BIG TEN

Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings: Week of Jan. 9

Go through the gallery to see the Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings by Matt Charboneau for the week of Jan. 9.
Go through the gallery to see the Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings by Matt Charboneau for the week of Jan. 9.
Michael Conroy, AP
1. Purdue (14-3, 3-1) – The Boilermakers have lost just once in the last 10 games and Sunday’s victory over Wisconsin was an impressive one as Caleb Swanigan continued to pile up double-doubles. Purdue plays just once this week with a trip to Iowa on Thursday. Last week: 2.
1. Purdue (14-3, 3-1) – The Boilermakers have lost just once in the last 10 games and Sunday’s victory over Wisconsin was an impressive one as Caleb Swanigan continued to pile up double-doubles. Purdue plays just once this week with a trip to Iowa on Thursday. Last week: 2.
Michael Conroy, AP
2. Wisconsin (13-3, 2-1) – The Badgers had a nine-game winning streak snapped with Sunday’s loss at Purdue. They struggled to handle the Boilermakers’ size but have a good chance to get back on track this week with just a home game against Ohio State. Last week: 1.
2. Wisconsin (13-3, 2-1) – The Badgers had a nine-game winning streak snapped with Sunday’s loss at Purdue. They struggled to handle the Boilermakers’ size but have a good chance to get back on track this week with just a home game against Ohio State. Last week: 1.
Michael Conroy, AP
3. Minnesota (15-2, 3-1) – After Sunday night’s win at home against Ohio State, the Golden Gophers have now lost just once in the last 10 games. They’ll get a chance to avenge that loss when they travel to Michigan State on Wednesday. Last week: 5.
3. Minnesota (15-2, 3-1) – After Sunday night’s win at home against Ohio State, the Golden Gophers have now lost just once in the last 10 games. They’ll get a chance to avenge that loss when they travel to Michigan State on Wednesday. Last week: 5.
Nam Y. Huh, AP
4. Indiana (11-5, 1-2) – The Hoosiers ended a three-game skid with a home win over Illinois on Saturday. It was a chance for them to head back in the right direction, but they’ll need to get better defensively, especially this week with a trip to Maryland on the docket. Last week: 4.
4. Indiana (11-5, 1-2) – The Hoosiers ended a three-game skid with a home win over Illinois on Saturday. It was a chance for them to head back in the right direction, but they’ll need to get better defensively, especially this week with a trip to Maryland on the docket. Last week: 4.
Darron Cummings, AP
5. Michigan State (11-6, 3-1) – The Spartans saw their three-game winning streak come to an end with a loss to Penn State in Philadelphia. They’ve got freshman Miles Bridges back in the lineup but the key now will be getting him back to what he was early in the season. Last week: 3.
5. Michigan State (11-6, 3-1) – The Spartans saw their three-game winning streak come to an end with a loss to Penn State in Philadelphia. They’ve got freshman Miles Bridges back in the lineup but the key now will be getting him back to what he was early in the season. Last week: 3.
Al Goldis, AP
6. Maryland (14-2, 2-1) – The Terrapins bounced back from last week’s home collapse against Nebraska to pick a key road victory over Michigan. Melo Trimble continues to have a solid junior season and is fifth in the conference in scoring at 17.5 points a game. Last week: 10.
6. Maryland (14-2, 2-1) – The Terrapins bounced back from last week’s home collapse against Nebraska to pick a key road victory over Michigan. Melo Trimble continues to have a solid junior season and is fifth in the conference in scoring at 17.5 points a game. Last week: 10.
Tony Ding, AP
7. Northwestern (13-4, 2-2) – After losing two straight, the Wildcats got a big road win at Nebraska, even withstanding a 14-0 run from the Cornhuskers to close the first half. With Dererk Pardon back in the lineup, Northwestern faces a favorable schedule over the next two weeks. Last week: 6.
7. Northwestern (13-4, 2-2) – After losing two straight, the Wildcats got a big road win at Nebraska, even withstanding a 14-0 run from the Cornhuskers to close the first half. With Dererk Pardon back in the lineup, Northwestern faces a favorable schedule over the next two weeks. Last week: 6.
