The regular season is in the books for the Big Ten.
Michigan State wrapped up conference play last week with a pair of impressive wins to finish the regular season a high-note. Those two wins — and a little bit of help from across the league — resulted in the Spartans landing the No. 4 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
Before we turn our focus to the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago, which begins on Wednesday, let’s see where Michigan State and the rest of the Big Ten teams land in our final power rankings:
14
Minnesota
Record: 8-21 (2-17 in Big Ten)
I didn’t think Minnesota would win another game this year but a collapse in the final minute by Rutgers gave them one more taste of victory. The Golden Gophers also challenged Wisconsin in its final regular-season game but came up short late.
13
Rutgers
Record: 18-13 (10-10 in Big Ten)
Is Rutgers going to make the NCAA Tournament? The Scarlet Knights have limped across the finish line to end the regular season with two more losses — at Minnesota and home vs. Northwestern. Rutgers has lost six of their final eight games and probably need at least one win in the Big Ten Tournament to feel good about their chances of dancing in March.
12
Wisconsin
Record: 17-13 (9-11 in Big Ten)
Wisconsin remains in the hunt for a NCAA Tournament bid, but this was not a good week for the Badgers. Wisconsin came close to upsetting Purdue but fell short late. Then it had to avoid a massive disaster in final minutes against Minnesota in the finale. Wisconsin will need a strong showing at the Big Ten Tournament to find its way into the NCAA Tournament.
11
Ohio State
Record: 13-18 (5-15 in Big Ten)
Ohio State came out with one victory this week, but it was a positive week for the struggling Buckeyes. Ohio State knocked off Maryland and played Michigan State tough on the Spartans’ senior day. Ohio State will need to win five games in five days at the Big Ten Tournament to reach the NCAA Tournament, but that’s not completely off the table with how it has started to play better in these final weeks.
10
Nebraska
Record: 16-15 (9-11 in Big Ten)
Nebraska continued its strong finish to the regular season with a 1-1 week: a loss to Michigan State and a win at Iowa. The Cornhuskers finished the regular season with wins in six of their final eight games and will be dangerous in the Big Ten Tournament.
9
Maryland
Record: 20-11 (11-9 in Big Ten)
Maryland needed one win last week to lock up a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament, but its road struggles continued and it came up short. The Terps lost at Ohio State and Penn State this past week and seek to regain momentum at the Big Ten Tournament before heading to the NCAA Tournament.
8
Northwestern
Record: 21-10 (12-8 in Big Ten)
Northwestern went on the road on Sunday night and locked up a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament with a win over Rutgers. The Wildcats have been a lock for the NCAA Tournament for weeks and now are the No. 2 seed at the Big Ten Tournament.
7
Michigan
Record: 17-14 (11-9 in Big Ten)
Michigan was very close to having an NCAA Tournament clinching week but failed to make enough plays down the stretch in two crucial overtime losses. Michigan lost in double overtime to Illinois on Thursday and then at Indiana in overtime on Sunday. The Wolverines need to go on a big run in the Big Ten Tournament to play their way into the NCAA Tournament.
6
Penn State
Record: 19-12 (10-10 in Big Ten)
Penn State’s chances of making the NCAA Tournament appeared dead following last week’s collapse against Rutgers. However, dramatic wins over Northwestern and Maryland this week have given the Nittany Lions new life. A win or two at the Big Ten Tournament should guarantee they’ll be dancing.
5
Iowa
Record: 19-12 (11-9 in Big Ten)
Iowa was in a great position to earn a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament after picking up a dominating road victory over Indiana early in the week. However, a letdown performance against Nebraska on Sunday cost them that opportunity. The Hawkeyes are still safely in the NCAA Tournament, despite Sunday’s loss to Nebraska, and will be dangerous in the wide open Big Ten Tournament.
4
Illinois
Record: 20-11 (11-9 in Big Ten)
Illinois continues to be a boom-or-bust team with yet another up-and-down week. The Fighting Illini needed overtime to beat Michigan and came up short in a massive comeback attempt at Purdue on Sunday. Illinois is a hard team to read as we enter the Big Ten Tournament, but it certainly has the potential to win the whole thing if it can produce consecutive strong performances.
3
Indiana
Record: 21-10 (12-8 in Big Ten)
Indiana quickly made me regret moving them into our top spot in the weekly power rankings. The Hoosiers were blown out by Iowa at home early in the week and needed a big comeback to avoid a second home loss to Michigan on Sunday. Indiana is good enough to go on a run in March and suspect enough to get bounced in the first round. We will find out soon enough.
2
Michigan State
Record: 19-11 (11-8 in Big Ten)
Had Michigan State closed stronger against Michigan and not had a historic collapse to Iowa last week, the Spartans would have an argument for our top spot. Michigan State picked up a pair of wins this week (at Nebraska and vs. Ohio State) to cap a strong finish of five wins in the final seven games. Could this Spartans bunch be putting it all together and in position for a run in March?
1
Purdue
Record: 26-5 (15-5 in Big Ten)
Purdue has been our top team for nearly the entire season, so it is only fitting for them to finish as our No. 1 team after a one week drop. The Boilermakers won the league by three games and deserve to end the season as the top team in our Big Ten power rankings.
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