Ohio State is no longer undefeated. Unlike most team in the Big Ten Conference, though, the Buckeyes have no reason to be concerned about March.
The Buckeyes still lead the AnnArbor.com Big Ten power rankings, as they have all season. What is interesting is how many teams in the league are slumping at the wrong time.
At one point, Michigan State and Minnesota looked like NCAA tournament certainties. Now, not so much. Where do they fall? Where is Michigan? Click the jump.
1 Ohio State (23-1, 12-1, 1): The Buckeyes no longer have an undefeated season to play for, having lost at Wisconsin, but remain the best team in the Big Ten and are playing like it, holding a two-game lead on the rest of the league.
2 Purdue (21-5, 10-3, 3): One team has a chance to catch the Buckeyes — Purdue. The Boilermakers play Ohio State on Saturday, have won three in a row and beat Wisconsin, 70-62, on Wednesday. In a league with a lot of teams mushed in the middle, the Boilermakers are the clear No. 2 team.
3 Wisconsin (19-6, 9-4, 2): The Badgers beat Ohio State, lost to Purdue and are playing better than the majority of the teams in the Big Ten. There’s a top tier in the league and Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin define it.
4 Penn State (14-11, 7-7, 7): The Nittany Lions have won two in a row, essentially extinguishing the at-large hopes of Northwestern and then bolstering their own by beating Minnesota, 66-63, on Thursday. The road to the NCAAs isn’t easy, though. Three of the final four for Penn State are on the road, including at Wisconsin, at Northwestern and at Minnesota. Oh, a home game against Ohio State is also on the schedule. Split the stretch, and PSU might be in good shape for a NCAA bid.
5 Illinois (17-9, 7-6, 5): The Illinois are still the most confounding team in the Big Ten. Illinois finally won a close game Wednesday night when it held off Michigan. It is a win that likely pushed the Illini into good position for a NCAA tournament berth with a manageable stretch of at Michigan State, Iowa and Indiana along with games at Ohio State and Purdue left. But the Illini can’t be super comfortable yet.
6 Michigan (16-11, 6-8, 4): The Wolverines’ NCAA hopes took a big dip when Stu Douglass’ heave hit rim instead of net Wednesday night against Illinois, but Michigan is still playing better than the majority of teams in the Big Ten. That might say more about the league than Michigan. The Wolverines likely have to win out to have a shot at a NCAA berth.
7 Michigan State (14-11, 6-7, 11): This is where it gets interesting. Every team from here down in the Big Ten is in the midst of a free fall. The Spartans have lost six of their last eight games, but have looked good in a home win over Penn State (75-57) and in a road loss at Ohio State. The Spartans are in a danger zone for making the NCAAs after being ranked in the top five to start the season. Saturday against Illinois is a critical game.
8 Minnesota (17-9, 6-8, 10): This isn’t new, but an Al Nolen-less Minnesota team looks nothing like a NCAA tournament squad. The Gophers have lost five of six games and play bubble-ish teams Michigan State, Michigan, Northwestern and Penn State the rest of the way. Best thing for Minnesota? Win those four and it plays its way in.
9 Northwestern (15-10, 5-9, 8): The Wildcats’ push for a NCAA tournament berth will have to wait another year. Northwestern, which has no good non-conference wins and one good league win (vs. Illinois, 71-70), has lost five of its last seven games. Finishing with Indiana, Penn State, Wisconsin and Minnesota should be enough to get Northwestern into the NIT, but it’d need to sweep and then win a game or two in the Big Ten tournament to have a shot at an NCAA berth.
10 Iowa (10-16, 3-11, 6): For the most part, the Hawkeyes hang around but have yet to figure out how to win close games. They had a shot Thursday night at Northwestern (73-70 loss) and at home against Wisconsin (62-59 overtime loss). Iowa coach Fran McCaffery will make Iowa dangerous again — perhaps as soon as next season. But this year, they can just play spoiler for bubble teams Michigan, Illinois, Michigan State, the next three teams on the schedule.
11 Indiana (12-14, 3-10, 9): It doesn’t get easier for Indiana. Having lost three straight, the Hoosiers finish with Northwestern, Purdue, at Ohio State, Wisconsin and at Illinois. Four of those teams will go to the NCAA tournament. Indiana will not.
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail atmichaelrothstein@annarbor.comor follow along on Twitter@mikerothstein
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