Big Ten: Rutgers embraces its underdog label in tournament matchup with Iowa

Three teams — Purdue, Illinois, and Wisconsin — have the best shot of winning the Big Ten’south conference championship, with underdog Rutgers still lurking. That’s about equally good a scenario equally you could hope for if you’re Big Ten brass. The next two weeks are going to exist a ton of fun to lookout.

Rankings do not include Monday’s games.

1. Purdue (24-4, xiii-4 Big 10)

Pretty easily swatted aside the hottest squad in the country in Rutgers, as Jaden Ivey continued to do Jaden Ivey things. Purdue has been historically good on law-breaking. It will come down to the other terminate of the floor to determine how far the Boilermakers can go.

Up next: at Michigan Country, Sabbatum.; at Wisconsin, March 1.

2. Illinois (19-7, 12-4)

Brad Underwood called out his team’s toughness last week, and the Illini responded with a road win at Michigan State. Now, three of four games at habitation to terminate the regular season with a briefing title in sight. A good spot to exist in.

Upwardly adjacent: vs. Ohio State, Thu.; at Michigan, Sunday.

3. Wisconsin (21-5, 12-4)

Johnny Davis has rediscovered his mojo just in time for a Wisconsin stretch run. Xxx points confronting Indiana on the route, followed past 25 against Michigan, means Davis has the Badgers in position to win the Large Ten briefing title. Think that home game against Purdue on March 1 will accept the Kohl Centre rocking?

Up next: at Minnesota, Wednesday.; at Rutgers, Sabbatum.

four. Rutgers (16-10, x-6)

The Cherry Knights’ remarkable streak of four straight wins over ranked foes finally ended at Purdue, which probably says every bit much nigh Purdue as anything else. Still plenty of golden opportunities left for Rutgers, starting with a route game Wed against a Michigan squad that volition likely be without its head coach.

Up adjacent: at Michigan, Wed.; vs. Wisconsin, Sat.

5. Iowa (18-8, 8-7)

The analytics also love the Hawkeyes, with KenPom ranking Iowa 17th nationally. The nation’s fifth-virtually efficient law-breaking combined with a schedule on which the worst loss is in double overtime at Penn State, plays a big role in that. The humans have begun to accept notice as well, ranking Iowa in the Associated Press acme 25 this week for the starting time fourth dimension all season.

Up next: vs. Michigan State, Tue.; at Nebraska, Fri.

six. Ohio State (16-7, ix-v)

The Buckeyes haven’t defeated a Big 10 team of note since Wisconsin on Dec. 11. Their briefing victories since then? Nebraska in overtime, Northwestern, Penn Country, Minnesota twice, Maryland, and Michigan. The metrics similar OSU, only some quality wins downward the stretch would get a long fashion.

Upwardly next: at Illinois, Thu.; at Maryland, Sun.

7. Michigan State (xviii-eight, 9-6)

There’s a small-scale but growing adventure the Spartans could miss the NCAA Tournament. Four losses in 5 games, and three of its next four against elevation-25 programs, plus a road trip to Michigan, have Michigan Land in a spot it isn’t oftentimes in. Sparty has fabricated 23 sequent trips to the Big Dance, not missing out since Tom Izzo’s second season in 1996-97.

Up next: at Iowa, Tue.; vs. Purdue, Sat.

viii. Michigan (14-xi, 8-7)

Hell of a Lord’s day for Michigan, which saw head coach Juwan Howard take a swing a Wisconsin assistant Joe Krabbenhoft subsequently the Wolverines’ loss to the Badgers, so try to defend his deportment every bit “self-defence force” in his postgame news conference. This was less than a year after Howard went after former Maryland coach Mark Turgeon and had to exist restrained.

Up next: vs. Rutgers, Wed.; vs. Illinois, Dominicus.

9. Indiana (16-8, 7-vii)

Injury bug is hitting the Hoosiers at the wrong time, with backcourt pieces Trey Galloway and Khristian Lander both contesting ailments. Things are to the bespeak that IU likely needs to beat all iii of Maryland, Minnesota, and Rutgers to go along its NCAA Tournament hopes adrift, barring a run in the Big Ten tournament.

Upward next: vs. Maryland, Thu.; at Minnesota, Sun.

10. Penn Country (11-12, vi-nine)

You lot don’t just waltz into the Bryce Jordan Centre and look to knock off the Nittany Lions, who have seen nine of their 11 wins come in their home building. A remarkably difficult place to play, despite the near-constant lack of temper. Nebraska gets the joy of making that trip later this calendar week.

Up next:vs. Northwestern, Friday.; vs. Nebraska, Sun.

11. Minnesota (13-12, 4-12)

How weird is briefing play? Minnesota admittedly buried the same Northwestern squad that had done the same to Nebraska less than two weeks prior. Nebraska, of course, beat Minnesota one game after getting pounded by Northwestern. Two direct home games expect every bit the Gophers endeavor to build off that victory.

Upward adjacent: vs. Wisconsin, Wed.; vs. Indiana, Sun.

12. Northwestern (12-xiii, v-11)

You have to wonder if all the close games are beginning to habiliment on the Wildcats. Subsequently pasting Nebraska and and then beating Indiana, Northwestern lost two-possession games to Illinois and Purdue before getting smashed past Minnesota. The Huskers may provide some relief Tuesday nighttime, but the Wildcats appear vulnerable.

Up adjacent: vs. Nebraska, Tue.; at Penn State, Fri.

13. Maryland (12-14, 4-11)

Maryland wasn’t particularly impressive against Nebraska, just one doesn’t need to be to beat the Huskers. Just a apathetic team having a apathetic season before information technology launches full-on into a coaching search subsequently its final game. If the Terps hire the right person, they’ll take off again quickly.

Upward next: at Indiana, Thu.; vs. Ohio State, Sun.

xiv. Nebraska (7-19, 1-14)

It’s pretty wild that the Big Ten freshman of the year in both men’south and women’due south basketball could both wear cherry and cream. The difference, of course, is that Nebraska’s women have taken full advantage of Alexis Markowski’s talents. Bryce McGowens is a special talent, only he’s not close to enough to get NU anywhere by himself.

Up next: at Northwestern, Tue.; vs. Iowa, Friday.