For the final time this year, our personalities compiled Big Ten Power Rankings as the regular season is about to wrap up.
This week’s rankings were voted on by Ethan Gaba, Kevin Hyland, Sam Rumpza, Andrew Vailliencourt, Eli Wilz, and Tori Ziege.
Team Name, First Place Votes, Record (overall, conference), Average, High/Low
1. Michigan Wolverines, (5), (22-7, 14-3), Average: 1.16, High/Low: 1/2
What They’re Saying: “Michigan clinched its first outright Big Ten Championship since 1986 with a dominating 31-point victory over Illinois in Champaign. I don’t think anyone foresaw this at the beginning of the season, when pre season All-American Mitch McGary was ruled out indefinitely after the team’s loss to Arizona on Dec. 14.” –Ethan Gaba
2. Wisconsin Badgers, (1), (25-5, 12-5), Average: 1.83, High/Low: 1/2
What They’re Saying: “Everyone has forgotten about the stretch when Wisconsin lost five of six. The Badgers are on fire, winners of eight in a row and poised for a win at Nebraska. A Big Ten Tournament championship and Bucky could be in store for a one seed.” – Sam Rumpza
3. Michigan State Spartans, (23-7, 12-5), Average: 3, High/Low: 3/3
What They’re Saying: "Brandon Dawson's return this past week gave the Spartans a much needed perimeter defender and a boost of energy the tenacious junior brings when he's on the floor, this showed in their 86-76 win over Iowa. With this health related question answered, a larger one lingers: can Keith Appling be 100 percent for the NCAA tournament. If the answer is yes, expect the Spartans to be playing in to April. If the answer is no, don't be surprised if they're back in East Lansing for the second weekend of the tournament." - Kevin Hyland
4. Nebraska Cornhuskers, (18-11, 10-7), Average: 4.16, High/Low: 4/5
What They’re Saying: “When the Cornhuskers take on Wisconsin Sunday night in their Big Ten finale, they will be playing for a first round bye in the Big Ten Tournament. It would be their first ever. Tim Miles can coach, as it was evident when his team took it to Indiana, in Bloomington, on the Hoosiers’ Senior Night. Look for this team to be dancing for the first time since 1998.” – Ethan Gaba
5. Ohio State Buckeyes, (22-8, 9-8), Average: 5.33, High/Low: 5/6
What They’re Saying: "For a team rich with senior leadership and experience, Ohio State's recent play has not reflected it in the slightest. In their only game of the week, the Buckeyes lost a lead and eventually the game to an Indiana team without Noah Vonleh. Ohio State is in desperate need of a go-to-scorer and unless LaQuinton Ross can duplicate his performance in last year's tournament, don't expect much from the Buckeyes in late March." - Kevin Hyland
6. Iowa Hawkeyes, (20-10, 9-8), Average: 5.5, High/Low: 4/6
“The Hawkeyes are struggling as of late, and dropped another important game against Michigan State. This is a hard team to predict, but is a lock for the NCAA tournament.” – Andrew Vailliencourt
7. Minnesota Golden Gophers, (18-12, 7-10), Average: 7.5, High/Low: 7/8
What They’re Saying: “Minnesota is another bubble team. Right now they are in the first four out according to Joe Lunardi, and will have to beat Penn State and likely get a win in the first round of the Big Ten tourney to get in the dance.” – Andrew Vailliencourt
7. Indiana Hoosiers, (17-13, 7-10), Average: 7.5, High/Low: 7/8
What They’re Saying: “The Hoosiers just could never pull it together this season. Young players never developed very far, and they couldn't get wins against the teams they were supposed to beat. Crushing losses to Penn State and Northwestern at home killed IU's tournament chances, and now will likely be in the NIT.” – Andrew Vailliencourt
9. Illinois Fighting Illini, (17-13, 6-111), Average: 9..16, High/Low: 9/10
What They’re Saying: “Despite the 31-point loss to Michigan, the Illini have ended the 2013-2014 season on a high note, winning three of their last four, including wins over Nebraska and at Michigan State. If the Illini can win their final game at Iowa, they’ll be feeling good about making some noise in a wide-open Big Ten Tournament.” – Ethan Gaba
10. Penn State Nittany Lions, (15-15, 6-11), Average: 10, High/Low: 9/11
What They’re Saying: “The Nittany Lions held Northwestern to 32 points last night, something that hadn’t been done since 2000 for the Wildcats. While PSU reached 15 wins, a win total topped only three times this century, the team still isn’t very good.” – Sam Rumpza
11. Purdue Boilermakers, (15-15, 5-12), Average: 10.83, High/Low: 10/11
What They’re Saying: "The miserable season had even more bad news added this week. RS freshman Jay Simpson had to give up basketball due to a potentially fatal heart ailment, and while it's fantastic that it was caught before something terrible happened, it's just another setback for an already struggling program. Matt Painter has some work to do next year to keep his job." - Sam Rumpza
12. Northwestern Wildcats, (12-18, 5-12), Average: 12, High/Low: 12/12
What They’re Saying: “Northwestern was only able to muster up 32 points Thursday night against Penn State. Yes, 32 points is correct. Tough for the Northwestern on Senior Night to put that performance out, but the team did get two top-25 victories this season – which is something they can hang their hats on.” – Ethan Gaba
