Updated Big Ten basketball power rankings (Feb. 3): A new No. 1 emerges

Posted by author February 3, 2025 Basketball

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The Big Ten basketball standings received a shake-up this week as first-place Michigan State dropped its first game of the season.

The Spartans remain atop the standings. But the gap between the team, which had been 9-0 in conference play before its road loss to USC, and the rest of the conference has shrunk dramatically. That move was expected eventually, as Michigan State went on its run to start the year without facing any of the conference’s next five highest-ranked teams. But the Spartans’ first loss coming against a mid-tier USC team creates some doubt about the team’s place at No. 1 in the conference power rankings.

The headline-grabbing result also created somewhat of a logjam at the top of the Big Ten standings, with seven teams now within three games of first place.

Across the conference, several top teams continued their ascent toward the top of the power rankings after more strong results. Atop that list is Purdue. The annual contender took little time to return to its typical standing near the top of the conference pecking order after dropping several tough nonconference matchups early in the season. Also included in that category are Michigan, UCLA and Maryland.

For more on a week of results that created significant movement throughout the conference standings, here are our updated Big Ten basketball power rankings:

18. Washington Huskies (11-10, 2-8 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Minnesota (W)

Previous Rank: No. 18 (No change)

Analysis: Washington finally ended its six-game losing streak with a road win over Minnesota. The result gives the team an outside shot at making the conference tournament, as it sits just 1/2 game behind a three-way tie for 15th (Penn State, Northwestern and Minnesota all at 3-8). Washington will need to string some wins together to surpass that group.

Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire

17. Minnesota Golden Gophers (11-11, 3-8 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: No. 7 Michigan State (L), Washington (L)

Previous Rank: No. 16 (Down 1)

Analysis: Minnesota had built some momentum with consecutive wins over Michigan, Iowa and Oregon. That momentum evaporated with a blowout loss to Michigan State and a home defeat to Washington. That second result is the most impactful, as it draws the Gophers closer to the bottom spot in the conference. Like Washington, Minnesota has significant work left to make the conference tournament.

16. Penn State Nittany Lions (13-9, 3-8 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Michigan (L), Ohio State (L)

Previous Rank: No. 13 (Down 3)

Analysis: Penn State’s early-season win over Purdue feels like it occurred years ago. The Nittany Lions are now 1-7 in their last eight conference games after an 0-2 week. They are stuck in the basement of the Big Ten, sitting just 1/2 game out of last place.

Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire

Week 13 Results: Rutgers (L), No. 17 Wisconsin (L)

Previous Rank: No. 10 (Down 5)

Analysis: Northwestern dropped hard-fought games to Rutgers and Wisconsin this week. It also learned that star guard Brooks Barnhizer would miss the rest of the season with a foot injury. The team’s 2-7 record since Jan. 1 and future outlook without Barnhizer led to a significant rankings drop.

14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (11-11, 4-7 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Northwestern (W), Michigan (L)

Previous Rank: No. 13 (Down 1)

Analysis: Rutgers went 1-1 without star freshman Dylan Harper (18.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists) available for either contest. The team is a longshot to make the NCAA Tournament due to its 3-6 record since Jan. 1. Still, it can upset any top contender if both Harper and Ace Bailey are healthy. Rutgers could act as a foil in the final weeks of conference play.

13. Iowa Hawkeyes (13-8, 4-6 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Ohio State (L)

Previous Rank: No. 12 (Down 1)

Analysis: According to KenPom, Iowa is a bottom-four team in the conference (No. 66 overall). It has fallen dramatically after a 1-4 stretch, including a 17-point loss to Ohio State. The Hawkeyes need to find form quickly, or else the discussion surrounding Fran McCaffery’s job status could begin.

Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire

12. Indiana Hoosiers (14-8, 5-6 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: No. 10 Purdue (L)

Previous Rank: No. 11 (Down 1)

Analysis: Indiana is now 1-5 in its last six games after a five-point road loss to Purdue. That single result won’t lead to a significant drop. But when paired with the Hoosiers’ extended body of work, it enforces the team’s place as a low-to-mid-tier team in the conference. That is far from Indiana’s expectations after entering the season with a transfer-heavy roster.

11. USC Trojans (13-8, 5-5 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: UCLA (L), No. 7 Michigan State (W)

Previous Rank: No. 14 (Up 3)

Analysis: USC handed Michigan State its first conference loss of the season on Saturday. That leads to a significant rise. The Trojans are now alone in eighth place in the Big Ten standings (four games back) after an extended 4-2 stretch. That represents a significant improvement after the team started the season 1-3 in conference play.

Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions on Trojans Wire

10. Nebraska Cornhuskers (14-8, 4-7 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: No. 18 Illinois (W), No. 16 Oregon (W)

Previous Rank: No. 17 (Up 7)

Analysis: The pendulum of Nebraska’s season swings back and forth with every result. Nebraska had lost six straight games entering the week, a stretch that saw it drop to No. 17 in our power rankings. The Cornhuskers then picked up two of the best wins of any team in the conference. They outlasted Illinois at home, then won on the road at Oregon. Nebraska is still far from NCAA Tournament contention. But the pair of statement wins could begin an in-season resurgence.

Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire

9. Oregon Ducks (16-6, 5-6 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: UCLA (L), Nebraska (L)

Previous Rank: No. 8 (Down 1)

Analysis: Oregon had a golden opportunity to contend for the Big Ten in 2024-25, playing most of its big games at home in Eugene. The team is falling far short of sky-high preseason expectations. Its downward trend was accelerated by a tough road loss to UCLA and a home defeat to Nebraska this week. The Ducks have now lost three straight and four of five, and have dropped all the way to No. 38 in KenPom.

Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire

8. Ohio State Buckeyes (13-9, 5-6 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Iowa (W), Penn State (W), No. 18 Illinois (L)

Previous Rank: No. 9 (Up 1)

Analysis: Ohio State is up to No. 26 in KenPom after a winning week. It is far better than its average record indicates. That is due to recent close losses to Oregon, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois, those coming by a combined 13 points. The Buckeyes should continue to be a tough out for every opponent on their schedule.

Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire

7. Illinois Fighting Illini (15-7, 7-5 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Nebraska (L), Ohio State (W)

Previous Rank: No. 7 (No change)

Analysis: Illinois continued a season of strange results with a split vs. Nebraska and Ohio State. The Fighting Illini had lost three of four and four of six before the Ohio State win. Those results don’t match up with the team’s No. 13 KenPom ranking. It’s reasonable to say that Illinois is underachieving after a promising start to the season.

6. UCLA Bruins (16-6, 7-4 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: USC (W), No. 16 Oregon (W)

Previous Rank: No. 6 (No change)

Analysis: UCLA has now won five straight after a recent four-game losing streak to begin the calendar year. That stretch has the team right back in contention to win the conference, sitting just 2 1/2 games behind first-place Michigan State. The Bruins will have a shot at a top NCAA Tournament seed if they continue their winning ways.

Get more (UCLA) news, analysis and opinions on UCLA Wire

5. Wisconsin Badgers (17-5, 7-4 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Maryland (L), Northwestern (W)

Previous Rank: No. 3 (Down 2)

Analysis: Wisconsin slipped after a tough road loss to Maryland began its week. That result isn’t an indictment on the Badgers’ form but more a testament to Maryland’s top-end potential. The Badgers are still right in the mix near the top of the Big Ten with several marquee games remaining.

4. Maryland Terrapins (17-5, 7-4 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Wisconsin (W)

Previous Rank: No. 5 (Up 1)

Analysis: Maryland is one of the hottest teams in the conference, with four straight wins and six in seven games. Those results back up the team’s hot start to the year against a light nonconference schedule. The Terrapins are up to No. 18 in KenPom, the fifth-highest mark in the conference.

3. Michigan Wolverines (16-5, 8-2 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Penn State (W), Rutgers (W)

Previous Rank: No. 4 (Up 1)

Analysis: Michigan is alone in third place in the conference standings after a 2-0 week. Triumphs over Penn State and Rutgers won’t win a conference title, however. Upcoming games against Oregon, Purdue and Michigan State will define the team’s season. Still, a No. 20 KenPom ranking enforces the Wolverines’ place near the top of the conference standings.

Get more (Michigan) news, analysis and opinions on Wolverines Wire

2. Michigan State Spartans (18-3, 9-1 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Minnesota (W), USC (L)

Previous Rank: No. 1 (Down 1)

Analysis: Michigan State drops a spot after suffering its first loss of the season. The Spartans are still No. No. 17. in KenPom and No. 16 in ESPN’s BPI. They were overtaken, however, by KenPom and the NCAA NET’s top-ranked Big Ten team.

Get more (Michigan State) news, analysis and opinions on Spartans Wire

1. Purdue Boilermakers (17-5, 9-2 Big Ten)

Week 13 Results: Indiana (W)

Previous Rank: No. 2 (Up 1)

Analysis: Purdue is the new No. 1 team in the Big Ten after its win over Indiana sent it up to No. 8 in KenPom, the highest ranking of any Big Ten team. The Boilermakers are just 1/2 game behind the Spartans for first place in the conference standings. The conference race may come down to Purdue’s road trip to Michigan State on Feb. 18. The team will first have to get by a sneaky-tough stretch: at Iowa, vs. USC, at Michigan, vs. Wisconsin.

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