BIG TEN

Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings: Week of Feb. 19

Go through the gallery to see The Detroit News' Big Ten Power Rankings for the week of Feb. 19 compiled by Matt Charboneau.
Go through the gallery to see The Detroit News' Big Ten Power Rankings for the week of Feb. 19 compiled by Matt Charboneau.
Nam Y. Huh, Associated Press
1. Michigan State (26-3, 14-2) — The Spartans couldn’t have had a much better week, winning twice — including the biggest comeback in Big Ten history at Northwestern — while Ohio State lost twice. The Spartans are now in position to win their first outright conference title since 2009 with wins at home against Illinois and at Wisconsin. Last week: 2.
1. Michigan State (26-3, 14-2) — The Spartans couldn’t have had a much better week, winning twice — including the biggest comeback in Big Ten history at Northwestern — while Ohio State lost twice. The Spartans are now in position to win their first outright conference title since 2009 with wins at home against Illinois and at Wisconsin. Last week: 2.
Nam Y. Huh, AP
2. Purdue (24-5, 13-3) — The Boilermakers were reeling entering Sunday night’s game against Penn State, having lost three straight. They also were without Vincent Edwards, who injured his ankle in practice. However, they rallied in the second half and hope for a slip-up from Michigan State to get a shot at a share of the conference championship. Last week: 3.
2. Purdue (24-5, 13-3) — The Boilermakers were reeling entering Sunday night’s game against Penn State, having lost three straight. They also were without Vincent Edwards, who injured his ankle in practice. However, they rallied in the second half and hope for a slip-up from Michigan State to get a shot at a share of the conference championship. Last week: 3.
Michael Conroy, Associated Press
3. Ohio State (22-7, 13-3) — It’s been a heck of a season for the Buckeyes, but two straight losses have them on the outside of the battle for the Big Ten title. The loss to Michigan on Sunday has OSU a game behind Michigan State with two to play. The key now for the Buckeyes is bouncing back heading into the conference tournament. The schedule could help with Rutgers and Indiana left. Last week: 1.
3. Ohio State (22-7, 13-3) — It’s been a heck of a season for the Buckeyes, but two straight losses have them on the outside of the battle for the Big Ten title. The loss to Michigan on Sunday has OSU a game behind Michigan State with two to play. The key now for the Buckeyes is bouncing back heading into the conference tournament. The schedule could help with Rutgers and Indiana left. Last week: 1.
Tony Ding, Associated Press
4. Michigan (22-7, 11-5) — The Wolverines have now won three straight, including five of the last six. The win over Ohio State helps bolster a solid NCAA Tournament resume while the final week will be crucial as the Wolverines attempt to move into fourth place and gain the final double-bye for the conference tournament. They close on the road against Penn State and Maryland. Last week: 5.
4. Michigan (22-7, 11-5) — The Wolverines have now won three straight, including five of the last six. The win over Ohio State helps bolster a solid NCAA Tournament resume while the final week will be crucial as the Wolverines attempt to move into fourth place and gain the final double-bye for the conference tournament. They close on the road against Penn State and Maryland. Last week: 5.
Tony Ding, Associated Press
5. Penn State (19-10, 9-7) — The Nittany Lions missed a perfect opportunity to put themselves firmly in NCAA Tournament discussion. Instead, after losing at Purdue despite leading at halftime, they’ll have to sweep the final two games at home against Michigan and at Nebraska then win a game or two in the conference tournament for a shot. Last week: 6.
5. Penn State (19-10, 9-7) — The Nittany Lions missed a perfect opportunity to put themselves firmly in NCAA Tournament discussion. Instead, after losing at Purdue despite leading at halftime, they’ll have to sweep the final two games at home against Michigan and at Nebraska then win a game or two in the conference tournament for a shot. Last week: 6.
Michael Conroy, Associated Press
6. Nebraska (20-9, 11-5) — The Cornhuskers suffered a critical loss in their push for the NCAA Tournament by falling on the road at Illinois on Sunday. It ended a six-game winning streak, and considering the Huskers were on the bubble, they’ll need to do some damage in the Big Ten tournament. They still hold the tiebreaker over Michigan for the last double-bye, but that could change over the final week. Last week: 4.
6. Nebraska (20-9, 11-5) — The Cornhuskers suffered a critical loss in their push for the NCAA Tournament by falling on the road at Illinois on Sunday. It ended a six-game winning streak, and considering the Huskers were on the bubble, they’ll need to do some damage in the Big Ten tournament. They still hold the tiebreaker over Michigan for the last double-bye, but that could change over the final week. Last week: 4.
Andy Manis, Associated Press
7. Indiana (16-12, 9-7) — It was another solid week for the Hoosiers, who have now won four straight after beating Illinois then getting a close road victory over Iowa. The backcourt is starting to play well, including Robert Johnson who scored 29 in the win over Iowa. The late surge could make IU tough in the conference tournament and lead to a possible NIT spot. Last week: 8.
