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With one-third of the common season full, it’s time to replace our Large Ten energy rankings.
Right here’s how the league presently stands forward of convention play resuming subsequent week:
14. Penn State (6-6, 1-1 Large Ten)
The bottom-ranked Large Ten in KenPom, there’s little on the Penn State resume outdoors of a house win towards Ohio State on Dec. 9. The Nittany Lions misplaced at house to Bucknell in early December however have been aggressive in most of their video games. The guard combo of Kanye Cleary and Ace Baldwin will likely be sufficient to offer Large Ten opponents issues, significantly on the Bryce Jordan Heart.
13. Minnesota (9-3, 1-1)
Ben Johnson properly scheduled frivolously within the non-conference and the Golden Gophers are 8-2 in these video games. Minnesota’s greatest win got here at house towards Nebraska, however the remainder of its resume is filled with victories towards groups ranked 250th or decrease on KenPom. Minnesota desperately wants Dawson Garcia, who has missed the final three video games with an ankle harm, again within the lineup.
12. Rutgers (7-4, 0-1)
It shouldn’t be a shock that the Scarlet Knights have taken a step again. Rutgers misplaced Paul Mulcahy, Caleb McConnell and Cam Spencer and is counting on younger gamers like Derek Simpson, Jamichael Davis and Gavin Griffiths to fill the void. Rutgers ranks within the prime 15 within the nation defensively, however is 260th in 3-point taking pictures, 290th in 2-point taking pictures and 329th in free throw taking pictures.
11. Iowa (7-5, 0-2)
Fran McCaffery’s membership has a prime 20 offense nationally, in keeping with KenPom, however has misplaced by eight or extra factors to 5 of the six prime 100 groups it has performed this season. Among the losses have been ugly. The Hawkeyes misplaced by 19 at Purdue and by 25 at Iowa State. Iowa will likely be robust at house, however this doesn’t appear like an NCAA event staff.
10. Michigan (6-6, 1-1)
The outlook for Michigan can be significantly better had the Wolverines taken care of enterprise in a few of their shut video games. Exterior of a 16-point blowout loss to Texas Tech within the Battle 4 Atlantis, Michigan has been in each recreation however has struggled to complete. The Wolverines have a pair of time beyond regulation losses, a 3-point house loss to Indiana and a head-scratching eight-point house loss to Lengthy Seaside State. Juwan Howard is now again on the sidelines full-time, however Michigan has loads of work to do to get again into the NCAA event dialog.
9. Maryland (8-4, 1-1)
There’s no getting round this truth: Maryland is the Large Ten’s most disappointing staff up to now. The Terps had been anticipated to be within the tier of groups slightly below Purdue within the standings, however a disastrous 1-3 begin that included losses to Davidson and UAB noticed Maryland’s laptop numbers tumble rapidly. The Terps have received seven of eight since, however Maryland’s taking pictures woes haven’t been fastened. The Terps are 336th in 3-point taking pictures proportion and have the nation’s 141st-best offense.
8. Indiana (9-3, 2-0)
The Hoosiers have been in a ton of shut video games towards inferior competitors and the pc numbers have suffered in consequence. Blowout losses to UConn and Auburn didn’t assist, both. Kel’el Ware has been among the finest transfers within the Large Ten, however the absence of Xavier Johnson and shaky guard play have Hoosier followers anxious about what’s to return when league play resumes.
7. Michigan State (7-5, 0-2)
Tom Izzo scheduled with a deep NCAA event run in thoughts, however it’s taking time for this Michigan State staff to determine issues out. The Spartans have been higher currently, with a 24-point waxing of Baylor in Detroit after which two straightforward wins towards Oakland and Stony Brook. However issues don’t get any simpler as Indiana State involves East Lansing on Saturday earlier than Large Ten play resumes subsequent week.
6. Nebraska (10-2, 1-1)
It’s yr 5 of the Fred Hoiberg period in Lincoln and the Huskers lastly look prepared to interrupt via. Nebraska takes care of the ball, doesn’t foul and hits the offensive glass arduous. It additionally has one of many 30 greatest 2-point discipline aim defenses within the nation via 12 video games. The Huskers are balanced offensively with 4 gamers – Juwan Gary, Brice Williams, Keisei Tominaga and Rienk Mast – averaging between 14.2 and 13 factors per recreation.
5. Northwestern (9-2, 1-0)
Northwestern has the Large Ten’s greatest win and likewise its worst loss. The Wildcats knocked off No. 1 Purdue in time beyond regulation at Welsh Ryan Enviornment on Dec. 1 however then misplaced to Division I bottom-feeder Chicago State in the identical constructing simply 12 days later. Chris Collins performs a good rotation led by Boo Buie, Brooks Barnhizer, Ty Berry, and Ryan Langborg, who transferred in from Princeton. The Wildcats needs to be within the combine for one more NCAA event berth come March.
4. Wisconsin (9-3, 1-0)
Greg Gard and the Badgers have navigated a troublesome schedule to a 9-3 file and a prime 15 rating in KenPom as of Wednesday morning. Wisconsin has wins towards Virginia, SMU, Marquette and Michigan State. All three of its losses – Tennessee, Windfall and Arizona – have come by double figures. The Badgers are one of many Large Ten’s most skilled groups, and the addition of AJ Storr offers Gard a dynamic wing-scoring possibility that was missing a season in the past.
3. Ohio State (10-2, 1-1)
There was stress on Chris Holtmann to win getting into the season, however Buckeye followers needs to be happy with Ohio State’s 10-2 begin. Bruce Thornton has developed into one of many Large Ten’s greatest guards and fellow sophomore Roddy Gayle Jr. has additionally been glorious in yr two. The Buckeyes shoot it properly, defend and are deep at each place. Whereas there are few NCAA event locks this season within the convention, go forward and pencil in Ohio State for a spot.
2. Illinois (9-2, 1-0)
Terrence Shannon Jr. has been one of many prime 5 gamers within the nation this season and has carried the Preventing Illini to a 9-2 begin. Illinois crushed Rutgers on the street in its solely Large Ten recreation so far and beat Missouri by 24 final Friday in a rivalry recreation. Illinois is an elite defensive staff and its opponents are taking pictures simply 41.2 % on 2s, the 4th lowest mark within the nation.
1. Purdue (11-1, 1-1)
As anticipated, Purdue is the category of the Large Ten and the league’s greatest likelihood to finish a nationwide championship drought of greater than 23 years. Zach Edey is the nationwide participant of the yr frontrunner once more, but it surely’s the play of Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer that has elevated the Boilermakers. Smith has blossomed into one of many league’s greatest guards and Loyer has related on 22 3-pointers and is taking pictures near 39 %. This staff, nonetheless, will in the end be judged by what it does in March. Honest or not, something lower than a deep NCAA event run will likely be thought-about a failure.
Filed to: Big Ten Power Rankings
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