BIG TEN

Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings: Week of Jan. 2

Go through the gallery to see the Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings by Matt Charboneau for the week of Jan. 2.
Go through the gallery to see the Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings by Matt Charboneau for the week of Jan. 2.
Al Goldis, AP
1. Wisconsin (12-2, 1-0): The Badgers cruised in the conference opener against Rutgers then got the weekend off. Things will get interesting this week with games at Indiana and Purdue, two outcomes that could have a huge impact on the conference race. Last week: 1.
1. Wisconsin (12-2, 1-0): The Badgers cruised in the conference opener against Rutgers then got the weekend off. Things will get interesting this week with games at Indiana and Purdue, two outcomes that could have a huge impact on the conference race. Last week: 1.
Andy Manis, AP
2. Purdue (12-3, 1-1): The Boilermakers face a tough week following Sunday’s overtime loss at home to Minnesota. Purdue overcame an early deficit but watched a second-half lead evaporate against the Gophers. It now heads to Ohio State on Thursday followed by a visit from Wisconsin next weekend. Last week: 2.
2. Purdue (12-3, 1-1): The Boilermakers face a tough week following Sunday’s overtime loss at home to Minnesota. Purdue overcame an early deficit but watched a second-half lead evaporate against the Gophers. It now heads to Ohio State on Thursday followed by a visit from Wisconsin next weekend. Last week: 2.
R Brent Smith, AP
3. Michigan State (10-5, 2-0): The Spartans got exactly the start they needed with wins over Minnesota and Northwestern as Alvin Ellis emerged as a factor. Potentially getting Miles Bridges back this week could be the spark as two more winnable games are next – vs. Rutgers and at Penn State. Last week: 8.
3. Michigan State (10-5, 2-0): The Spartans got exactly the start they needed with wins over Minnesota and Northwestern as Alvin Ellis emerged as a factor. Potentially getting Miles Bridges back this week could be the spark as two more winnable games are next – vs. Rutgers and at Penn State. Last week: 8.
Al Goldis, AP
4. Indiana (10-4, 0-1): It was a tough week for the Hoosiers, who were upset at home in the Big Ten opener by Nebraska and then lost to Louisville in a marquee non-conference matchup. The Hoosiers will need a quick bounce-back as Wisconsin visits on Tuesday. Last week: 3.
4. Indiana (10-4, 0-1): It was a tough week for the Hoosiers, who were upset at home in the Big Ten opener by Nebraska and then lost to Louisville in a marquee non-conference matchup. The Hoosiers will need a quick bounce-back as Wisconsin visits on Tuesday. Last week: 3.
Darron Cummings, AP
5. Minnesota (13-2, 1-1): The Golden Gophers were seconds away from a perfect week as Big Ten play began, losing in overtime to Michigan State but bouncing back to upset Purdue on the road behind 31 points from Nate Mason. Last week: 6
5. Minnesota (13-2, 1-1): The Golden Gophers were seconds away from a perfect week as Big Ten play began, losing in overtime to Michigan State but bouncing back to upset Purdue on the road behind 31 points from Nate Mason. Last week: 6
R Brent Smith, AP
6. Northwestern (12-3, 1-1): The Wildcats had won nine straight, including the Big Ten opener at Penn State before falling at Michigan State. It’s still been a heck of a start for Chris Collins’ team, which hosts Nebraska this week before heading to Nebraska. Last week: 9.
6. Northwestern (12-3, 1-1): The Wildcats had won nine straight, including the Big Ten opener at Penn State before falling at Michigan State. It’s still been a heck of a start for Chris Collins’ team, which hosts Nebraska this week before heading to Nebraska. Last week: 9.
Al Goldis, AP
7. Iowa (9-6, 1-1): The Hawkeyes outlasted Michigan Sunday in overtime to pick up a key home victory over another team looking to establish itself in the conference. The young Hawkeyes have a shot to get on a roll with games against Nebraska and Rutgers this week. Last week: 11.
