Back around Halloween, there was this belief that the Big Ten was the most powerful conference in college basketball. Of course that was before the season started. With the league going just 17-18 versus other power conference teams, while the Big East has gone 24-12 with the same criteria.
In other words, this league is rather overrated; and they’ve suffered some unexpected losses in the pre-conference. So I’ll use the losses on everyone’s resume to rate the team’s this week.
By Paul M. Banks
1. Ohio State Buckeyes They haven’t lost yet, and probably won’t any time soon. And your Big Ten freshman of the year is already decided: Jared Sullinger.
2. Purdue Boilermakers Was their loss to Richmond a little hiccup? Possibly. They’re undefeated since then, even though they haven’t beaten anyone. Boilers are looking like a 13-5 or 12-6 team in conference. And crazy as it sounds, that might be enough to win the league.
3. Michigan State Spartans How can you have four losses and yet be nationally ranked #14? Because all four losses came to a top 20 team. Yes, that’s how ridiculous their schedule is. The loss to Texas was especially harsh; because it prompted Izzo to describe his team as a bunch of “pretty boy jump shooters.” Could’ve sworn he was talking about Illinois.
4. Wisconsin Badgers UNLV loss was bad. The defeat at the hands of ND doesn’t look too bad though. And these guys seem to be at their best when they play in-conference games.
5. Illinois Fighting Illini Their quality wins look less quality by the week. There’s no shame in the Texas and Mizzou losses. However, there’s PLENTY of shame in the UIC loss. That’s a terrible Flames team; with losses to College of Charleston, Central Michigan, Valpo, NIU, ISU and Akron. And Illinois-Chicago only beat Toledo, easily one of the worst teams in Division I, by just one point. Illinois beat them by 40; yet somehow lost to UIC. Go figure.
6. Minnesota Golden Gophers- If they were healthy, they could have beaten Virginia. And been undefeated..until their loss to the Sconnies.
7. Northwestern Wildcats- Only loss was to Coach Lav’s Johnnies in a de facto road game at Madison Square Garden. More than any other team in the Big Ten, they will be defined by their conference record.
8. Michigan Wolverines– Darius Morris is a baller. But they’re poor efforts in losses to UTEP and a blow out to Purdue in the conference opener wouldn’t be balling even if their jerseys read Spaulding.
9. Penn State Talor Battles- Nice win at Indiana to open the conference season. But it doesn’t negate their loss to the Black Bears of Maine; or their utter destruction at the hands of a very mediocre Maryland team. New BTPR rule, every week I’ll introduce you to a non-Talor Battle Penn State Nittany Lion. This week is Jeff Brooks; a sharpshooter who had a career high 23 in Bloomington.
10. Indiana Hoosiers- “So this is Christmas, and what have you done?” Lost to Northern Iowa and Colorado, as well as a mediocre BC team. Year three of Crean doesn’t look like much progress.
11. Iowa Hawkeyes- Ugly Ls to South Dakota State, Long Beach State. But dropping one to Wake Forest hurts too. The Deacons are TERRIBLE this year.
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net , a Midwest webzine. He’s also a regular contributor to the Tribune’s Chicago Now network, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker Network, and Fox Sports.com
You can follow him on Twitter @thesportsbank
He also does a regular guest spot each week for Chicagoland Sports Radio.com