We’re 16 days into the common season and each Massive Ten workforce has performed between three and 5 video games. Solely seven of the league’s 18 groups stay unbeaten.
Damaged into three classes – transferring up, transferring down or staying regular – right here’s a take a look at the motion in KenPom for every Massive Ten program up to now.
Since his preliminary rankings had been launched in October, groups in our moving-up class have improved their rating by greater than 5 spots. Groups within the moving-down class have fallen greater than 5 spots. And groups staying regular have solely moved between one and 5 spots in KenPom.
MOVING UP
Ohio State (began: 31; at the moment: 21) – The Buckeyes are the highest-ranked Massive Ten workforce in KenPom after two weeks within the common season. Ohio State had a powerful early season win in opposition to Texas in Las Vegas and has a pair of blowout wins at residence in opposition to Youngstown State and Evansville. The one blemish on its file was a 78-64 loss at Texas A&M, a high 15 workforce in KenPom, final Friday.
Michigan (began: 36; at the moment: 27) – Turnovers have been an issue for Dusty Could’s workforce – Michigan at the moment ranks 346th nationally in turnover share, however the Wolverines have gained their three residence video games by a mixed 87 factors. The Wolverines did lose a impartial court docket recreation to Wake Forest on Nov. 10. That loss could not age effectively because the Demon Deacons have fallen to No. 84 in KenPom as of Wednesday morning.
Maryland (began: 37; at the moment: 30) – The Terps have performed 5 residence video games and have blown out 4 unhealthy groups whereas falling narrowly to Marquette 78-74 on Nov. 15. We’ll know rather more about Maryland in early December when the Terps host Ohio State and journey to Purdue for his or her early Massive Ten video games.
Indiana (began: 39; at the moment: 32) – Hoosier followers have to be happy with the 3-0 begin and the upward trajectory to date. A season in the past, Indiana’s early season struggles tanked this system’s pc rankings. The Hoosiers by no means recovered in a disappointing 19-14 season.
Wisconsin (began: 46; at the moment: 39) – No Chucky Hepburn, AJ Storr or Tyler Wahl, no drawback up to now for Greg Gard and the Badgers. Wisconsin had a powerful 103-88 win in opposition to Arizona on Nov. 15 earlier than escaping with an 87-84 win in opposition to UT Rio Grand Valley on Monday.
Penn State (began: 61; at the moment: 33) – The Nittany Lions are an ideal instance of how a workforce can transfer up by bludgeoning lesser opponents. Penn State beat Binghamton, UMBC and Saint Francis by a mixed 121 factors in its first three video games. After which Penn State crushed Virginia Tech, one of many worst ACC groups, by 22 on a impartial flooring. Ace Baldwin is off to a terrific begin in State School, averaging 14.3 factors, seven assists and a couple of.8 steals.
MOVING DOWN
Purdue (began: 10; at the moment: 23) – The autumn for the Boilermakers was pushed by an 18-point blowout loss to Marquette on the highway Tuesday night time. Purdue turned it over 15 occasions and scored simply .85 factors per possession. That loss adopted a powerful 87-78 win in opposition to Alabama at Mackey Area on Nov. 15.
Iowa (began: 33; at the moment: 40) – The Hawkeyes are 5-0, which features a 76-66 win in opposition to Washington State in Moline, Illinois, on Nov. 15. As normal, Iowa is taking part in an up-tempo fashion and Payton Sandfort is averaging 17.8 factors and 7 rebounds in half-hour per recreation.
Michigan State (began: 35; at the moment: 45) – Tom Izzo’s workforce blew out Monmouth and Niagara on the Breslin Middle earlier than falling to Kansas by eight within the Champions Traditional in Atlanta. Since that loss, Michigan State beat Bowling Inexperienced by 14 and Samford by eight. Each video games had been in East Lansing and the margin of victory brought about some downward transferring within the rankings.
Northwestern (began: 50; at the moment: 61) – The Wildcats misplaced a aggressive highway recreation at Dayton however are struggling to place groups away. Brooks Barnhizer performed for the primary time this season on Tuesday in opposition to Montana State and Northwestern escaped with a 72-69 win. Earlier than that, the Wildcats wanted additional time to beat Japanese Illinois in Evanston.
Nebraska (began: 56; at the moment: 66) – An early season scare in opposition to Bethune Cookman tanked the Huskers in KenPom. Nebraska fell 15 spots because it solely gained that recreation by 5 on Nov. 9 at Pinnacle Financial institution Area.
USC (began: 57; at the moment: 78) – After narrowly escaping UT Arlington at residence on Nov. 13, the Trojans misplaced by 5 at residence to Cal and, consequently, have fallen 21 spots for the reason that preseason. A slim six-point win in opposition to Idaho State on Nov. 7 additionally didn’t assist.
Minnesota (began: 59; at the moment: 77) – The Gophers misplaced a house recreation to North Texas, a really stable workforce from the AAC after which survived in opposition to Yale for a 3-point win on Nov. 16. Minnesota will struggle an uphill battle simply to make the Massive Ten event this season.
Washington (began: 75; at the moment: 82) – The Huskies beat UC Davis by simply six, UMass Lowell by 5 and misplaced by 10 at Nevada. Their solely double-digit win up to now got here in opposition to Seattle Pacific, a Division II program. And Washington solely gained that recreation by 15.
STAYING STEADY
Illinois (began: 23; at the moment: 26) – The Combating Illini have gained three video games by a mixed 89 factors in opposition to inferior competitors. We’ll study extra about Illinois when it takes on Alabama tonight in Birmingham.
UCLA – (began: 26; at the moment: 25) – The Bruins have crushed three unhealthy groups – Rider, Boston College and Lehigh – and misplaced to New Mexico on a impartial flooring. Vital non-conference assessments await, together with Arizona, North Carolina, and Gonzaga.
Oregon (began: 29; at the moment: 31) – The Geese survived an early scare in opposition to Portland and wanted additional time to win that contest. This group, led by Jackson Shelstad, most likely didn’t get the respect it deserved and will contend within the Massive Ten title race.
Rutgers (began: 63; at the moment: 65) – The Scarlet Knights are 3-0 and simply obtained Ace Bailey into the lineup for its most up-to-date recreation, a 17-point win in opposition to Monmouth. To this point, the Rutgers protection is ranked simply No. 62 in KenPom and the lack of Cliff Omoruyi as a rim protector shall be powerful to beat in the long run.
Filed to: Ken Pomeroy