7. Indiana (16-12, 9-7) — It was another solid week for the Hoosiers, who have now won four straight after beating Illinois then getting a close road victory over Iowa. The backcourt is starting to play well, including Robert Johnson who scored 29 in the win over Iowa. The late surge could make IU tough in the conference tournament and lead to a possible NIT spot. Last week: 8.
David Scrivner, Associated Press
8. Maryland (18-11, 7-9) — The Terrapins played Nebraska tough on the road before coming up short but rebounded with a victory over Rutgers. They’ll close at Northwestern and then get Michigan at home in an effort to reach 20 victories. They’ll hope to find some momentum heading into the conference tournament as they look to secure a postseason bid.Last week: 7.
8. Maryland (18-11, 7-9) — The Terrapins played Nebraska tough on the road before coming up short but rebounded with a victory over Rutgers. They’ll close at Northwestern and then get Michigan at home in an effort to reach 20 victories. They’ll hope to find some momentum heading into the conference tournament as they look to secure a postseason bid.Last week: 7.
Nick Wass, Associated Press
9. Wisconsin (12-16, 5-10) — Not much has gone right this season for the Badgers, but knocking off Purdue on the day they retired Frank Kaminsky’s No. 44 will likely stand out as the highlight. It will be a busy final week as the Badgers play three games. They’ll have a shot to at least play spoiler in the season finale as first-place Michigan State comes to town. Last week: 11.
9. Wisconsin (12-16, 5-10) — Not much has gone right this season for the Badgers, but knocking off Purdue on the day they retired Frank Kaminsky’s No. 44 will likely stand out as the highlight. It will be a busy final week as the Badgers play three games. They’ll have a shot to at least play spoiler in the season finale as first-place Michigan State comes to town. Last week: 11.
Andy Manis, Associated Press
10. Northwestern (15-13, 6-9) — The Wildcats will try to find a way to rebound from giving up a 27-point lead and losing to Michigan State in the biggest comeback in conference history. They’ll have to do it with three games this week and likely without senior guard Bryant McIntosh, who hurt his shoulder in a loss at Rutgers and did not play vs. Michigan State. Last week: 9.
10. Northwestern (15-13, 6-9) — The Wildcats will try to find a way to rebound from giving up a 27-point lead and losing to Michigan State in the biggest comeback in conference history. They’ll have to do it with three games this week and likely without senior guard Bryant McIntosh, who hurt his shoulder in a loss at Rutgers and did not play vs. Michigan State. Last week: 9.
Nam Y. Huh, Associated Press
11. Illinois (13-15, 3-13) — The Fighting Illini ended a four-game skid by beating Nebraska behind a career-high 28 points from Leron Black and handing the Cornhuskers a critical loss in their push for an NCAA Tournament bid. That’s the best the Illini can do, play the role of spoiler. They’ll get another chance this week when they travel to first-place Michigan State. Last week: 12.
11. Illinois (13-15, 3-13) — The Fighting Illini ended a four-game skid by beating Nebraska behind a career-high 28 points from Leron Black and handing the Cornhuskers a critical loss in their push for an NCAA Tournament bid. That’s the best the Illini can do, play the role of spoiler. They’ll get another chance this week when they travel to first-place Michigan State. Last week: 12.
Rick Danzl, Associated Press
12. Rutgers (13-16, 3-13) — The Scarlet Knight ended a seven-game skid by rallying and beating Northwestern in overtime early in the week. They pushed Maryland on the road over the weekend but came up short. A road game against a reeling Ohio State team is next before finishing at home against Illinois. Last week: 13.
12. Rutgers (13-16, 3-13) — The Scarlet Knight ended a seven-game skid by rallying and beating Northwestern in overtime early in the week. They pushed Maryland on the road over the weekend but came up short. A road game against a reeling Ohio State team is next before finishing at home against Illinois. Last week: 13.
Nick Wass, Associated Press
13. Iowa (12-17, 3-13) — The Hawkeyes have played better the last couple of weeks, pushing Michigan State to the limit two weeks ago before losing a tough one at home to Indiana over the weekend. They’ll have a shot to finish strong with a road game against Minnesota left before hosting Northwestern in the final regular-season game. Last week: 10.
13. Iowa (12-17, 3-13) — The Hawkeyes have played better the last couple of weeks, pushing Michigan State to the limit two weeks ago before losing a tough one at home to Indiana over the weekend. They’ll have a shot to finish strong with a road game against Minnesota left before hosting Northwestern in the final regular-season game. Last week: 10.
David Scrivner, Associated Press
14. Minnesota (14-14, 3-12) — The plummet continues for the Golden Gophers, who have lost eight straight. Help is not on the way, either, as the team announced Amir Coffey will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury and Reggie Lynch, who has been suspended since January, is now officially off the team. They also have three games in the final week with two on the road. Last week: 14.
14. Minnesota (14-14, 3-12) — The plummet continues for the Golden Gophers, who have lost eight straight. Help is not on the way, either, as the team announced Amir Coffey will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury and Reggie Lynch, who has been suspended since January, is now officially off the team. They also have three games in the final week with two on the road. Last week: 14.
Jim Mone, Associated Press