Pete Pistone and the rest of the SiriusXM Big Ten Radio team will unveil Power Rankings each week of the college basketball season. Check out this week’s edition of basketball Power Rankings below, and listen to SiriusXM Big Ten Radio (Ch. 372) on the SXM App now.
The calendar has turned to 2023 and here’s how the Big Ten Basketball Rankings stack up kicking off the first week of the new year:
1. PURDUE @BoilerBall
A loss to Rutgers is the only blemish on the Boilermakers record so far this season. Zach Edey remains the best player in college basketball and Purdue is still a powerhouse.
2. OHIO STATE @OhioStateHoops
Offense has been the calling card for the Buckeyes this season. Ohio State plays hard and most of their losses have come down the wire.
3. WISCONSIN @BadgerMBB
Consistent play has made Wisconsin a complete team this year. Tyler Wahl, Chucky Hepburn and Steven Crowl have been the core trio to help the Badgers to a 10-2 start.
4. RUTGERS @RutgersMBB
The Scarlet Knights knocked off the country’s top team in Purdue to begin the week. Steve Pykiel’s got a group of scrappy players that look to make some noise in the coming months.
5. INDIANA @IndianaMBB
Trayce Jackson-Davis leads this squad with more than ample help from Xavier Johnson and Jalen Hood-Schifino. The Hoosiers are a hard match-up for any team.
6. PENN STATE @PennStateMBB
It’s been nearly a month since the last time Penn State lost a game. Jalen Pickett and Seth Lundy are a solid duo for the Nittany Lions.
7. ILLINOIS @IlliniMBB
Success and turmoil have categorized the Fighting Illini so far this campaign. How far Brad Underwood’s team can go depends on what version of the Fighting Illini take the court.
8. MARYLAND @TerrapinHoops
The terms stumbled – badly – against Michigan. Maryland has to get a full 40 minute performance on the court more regularly.
9. NORTHWESTERN @NUMensBBall
Maybe the biggest positive surprise of the season is the story of the Wildcats. But Northwestern needs to sustain this success and avoid the second half nose dive of a year ago.
10. MICHIGAN STATE @MSU_Basketball
A win versus Kentucky definitely was a statement win for Michigan State. But there hasn’t been much else on that level in East Lansing at least yet anyway.
11. MICHIGAN @umichbball
A loss to Central Michigan was a sour holiday season gift for Wolverines fans. Michigan needs more contributions from players not named Hunter Dickinson or Jett Howard.
12. IOWA @IowaHoops
Hawkeye fans are still in disbelief about Iowa’s loss to Eastern Illinois. Iowa has lost five of its last seven games and needs to get things figured out fast.
13. NEBRASKA @HuskerHoops
The Huskers are still down in the rankings but this group is playing infinitely better than the crew Fred Hoiberg had in Lincoln a year ago.
14. MINNESOTA @GopherMBB
The Gophers are off to an 0-2 start in conference play and right now don’t look like a team capable of erasing the goose egg.
peterpistone
Source link
