BIG TEN

Detroit News Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings: Week of Dec. 11

Go through the gallery to see the Detroit News Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings for the week of Dec. 11, compiled by Matt Charboneau.
Go through the gallery to see the Detroit News Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings for the week of Dec. 11, compiled by Matt Charboneau.
Al Goldis, AP
1. Michigan State (9-1, 2-0) – The Spartans haven’t lost since the second game of the season when they dropped a 1 vs. 2 matchup with Duke. They’ll likely be the No. 1 team in the nation this week as they continue to be one of the top defensive teams in the country and star Miles Bridges is 100 percent after an early ankle injury.
1. Michigan State (9-1, 2-0) – The Spartans haven’t lost since the second game of the season when they dropped a 1 vs. 2 matchup with Duke. They’ll likely be the No. 1 team in the nation this week as they continue to be one of the top defensive teams in the country and star Miles Bridges is 100 percent after an early ankle injury.
Al Goldis, AP
2. Purdue (10-2, 2-0) – The Boilermakers seem to have righted the ship after losing two straight down in the Bahamas. The win over Louisville was important, but getting off to a quick start in the Big Ten with wins over Maryland and Northwestern could go a long way in allowing the Boilermakers to keep pace with MSU.
2. Purdue (10-2, 2-0) – The Boilermakers seem to have righted the ship after losing two straight down in the Bahamas. The win over Louisville was important, but getting off to a quick start in the Big Ten with wins over Maryland and Northwestern could go a long way in allowing the Boilermakers to keep pace with MSU.
Michael Conroy, AP
3. Maryland (9-3, 1-1) – The Terrapins have overcome a tough stretch when they lost three of four games, all by less than five points. They’ve responded with three straight victories and head into the easiest part of the schedule before jumping back into Big Ten play next month.
3. Maryland (9-3, 1-1) – The Terrapins have overcome a tough stretch when they lost three of four games, all by less than five points. They’ve responded with three straight victories and head into the easiest part of the schedule before jumping back into Big Ten play next month.
Patrick Semansky, AP
4. Ohio State (8-3, 2-0) – The odds of the Buckeyes remaining this high in the rankings all season seem long, but for now, they’re getting it done as Keita Bates-Diop is averaging 18.3 points. After dropping two straight, including a one-point loss to Butler, the Buckeyes have won three straight, overcoming a 20-point deficit to knock off Michigan.
4. Ohio State (8-3, 2-0) – The odds of the Buckeyes remaining this high in the rankings all season seem long, but for now, they’re getting it done as Keita Bates-Diop is averaging 18.3 points. After dropping two straight, including a one-point loss to Butler, the Buckeyes have won three straight, overcoming a 20-point deficit to knock off Michigan.
Paul Vernon, AP
5. Minnesota (8-3, 1-1) – Many believe the Golden Gophers have the best chance to challenge Michigan State for the conference championship, and they might, but after losing three of the last four, the confidence might be waning. No shame in the loss to Miami, but falling to Nebraska hurts, as does the one-sided defeat at Arkansas.
5. Minnesota (8-3, 1-1) – Many believe the Golden Gophers have the best chance to challenge Michigan State for the conference championship, and they might, but after losing three of the last four, the confidence might be waning. No shame in the loss to Miami, but falling to Nebraska hurts, as does the one-sided defeat at Arkansas.
Michael Woods, AP
6. Michigan (8-3, 1-1) – The Wolverines have been far from a picture of consistency, going 2-2 in their last four games. As poorly as they played in the second half of the loss to Ohio State, the comeback against UCLA was impressive. They didn’t play well for long stretches of that game but came alive late as they head to Texas on Tuesday.
6. Michigan (8-3, 1-1) – The Wolverines have been far from a picture of consistency, going 2-2 in their last four games. As poorly as they played in the second half of the loss to Ohio State, the comeback against UCLA was impressive. They didn’t play well for long stretches of that game but came alive late as they head to Texas on Tuesday.
Tony Ding, AP
7. Penn State (8-3, 1-1) – The Nittany Lions are another young team that is expecting to take a big jump this year. However, they haven’t won two straight since before Thanksgiving. The one-point loss at home to Wisconsin could loom large late in the season if the Nittany Lions find themselves on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
7. Penn State (8-3, 1-1) – The Nittany Lions are another young team that is expecting to take a big jump this year. However, they haven’t won two straight since before Thanksgiving. The one-point loss at home to Wisconsin could loom large late in the season if the Nittany Lions find themselves on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
Phoebe Sheehan, AP
8. Northwestern (5-4, 1-1) – There might not be a more disappointing team in the Big Ten. The Wildcats won their first two but have been on a rollercoaster ever since as virtually the same team that reached the NCAA Tournament last season is struggling. They’ll get a chance to build some much-needed confidence over the next couple of weeks but must go to Oklahoma on Dec. 22.
