Hawkeyes just do not have the firepower to compete with the top half of the Big Ten.

12) Illinois Fighting Illini – The Illini have shown improvement, but they still haven’t been able to win many games.

13) Minnesota Golden Gophers – Missing multiple starters has doomed this team.

14) Rutgers Scarlet Knights – The Knights are a good team defensively, but they are as bad offensively as any team in the nation.