The calendar has turned to March. Less than one week remains before the Big Ten will crown its regular-season champion.
Two significant results on Sunday set the stage for a two-team race for the Big Ten title. Wisconsin fell on the road to top-ranked Michigan State, eliminating the Badgers from title contention and sending the Spartans into solo first place. Their place alone atop the standings was pending the result of Michigan‘s home matchup with Illinois. With a win, the Wolverines would have kept pace with their in-state rival.
Instead, Illinois exited Ann Arbor, Michigan, with a 93-73 victory. That result gives Michigan State a one-game edge entering the final week. In all likelihood, the two teams’ matchup in East Lansing, Michigan, on Sunday will decide who adds ‘2024-25’ to its conference championship banner.
There is some additional drama worth watching as the final week of the Big Ten season unfolds. Only 15 teams make the new, post-expansion conference tournament. That means there is a battle at the bottom of the conference, as teams desperately work to keep their seasons alive.
As we enter the final week before postseason play, here are our updated Big Ten power rankings, with Michigan State atop the conference:
18. Washington Huskies (13-16, 4-14 Big Ten)
Week 17 Results: No. 11 Wisconsin (L), Indiana (L)
Previous Rank: No. 18 (No change)
Analysis: Washington continues to see its Big Ten Tournament hopes dwindle away. Losses to Wisconsin and Indiana all but sealed the team’s fate, as it now sits a full two games back of 15th place in the conference with just two contests remaining. Barring a string of unexpected results, the Huskies’ season will come to an end this weekend.
Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire
17. Penn State Nittany Lions (15-15, 5-14 Big Ten)
Week 17 Results: Indiana (L), No. 16 Maryland (L)
Previous Rank: No. 16 (Down 1)
Analysis: Penn State is in the same situation as Washington. The team’s extended stretch of 13 losses in 16 conference games has it outside of the tournament field. Mike Rhoades’ team needs a closing win over Wisconsin to avoid a second consecutive losing season.
Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire
16. Iowa Hawkeyes (15-14, 6-12 Big Ten)
Week 17 Results: Illinois (L), Northwestern (L)
Previous Rank: No. 15 (Down 1)
Analysis: Iowa might be the biggest surprise of those outside the 15-team tournament bubble. The Hawkeyes have struggled since losing top scorer Owen Freeman for the season, winning just three of their last 13 contests. The season isn’t over yet for the team, however, as it is currently tied with USC for 15th. Closing games against Michigan State and Nebraska will decide Iowa’s postseason fate.
Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
15. USC Trojans (14-15, 6-12 Big Ten)
Week 17 Results: Ohio State (L), Oregon (L)
Previous Rank: No. 13 (Down 2)
Analysis: USC’s current five-game losing streak came at the worst possible time. The team is tied with Iowa for the last tournament spot. It hosts Washington and visits UCLA to close the year, possibly needing a 2-0 sweep to clinch a berth.
Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions on Trojans Wire
Week 17 Results: Minnesota (W), Iowa (W)
Previous Rank: No. 17 (Up 3)
Analysis: Give Northwestern credit, it is playing some of its best basketball of the season at the perfect time, even after losing star guard Brooks Barnhizer to a season-ending injury. The Wildcats have won three straight. A closing 1-1 split against UCLA and Maryland should guarantee a Big Ten Tournament appearance.
13. Minnesota Golden Gophers (15-14, 7-11 Big Ten)
Week 17 Results: Northwestern (L), Nebraska (W)
Previous Rank: No. 14 (Up 1)
Analysis: Ben Johnson deserves a ton of credit for the job he’s doing at Minnesota. The Golden Gophers are surviving the conference gauntlet, with three wins in their last five games and four in their last seven. That stretch has sent the team far from the conference basement, an important first step as Johnson builds the program.
12. Nebraska Cornhuskers (17-12, 7-11 Big Ten)
Week 17 Results: No. 15 Michigan (L), Minnesota (L)
Previous Rank: No. 12 (No change)
Analysis: Nebraska is still a fringe NCAA Tournament team despite its current three-game losing streak, one that includes crushing defeats to Penn State and Minnesota. Nebraska has been a streaky team all season. It faced a six-game losing streak, responded with a four-game winning streak, and has now lost four of its last five. It might need wins over Ohio State and Iowa to make the March Madness field.
Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire
11. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (14-15, 7-11 Big Ten)
Week 17 Results: No. 15 Michigan (L)
Previous Rank: No. 11 (No change)
Analysis: Rutgers is part of a large pack of teams at 7-11 in conference play. It technically still has yet to clinch a Big Ten Tournament berth, although a lot would have to go wrong for the team to miss the field. A closing win over either Purdue or Minnesota would seal the deal. Big-picture, it’s been a disappointing season for the Scarlet Knights with two future top NBA draft picks in the starting lineup.
