The Large Ten match begins 4 weeks from at this time in Minneapolis and we’re effectively previous the midway level of the convention schedule.
Purdue is the clear chief for the common season crown with a two-game lead within the standings. The remainder of the convention standings, nevertheless, are a jumbled mess.
We’ll attempt to make sense of the remainder of the convention race as groups battle for seeding place on the Goal Heart:
14. Michigan (8-17, 3-11, 1.022 PPP, 1.159 PPP allowed)
Michigan basketball is definitely the largest catastrophe within the Large Ten. The Wolverines have misplaced seven of eight video games with the lone victory in that stretch approaching Feb. 7 at residence in opposition to Wisconsin.
Level guard Dug McDaniel remains to be suspended for highway video games, which is an enormous drawback for Juwan Howard. Michigan isn’t even aggressive away from the Crisler Heart, as its common margin of defeat in highway video games with out McDaniel is 21.4 factors. After lacking the NCAA match final season and having little cause for optimism shifting ahead, there’s a powerful argument Michigan ought to transfer on from Howard.
13. Ohio State (14-11, 4-10, 1.068 PPP, 1.135 PPP allowed)
The Buckeyes are a powerful candidate for essentially the most disappointing group within the Large Ten. After beginning 12-2 total and 2-1 in league play, Ohio State is 2-9 in its final 11 video games.
After blowing an 18-point second-half result in Indiana at residence on Feb. 6, the Buckeyes snapped a six-game dropping streak with a double-overtime win in opposition to Maryland on Feb. 10. That prosperity, nevertheless, was short-lived as Wisconsin handed the Buckeyes a tenth convention loss final night time in Madison. Chris Holtmann has an enormous buyout on his contract and athletic director Gene Smith is retiring this summer season, however a second straight NCAA match miss won’t sit effectively with the Buckeye trustworthy.
12. Indiana (14-10, 6-7, 1.015 PPP, 1.080 PPP allowed)
There’s expertise on the Indiana roster, however poor roster building and accidents have the Hoosiers in poor place with seven league video games remaining.
The teaching employees wager on Xavier Johnson, which has been pricey. Johnson has been injured for many of the season, and he’s not often been efficient when he has been obtainable. Indiana’s expertise within the backcourt wants a major overhaul, because the Hoosiers have uncared for to recruit taking pictures and playmaking for a lot too lengthy. To shut the season, the Hoosiers have 4 of their final seven at Meeting Corridor.
11. Maryland (13-11, 5-8, .97 PPP, .975 PPP allowed)
If Ohio State isn’t essentially the most disappointing group within the convention, it’s as a result of Maryland has taken that crown. Kevin Willard gave the fanbase optimism final season by making the NCAA match in yr one, but it surely seems final season was Idiot’s Gold.
Maryland has misplaced three straight, together with an embarrassing 56-53 loss to Rutgers on Feb. 6 on the Xfinity Heart. The Terrapin offense is inept, rating 14th within the convention in 3-point taking pictures and thirteenth in 2-point taking pictures. At greatest, Maryland is an NIT group.
10. Iowa (14-10, 6-7, 1.121 PPP, 1.142 PPP allowed)
The following group on the lengthy listing of mediocre Large Ten groups this season is Iowa, which once more has a wonderful offense and a really mediocre protection. Should you’ve been following this system beneath Fran McCaffery for the final 14 seasons, it’s a theme.
Owen Freeman has been a significant brilliant spot for the Hawkeyes and is the seemingly Large Ten freshman of the yr. And Payton Sandfort is getting NBA buzz due to his capacity to area the ground and shoot on the transfer. However as robust as Iowa’s offense is, the protection continues to restrict this system’s ceiling.
9. Penn State (12-12, 6-7, 1.066 PPP, 1.101 PPP allowed)
The Nittany Lions received back-to-back highway video games at Rutgers and Indiana after which beat Iowa on the Bryce Jordan Heart to maneuver to .500 in Large Ten play earlier than falling to Northwestern on Sunday night time in Evanston.
Penn State ought to have the ability to win a number of extra convention video games and will even keep away from a Wednesday recreation on the Large Ten match if issues break their approach. For a first-year coach in Mike Rhoades, who constructed the roster through the switch portal final spring, that’s about nearly as good as you’ll be able to ask for.
