What Michigan did on Tuesday was truly impressive.
The Wolverines have done it to almost everyone, but they really made a statement by going into Purdue and routing the Boilermakers. The final score read 91-80, but make no mistake, Michigan dominated.
When the Mackey Arena crowd files out in the final few minutes, that’s a statement. At no point in the second half did it feel like Purdue was going to make a run. Michigan did it by taking and making shot after shot.
After the game, Matt Painter said Purdue had essentially given up on the Big Ten title because the Boilermakers already had four losses and “that team’s not losing four games.” That’s telling.
Here’s a look at this week’s Big Ten power rankings.
1. Michigan Wolverines (25–1)
The Wolverines haven’t finished the job yet, but they’re close. They’ve got an eye on a top overall seed, and if they can beat Duke on Saturday, it’s probably theirs. Michigan has been the class of the league all year long, and that shouldn’t change anytime soon.
2. Illinois Fighting Illini (22–5)
The Illini got knocked off course briefly, but they righted the ship by routing Indiana and USC. UCLA is up next, but Illinois has bigger goals. The Illini still get Michigan at home, and that could be their chance to prove they deserve a top seed.
3. Purdue Boilermakers (21–5)
The Boilers looked off against Michigan, but they’re still a strong team most nights. However, Purdue isn’t communicating on the court the way it should. This is an experienced group with another gear, but it hasn’t reached it yet. Past Purdue teams have peaked too early. This one might be setting up to peak at the right time.
4. Nebraska Cornhuskers (22–4)
The Huskers have hit some adversity, but they’re still a strong team. Nebraska’s worst loss is Iowa; the other three are to the top teams in the league. Fred Hoiberg’s team has work to do to hold a double bye spot, but there are far worse places to be.
5. Wisconsin Badgers (18–8)
Eventually the Badgers were going to hit a wall. Beating Illinois and Michigan State takes a lot out of a team, and Ohio State needed that win badly. One loss after two big wins is nothing to worry about. Wisconsin gets Iowa at home next, followed by three very winnable games. They’re fine.
6. Michigan State Spartans (21–5)
The Spartans are far less comfortable. Michigan State did not play well at all in the loss to Wisconsin, and Tom Izzo might finally have their attention. The ceiling is high, but the gap between their floor and ceiling is one of the widest in the league. Outside of the win over Illinois, they’ve looked a step behind the top tier.
7. Iowa Hawkeyes (19–7)
Iowa picked up a critical win over Nebraska and looks like the best of the rest outside the top six. The Hawkeyes have won seven of nine and are trending toward safely being in the postseason. The loss to Maryland remains the only truly head-scratching result.
8. Ohio State Buckeyes (17–9)
The win over Wisconsin was a big one. Ohio State doesn’t have much else on its profile, but it took advantage of the opportunity. The problem is consistency, the Buckeyes have not won more than two straight conference games all year.
9. Indiana Hoosiers (17–9)
Indiana has to figure out how to beat decent teams away from Bloomington. The Hoosiers’ best road win is at UCLA, and that’s not enough. This is going to be a nervous final month.
10. UCLA Bruins (17–9)
The trip to Michigan was a disaster, but there’s only so far UCLA can fall. They’re not in the bottom tier, but they’re not close to the top either. With Illinois and Nebraska still on the schedule, things could get tricky.
11. USC Trojans (18–8)
USC is what it is at this point. The Trojans at times handle the teams they’re supposed to, but they also drop too many games they should win. That’s exactly why they’re stuck in the middle.
12. Washington Huskies (13–13)
Beating Minnesota was a step forward. A road trip to Maryland and Rutgers gives Washington some opportunities. They’re too far off the bubble to make the tournament, but at least they’re still playing hard.
13. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (11–15)
The bottom group is interchangeable right now. Rutgers gets credit for back-to-back wins, even if they came against Maryland and Penn State. The Scarlet Knights at least have a shot to avoid the first round of the conference tournament.
14. Maryland Terrapins (10–16)
Maryland gave back the goodwill it built by beating Minnesota and Iowa with losses to Rutgers and Northwestern. It has been a long year in College Park.
15. Minnesota Golden Gophers (12–14)
Minnesota’s blowout win at Oregon helped offset losses to Maryland and Washington. The Gophers’ floor is low enough to lose to Penn State, but when they’re right, they can certainly hang with the middle tier.
16. Northwestern Wildcats (11–16)
Credit Northwestern for getting a home win over Maryland. It has been a tough season, but the Wildcats haven’t quit.
17. Oregon Ducks (9–17)
This has been a rough season for Oregon. The Ducks are 1-11 in their last 12, and only a win over Penn State keeps them out of the basement.
18. Penn State Nittany Lions (11–16)
With the expanded conference tournament, Penn State at least won’t be the only Big Ten program left out. That’s about the only positive I can say about this team right now.
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