10. Ohio State Buckeyes (16-13, 8-10 Big Ten)
Week 17 Results: USC (W)
Previous Rank: No. 10 (No change)
Analysis: Ohio State is in the Big Ten Tournament. More importantly, it is firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble, currently part of Joe Lunardi’s ‘Last Four In.’ The Buckeyes need closing wins over Nebraska and Indiana to all-but-guarantee a March Madness appearance.
Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire
9. Indiana Hoosiers (18-11, 9-9 Big Ten)
Week 17 Results: Penn State (W), Washington (W)
Previous Rank: No. 9 (No change)
Analysis: Give Mike Woodson and Indiana a lot of credit — the team has played great basketball after reports surfaced that Woodson would step down at the end of the season. The Hoosiers have won three straight and four of five, including over Michigan State and Purdue. The team is still 50-50 to make the NCAA Tournament, needing to continue to stack wins both before and during the Big Ten Tournament.
8. UCLA Bruins (20-9, 11-7 Big Ten)
Week 17 Results: No. 20 Purdue (L)
Previous Rank: No. 5 (Down 3)
Analysis: UCLA did not fall due to a poor result — a road loss to Purdue never comes as a surprise. It did so due to other teams being on the steep rise. Mick Cronin’s team is now 1-1 in its last two, 2-2 in its last four and 3-3 in its last six. That form has lowered expectations after the team had surged into contention with a seven-game winning streak.
Get more (UCLA) news, analysis and opinions on UCLA Wire
7. Oregon Ducks (21-8, 10-8 Big Ten)
Week 17 Results: USC (W)
Previous Rank: No. 7 (No change)
Analysis: Oregon has now won five straight games, headlined by a recent win at Wisconsin. That stretch is a direct response to the team’s extended five-game losing streak a few weeks ago. The strong form has the Ducks in good position entering the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments. Another flurry of victories could see it jump to a No. 4 seed when the March Madness bracket is unveiled.
Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire
6. Illinois Fighting Illini (19-11, 11-8 Big Ten)
Week 17 Results: Iowa (W), at No. 15 Michigan (W)
Previous Rank: No. 8 (Up 2)
Analysis: Illinois’ hard-to-predict season continued this week. Following a deflating three-game losing streak to Michigan State, Wisconsin and Duke, the Fighting Illini bounced back with two huge wins, including on the road at Michigan. A healthy Illini team should be a popular sleeper pick to make a deep run in March Madness.
5. Purdue Boilermakers (20-9, 12-6 Big Ten)
Week 17 Results: UCLA (W)
Previous Rank: No. 6 (Up 1)
Analysis: Purdue finally ended its losing streak at four games with a win over UCLA. The Boilermakers are still No. 16 in KenPom, with a real chance to make noise in March. For the first time in what feels like forever, the team is not in contention for a Big Ten regular-season title entering the final week.
4. Maryland Terrapins (22-7, 12-6 Big Ten)
Week 17 Results: No. 8 Michigan State (L), Penn State (W)
Previous Rank: No. 4 (No change)
Analysis: Maryland’s shot at a conference title was eliminated by a Michigan State miracle half-court buzzer-beater last week. Despite that high-profile loss, the Terrapins are a dangerous team entering postseason play. They are one of several of the Big Ten’s legitimate threats to make a deep run.
3. Wisconsin Badgers (22-7, 12-6 Big Ten)
Week 17 Results: Washington (W), No. 8 Michigan State (L)
Previous Rank: No. 3 (No change)
Analysis: Wisconsin joined a large pack of teams to lose to Michigan State due to the Spartans pulling late-game heroics. While the loss was deflating, it shouldn’t alter Wisconsin’s outlook entering postseason play. The Badgers have the offensive firepower and proven track record to make the program’s deepest NCAA Tournament run since 2015.
2. Michigan Wolverines (22-7, 14-4 Big Ten)
Week 17 Results: Nebraska (W), Rutgers (W), Illinois (L)
Previous Rank: No. 2 (No change)
Analysis: Michigan was keeping pace with Michigan State until its 20-point home loss to Illinois on Sunday. Still, the Wolverines control their own destiny to at least share the conference title, with remaining games against Maryland and Michigan State. KenPom and other rating metrics haven’t been high on the Wolverines all season. That outlook won’t matter if Dusty May’s team hoists the trophy.
Get more (Michigan) news, analysis and opinions on Wolverines Wire
1. Michigan State Spartans (24-5, 15-3 Big Ten)
Week 17 Results: No. 16 Maryland (W), No. 11 Wisconsin (W)
Previous Rank: No. 1 (No change)
Analysis: Michigan State has won five straight games: at Illinois, vs. Purdue, at Michigan, at Maryland and vs. Wisconsin. Tom Izzo’s team has defeated every other top team in the conference. While nearly every game is down to the final minute, it’s hard to question the team’s quality. It would be a deserving conference champion if that is the end result.
Get more (Michigan State) news, analysis and opinions on Spartans Wire
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Big Ten basketball power rankings update Michigan State vs Michigan
