Big Ten Power Rankings: Where the league stands through two conference games

Each Big Ten has played two conference games and will resume league play in early January. Here is our first edition of Big Ten power rankings, which will be published periodically this season, through two league games:

(Note: Efficiency numbers below only include the first two conference games.)

18. Minnesota (6-5, 0-2, 1.048 PPP, 1.297 PPP allowed)

The Golden Gophers were crushed by Michigan State at home to open Big Ten play and then lost by 15 at Indiana in their second league contest. With four losses in their last five games, Minnesota has a couple of “get right” games against Farleigh Dickinson and Morgan State at Williams Arena before resuming league play against Purdue on Jan. 2.

17. Washington (7-3, 0-2, .892 PPP, 1.154 PPP allowed)

After a competitive 11-point loss at UCLA in its first-ever Big Ten game, the wheels fell off for Danny Sprinkle’s team against USC on Dec. 7 at Alaska Airlines Arena. The Trojans trounced the Huskies 85-61 behind 20 points from Desmond Claude. Washington currently has the 150th-best offense in the country, according to KenPom.com, which is the worst among Big Ten teams.

16. USC (7-4, 1-1, 1.055 PPP, .939 PPP allowed)

Outside of an embarrassing 61-36 neutral court loss to Saint Mary’s on Nov. 28, the Trojans have been competitive in every other game under Eric Musselman. After a hard-fought eight-point loss to Oregon on Dec. 4 to open conference play, the Trojans went to Washington and crushed the Huskies for their first league win. The Trojans need more from Saint Thomas. The Northern Colorado transfer forward is shooting just 42 percent from the field and averaging 9.3 points.

15. Rutgers (7-4, 1-1, 1.05 PPP, 1.122 PPP allowed)

The Rutgers defense is a shell of what it was last season when it ranked in the top five nationally. Through 11 games, the Scarlet Knights are ranked 105th in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com. The duo of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey is must-see TV on most nights, but unless Rutgers can shore things up defensively, the Scarlet Knights are a bubble team at best.

14. Indiana (8-3, 1-1, 1.092 PPP, 1.106 PPP allowed)

The overall record for the Hoosiers is solid at 8-3, but its three losses have come by an average of 20.3. For a team picked to finish second in the Big Ten in the preseason, Indiana has yet to live up to expectations thus far. Turnovers and defense have been significant issues through the first 11 games. Indiana is turning it over on 19.1 percent of its possessions and has the 71st-ranked defense nationally, according to KenPom.com.

13. Northwestern (8-3, 1-1, 1.028 PPP, 1.007 PPP allowed)

After a gut-wrenching loss at Iowa to open Big Ten play on Dec. 3, Northwestern bounced back with a four-point overtime win against Illinois at Welsh-Ryan Arena three days later. The Wildcats have been elite defensively through 11 games and don’t turn the ball over. That should keep them in most games and around the NCAA tournament bubble.

12. Ohio State (6-4, 1-1, .99 PPP, 1.061 PPP allowed)

It’s hard to know what to make of Ohio State in Jake Diebler’s first full season. The Buckeyes earned an impressive season-opening win against Texas but have already taken four losses. An overtime loss at home on a buzzer-beater against Pittsburgh will sting long-term, but Ohio State’s two most recent losses are more concerning. The Buckeyes lost by 24 at Maryland on Dec. 4 in a game where they trailed by as many as 40 points. Most recently, Ohio State was throttled by 38 against Auburn in Atlanta.

11. Nebraska (7-2, 1-1, .981 PPP, 1.124 PPP allowed)

The Huskers were crushed by Michigan State to open Big Ten play on Dec. 7 but bounced back and put a beatdown on Indiana at Pinnacle Bank Arena last Friday. Brice Williams was unstoppable in the win and finished with 30 points. An early season win at Creighton should be helpful as Fred Hoiberg’s team tries to build an NCAA tournament resume.

10. Iowa (8-3, 1-1, 1.131 PPP, 1.138 PPP allowed)

The Hawkeyes needed late-game heroics from Josh Dix to get past Northwestern in their Big Ten opener. Then, they went on the road and fought Michigan for 40 minutes before ultimately falling in an 85-83 loss. As usual, the Hawkeyes have an elite offense and a suspect defense. Iowa ranks 25th in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com, and 90th in adjusted defensive efficiency.