7. Iowa (9-6, 1-1): The Hawkeyes outlasted Michigan Sunday in overtime to pick up a key home victory over another team looking to establish itself in the conference. The young Hawkeyes have a shot to get on a roll with games against Nebraska and Rutgers this week. Last week: 11.
Matthew Holst, AP
8. Nebraska (8-6, 2-0): The Cornhuskers have had the most impressive opening week of conference play, winning twice on the road at Indiana and Maryland, two teams expecting to contend for the title. Nebraska had lost three of four entering Big Ten play. Last week: 14
8. Nebraska (8-6, 2-0): The Cornhuskers have had the most impressive opening week of conference play, winning twice on the road at Indiana and Maryland, two teams expecting to contend for the title. Nebraska had lost three of four entering Big Ten play. Last week: 14
Gail Burton, AP
9. Michigan (10-4, 0-1): The Wolverines had their three-game win streak snapped in their Big Ten opener at Iowa, losing in overtime. Michigan continues to struggle from 3-point range but will have the benefit of playing at home twice this week with games against Penn State and Maryland. Last week: 5
9. Michigan (10-4, 0-1): The Wolverines had their three-game win streak snapped in their Big Ten opener at Iowa, losing in overtime. Michigan continues to struggle from 3-point range but will have the benefit of playing at home twice this week with games against Penn State and Maryland. Last week: 5
Matthew Holst, AP
10. Maryland (13-2, 1-1): The Terrapins saw a six-game winning streak come to an end on Sunday as they were the latest victim of Nebraska. Melo Trimble has been outstanding, but he came up short down the stretch on Sunday. Maryland hosts Michigan next weekend. Last week: 4.
10. Maryland (13-2, 1-1): The Terrapins saw a six-game winning streak come to an end on Sunday as they were the latest victim of Nebraska. Melo Trimble has been outstanding, but he came up short down the stretch on Sunday. Maryland hosts Michigan next weekend. Last week: 4.
Gail Burton, AP
11. Illinois (11-4, 1-1) – The Fighting Illini had won six straight entering Big Ten play before getting rolled at Maryland early in the week. They bounced back to beat Ohio State on Sunday night behind 20 points from Malcolm Hill and now get ready for a trip to Indiana next weekend. Last week: 10
11. Illinois (11-4, 1-1) – The Fighting Illini had won six straight entering Big Ten play before getting rolled at Maryland early in the week. They bounced back to beat Ohio State on Sunday night behind 20 points from Malcolm Hill and now get ready for a trip to Indiana next weekend. Last week: 10
Heather Coit, AP
12. Ohio State (10-4, 0-1) – The Buckeyes were the last Big Ten team to begin conference play and did so Sunday night at Illinois. They had won two straight entering the game but came up short and will now get ready to host Purdue on Thursday. Last week: 7
12. Ohio State (10-4, 0-1) – The Buckeyes were the last Big Ten team to begin conference play and did so Sunday night at Illinois. They had won two straight entering the game but came up short and will now get ready to host Purdue on Thursday. Last week: 7
Heather Coit, AP
13. Penn State (9-6, 1-1) – The Nittany Lions played well in the second half of their loss to Northwestern before rolling over Rutgers on the road, a decent start for a young team that can make some noise the Big Ten this season. They travel to Michigan on Wednesday before taking on MSU in Philadelphia. Last week: 13
13. Penn State (9-6, 1-1) – The Nittany Lions played well in the second half of their loss to Northwestern before rolling over Rutgers on the road, a decent start for a young team that can make some noise the Big Ten this season. They travel to Michigan on Wednesday before taking on MSU in Philadelphia. Last week: 13
Mel Evans, AP
14. Rutgers (11-4, 0-2): The Scarlet Knights were on a roll in non-conference play but have now lost three straight after losing two in the first week of conference play. The schedule was light on quality teams early and it appears it will be another tough road in the Big Ten. Last week: 12.
14. Rutgers (11-4, 0-2): The Scarlet Knights were on a roll in non-conference play but have now lost three straight after losing two in the first week of conference play. The schedule was light on quality teams early and it appears it will be another tough road in the Big Ten. Last week: 12.
Mel Evans, AP