8. Rutgers (13-10, 5-7, .922 PPP, .976 PPP allowed)
After three straight losses made the Scarlet Knights look lifeless within the water, Rutgers has received three straight with a winnable residence recreation Thursday in opposition to Northwestern on deck.
So what’s modified? The addition of Jeremiah Williams. A court docket order in New Jersey granted Williams eligibilty on Feb. 2 and he’s been a welcome addition for Steve Pikiell. In three video games with Williams beginning within the backcourt, Rutgers is 3-0 with wins at Michigan and Maryland and a house win in opposition to Wisconsin. The win in opposition to the Badgers is notable as a result of it was a 22-point drubbing. Williams was named Large Ten participant of the week on Monday.
7. Minnesota (15-8, 6-6, 1.051 PPP, 1.064 PPP allowed)
If not for a pathetic non-conference schedule, Minnesota is perhaps on the bubble for the NCAA match. However Ben Johnson selected to schedule the worst (sure, 362nd out of 362nd faculties) non-conference slate within the nation, which won’t go unnoticed by the match’s choice committee.
It’s a disgrace, too, as a result of the Gophers are a strong basketball group in Johnson’s third season. Minnesota beat Michigan State at residence final week and needs to be favored in all their remaining residence video games (Rutgers, Ohio State, Penn State and Indiana).
6. Nebraska (17-8, 7-7, 1.092 PPP, 1.092 PPP allowed)
The Huskers are 7-0 at residence in league play and 0-7 on the highway. Pinnacle Financial institution Area is among the higher home-court benefits within the Large Ten, however profitable just one highway recreation all season is working in opposition to Nebraska’s NCAA match possibilities.
In his newest Bracketology, Andy Bottoms has the Huskers as one of many final 4 groups in. Nebraska’s last three Large Ten highway video games are in opposition to Indiana, Ohio State and Rutgers, a positive slate for lastly profitable a convention recreation away from Lincoln.
5. Wisconsin (17-8, 9-5, 1.119 PPP, 1.062 PPP allowed)
The Badgers began 8-1 in Large Ten play however misplaced 4 straight earlier than beating Ohio State in Madison Tuesday night time. The four-game dropping streak ended Wisconsin’s possibilities at a Large Ten title.
Wisconsin remains to be firmly within the NCAA match, and its skilled nucleus ought to serve it effectively because the season nears the end line.
4. Northwestern (17-7, 8-5, 1.133 PPP, 1.122 PPP allowed)
Northwestern has additionally struggled to win away from residence in league play however has two large alternatives this week. The Wildcats play at Rutgers on Thursday earlier than a Sunday matinee at Indiana.
Boo Buie is within the midst of a wonderful fifth season for Chris Collins. The 6-foot-2 level guard is third within the Large Ten in help fee (33.1) and fourth in 3-point taking pictures share (46.5)
3. Michigan State (15-9, 7-6, 1.102 PPP, 1.052 PPP allowed)
Tom Izzo’s group has quietly received three of 4 and is above .500 in league play. The Spartans presently have the fourth-best effectivity margin within the convention.
All the laptop numbers love Michigan State. KenPom ranks the Spartans fifteenth and the NET rating (22) is favorable, too. Tyson Walker is firmly within the combine for All-Large Ten first-team honors.
2. Illinois (18-6, 9-4, 1.175 PPP, 1.05 PPP allowed)
The Preventing Illini are the one group with a practical likelihood of difficult Purdue for the Large Ten title, however they may need assistance to get there. Illinois is 2 video games behind Purdue within the standings, with a house recreation in opposition to the Boilermakers remaining on the schedule on March 5.
Brad Underwood has accomplished nearly as good of a training job as anybody within the Large Ten this season. His smaller lineup with Coleman Hawkins on the 5 has made the Illini a tricky cowl. With Terrence Shannon Jr. again within the fold, Illinois now has a star able to main this system on a deep NCAA match run.
1. Purdue (22-2, 11-2, 1.206 PPP, 1.045 PPP allowed)
Zach Edey is the frontrunner for nationwide participant of the yr and has been unstoppable all season. Matt Painter has assembled a roster that enhances the Canadian huge man effectively.
Finally, Purdue will probably be judged on what it does within the NCAA match, however what the Boilermakers are doing to the Large Ten is spectacular. Purdue has received eight straight and is favored in every of its remaining common season video games, per KenPom.
(Graphic under courtesy of Dylan Burkhardt at UMHoops.)
Filed to: Large Ten Energy Rankings