9. Wisconsin (9-3, 0-2, 1.018 PPP, 1.082 PPP allowed)

The Badgers opened the season 8-0 and reached No. 11 in the Associated Press top 25 poll. That momentum was thwarted as Big Ten play began and Michigan handed the Badgers their first loss of the season, 67-64, at the Kohl Center. The Badgers then lost by 14 at Marquette before falling by six at Illinois to fall to 0-2 in league play. Missouri transfer John Tonje has been one of the best transfer portal additions in the league. The 6-foot-5 guard is averaging 20 points and 5.1 rebounds through 12 games.

8. Penn State (9-2, 1-1, 1.085 PPP, 1.037 PPP allowed)

The Nittany Lions have been one of the surprise teams nationally through the first third of the season. Led by do-everything point guard Ace Baldwin Jr., Penn State opened league play with a home win against Purdue before falling by four on the road to Rutgers. Penn State plays with pace, turns its opponents over, and shoots 60.2 percent on 2s, ranking 10th in the country.

7. Maryland (8-2, 1-1, 1.117 PPP, .985 PPP allowed)

Another surprise Big Ten team, the Maryland offense is ranked in the top 40 nationally after finishing a dreadful 155th a season ago. A significant reason for that is freshman Derik Queen, who is one of the best players in the country though 10 games. The 6-foot-10 big man is averaging 17.5 points and 8.7 rebounds in 27.6 minutes per game while shooting nearly 61 percent from the field.

6. Purdue (8-3, 1-1, 1.083 PPP, 1.125 PPP allowed)

Some regression for Purdue was expected following the departure of Zach Edey, but the defense has taken a major step back without the two-time national player of the year. The Boilermakers have lost two of their last three games and are ranked 64th in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com. Last season, Purdue had the nation’s 12th-best defense. The emergence of Trey Kaufman-Renn is one of the best Big Ten storylines. The junior big man is averaging 18.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 30.6 minutes per game.

5. Michigan (8-2, 2-0, 1.072 PPP, 1.037 PPP allowed)

It hasn’t taken Dusty May long to get things rolling in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines are one of three teams to open 2-0 in Big Ten play and are building a solid NCAA tournament resume. The frontcourt duo of Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin, a pair of 7-footers, works because of Wolf’s ability to handle the ball and pass. Turnovers have been Michigan’s biggest issue through 10 games. The Wolverines rank 333rd nationally in turnover percentage at 21.4.

4. Illinois (7-3, 1-1, 1.02 PPP, 1.006 PPP allowed)

The Fighting Illini have three losses, but two came against elite teams in Alabama (in Birmingham) and Tennessee by two in Champaign. Brad Underwood has a pair of elite freshmen in point guard Kasparas Jakucionis and forward Will Riley. Despite turning over nearly the entire roster, Underwood has already built an elite defense with this Illinois team. Through 10 games, Illinois has the best effective field goal percentage defense in the country.

3. Michigan State (8-2, 2-0, 1.326 PPP, .919 PPP allowed)

The Spartans opened Big Ten play with two easy wins against Minnesota on the road and Nebraska at the Breslin Center. Digging into the numbers for Michigan State, Tom Izzo’s team is the 4th best defensive rebounding team in the country and ranks in the top 20 in 2-point field goal and free throw percentage. The Spartans are playing a deep rotation – 9th nationally in bench minutes – and have three players averaging double figures.

2. Oregon (10-1, 1-1, 1.027 PPP, .983 PPP allowed)

Oregon has one of the best rosters in the Big Ten and a healthy Nate Bittle in the frontcourt is paying huge dividends for Dana Altman. Bittle averages 14.3 points and 8.5 rebounds with two blocked shots per game. The Ducks already own wins against Texas A&M and Alabama and their lone loss came on a banked-in 3-pointer from Dylan Andrews with 0.4 seconds left against UCLA in Eugene.

1. UCLA (9-1, 2-0, 1.081 PPP, .982 PPP allowed)

After an early season loss to New Mexico on a neutral court, the Bruins have won eight straight, including a narrow 57-54 win against Arizona last weekend. The Bruins are forcing the most turnovers of any team in the country and have the nation’s fourth-best defense. Oregon State transfer Tyler Bilodeau has been terrific for UCLA, averaging team-highs in points (13.7) and rebounds (5.6) through 10 games.

Category: Commentary

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