8. Northwestern (5-4, 1-1) – There might not be a more disappointing team in the Big Ten. The Wildcats won their first two but have been on a rollercoaster ever since as virtually the same team that reached the NCAA Tournament last season is struggling. They’ll get a chance to build some much-needed confidence over the next couple of weeks but must go to Oklahoma on Dec. 22.
Michael Conroy, AP
9. Nebraska (7-4, 1-1) – The Cornhuskers have been all over the map early but have shown signs they’ll be a team that causes problems this season. Whether they have the talent to make some noise in the Big Ten remains to be seen, but the win over Minnesota was big and they pushed Creighton to the limit.
9. Nebraska (7-4, 1-1) – The Cornhuskers have been all over the map early but have shown signs they’ll be a team that causes problems this season. Whether they have the talent to make some noise in the Big Ten remains to be seen, but the win over Minnesota was big and they pushed Creighton to the limit.
Nati Harnik, AP
10. Indiana (5-5, 1-1) – The Hoosiers will be a work in progress this season under first-year coach Archie Miller, frustrating the home fans with 20-point losses to the likes of Indiana State but pushing No. 1 Duke to the limit. Consistency might be hard to come by as the Hoosiers follow Saturday’s loss at Louisville with a matchup against Notre Dame.
10. Indiana (5-5, 1-1) – The Hoosiers will be a work in progress this season under first-year coach Archie Miller, frustrating the home fans with 20-point losses to the likes of Indiana State but pushing No. 1 Duke to the limit. Consistency might be hard to come by as the Hoosiers follow Saturday’s loss at Louisville with a matchup against Notre Dame.
Darron Cummings, AP
11. Rutgers (8-3, 0-2) – Like most seasons, the Scarlet Knights feasted on an easy early schedule before three straight losses, including two in the Big Ten. However, the Scarlet Knights also showed some grit in challenging Michigan State and proved they likely won’t be an easy out, especially at home.
11. Rutgers (8-3, 0-2) – Like most seasons, the Scarlet Knights feasted on an easy early schedule before three straight losses, including two in the Big Ten. However, the Scarlet Knights also showed some grit in challenging Michigan State and proved they likely won’t be an easy out, especially at home.
Bruce Kluckhohn, AP
12. Illinois (7-4, 0-2) – The Fighting Illini have lost four of five, but they’ve been competitive in every game, including a tough one-point loss to Maryland and a four-point loss at Northwestern. They’re young, but some of that youth has talent, enough to put some fear in those expecting to compete for the Big Ten title.
12. Illinois (7-4, 0-2) – The Fighting Illini have lost four of five, but they’ve been competitive in every game, including a tough one-point loss to Maryland and a four-point loss at Northwestern. They’re young, but some of that youth has talent, enough to put some fear in those expecting to compete for the Big Ten title.
John Locher, AP
13. Wisconsin (4-7, 1-1) – As if things weren’t going poorly enough for the Badgers, the injuries to guards D’Mitrik Trice and Kobe King further deplete an already thin roster. They’ve lost four of the last five and now face a solid Western Kentucky team this week. It could be a long year and the 17-year NCAA Tournament streak seems to be in jeopardy.
13. Wisconsin (4-7, 1-1) – As if things weren’t going poorly enough for the Badgers, the injuries to guards D’Mitrik Trice and Kobe King further deplete an already thin roster. They’ve lost four of the last five and now face a solid Western Kentucky team this week. It could be a long year and the 17-year NCAA Tournament streak seems to be in jeopardy.
Andy Manis, AP
14. Iowa (5-6, 0-2) – We’re finding out how much Peter Jok meant to this team last season as the Hawkeyes have been a mess so far. A six-point loss at Iowa State was the fourth straight and sixth in the seven games for the Hawkeyes, who at least got back on the winning side Sunday night by beating up on Southern.
14. Iowa (5-6, 0-2) – We’re finding out how much Peter Jok meant to this team last season as the Hawkeyes have been a mess so far. A six-point loss at Iowa State was the fourth straight and sixth in the seven games for the Hawkeyes, who at least got back on the winning side Sunday night by beating up on Southern.
Darron Cummings, AP