Nati Harnik, AP
8. Penn State (10-7, 2-2) – The Nittany Lions got a signature win over Michigan State on Saturday, just three days after it blew a 14-point lead in the second half at Michigan. Another key test awaits this weekend as Minnesota comes to town. Last week: 13.
8. Penn State (10-7, 2-2) – The Nittany Lions got a signature win over Michigan State on Saturday, just three days after it blew a 14-point lead in the second half at Michigan. Another key test awaits this weekend as Minnesota comes to town. Last week: 13.
Mel Evans, AP
9. Nebraska (9-7, 3-1) – The Cornhuskers suffered their first Big Ten loss and saw a four-game winning streak come to an end at home against Northwestern. They’ll get a few days off before traveling to Michigan and a shot to get back in the win column. Last week: 8.
9. Nebraska (9-7, 3-1) – The Cornhuskers suffered their first Big Ten loss and saw a four-game winning streak come to an end at home against Northwestern. They’ll get a few days off before traveling to Michigan and a shot to get back in the win column. Last week: 8.
Nati Harnik, AP
10. Michigan (11-5, 1-2) – The Wolverines had an impressive second-half comeback early in the week to beat Penn State but came up short against Maryland and have now lost two of three. They head to Illinois next with a visit from Nebraska next weekend. Last week: 9.
10. Michigan (11-5, 1-2) – The Wolverines had an impressive second-half comeback early in the week to beat Penn State but came up short against Maryland and have now lost two of three. They head to Illinois next with a visit from Nebraska next weekend. Last week: 9.
Tony Ding, AP
11. Iowa (10-7, 2-2) – The Hawkeyes went two overtimes earlier in the week before losing at Nebraska and had to rally to beat Rutgers at home on Sunday. They’ve got Peter Jok, the Big Ten’s top scorer, but consistent production is lacking after that. Last week: 7.
11. Iowa (10-7, 2-2) – The Hawkeyes went two overtimes earlier in the week before losing at Nebraska and had to rally to beat Rutgers at home on Sunday. They’ve got Peter Jok, the Big Ten’s top scorer, but consistent production is lacking after that. Last week: 7.
Charlie Neibergall, AP
12. Illinois (11-5, 1-2) – The Fighting Illini have lost two of three after giving up 96 points in a loss at Indiana. They’re scoring plenty of points, however the defense continues to struggle and ranks 13th in the Big Ten, allowing 72.8 points a game. Last week: 11.
12. Illinois (11-5, 1-2) – The Fighting Illini have lost two of three after giving up 96 points in a loss at Indiana. They’re scoring plenty of points, however the defense continues to struggle and ranks 13th in the Big Ten, allowing 72.8 points a game. Last week: 11.
Darron Cummings, AP
13. Ohio State (10-6, 0-3) – Following Sunday night’s loss at Minnesota, the Buckeyes are still looking for their first conference victory. It nearly came in the form of an upset early in the week before Purdue pulled out a one-point win in Columbus. Instead, OSU is 0-3 in conference for the first time under Thad Matta. Last week: 12.
13. Ohio State (10-6, 0-3) – Following Sunday night’s loss at Minnesota, the Buckeyes are still looking for their first conference victory. It nearly came in the form of an upset early in the week before Purdue pulled out a one-point win in Columbus. Instead, OSU is 0-3 in conference for the first time under Thad Matta. Last week: 12.
Jay LaPrete, AP
14. Rutgers (11-6, 0-4) – The solid non-conference season is a distant memory as the Scarlet Knights have lost five straight, including a six-point defeat at Iowa on Sunday. They get Northwestern at home this week before heading to Indiana next Sunday. Last week: 14.
14. Rutgers (11-6, 0-4) – The solid non-conference season is a distant memory as the Scarlet Knights have lost five straight, including a six-point defeat at Iowa on Sunday. They get Northwestern at home this week before heading to Indiana next Sunday. Last week: 14.
Charlie Neibergall, AP