Big Ten basketball power rankings: Quite the shakeup near the top heading into conference tournament

Michigan Wolverines basketball finished tied second in the Big Ten standings and holds the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. Here’s our power rankings of the 18-team Big Ten following the 20-game regular season.

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1. Michigan State (26-5 overall, 17-3 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 1st (—)
Last week: at Iowa (W, 91-84), vs. Michigan (79-62)
This week: No. 1 seed in Big Ten Tournament — vs. Oregon, Northwestern or Minnesota (March 14)

Michigan State won the outright Big Ten regular-season championship by three games, ahead of second-place Michigan and Maryland. The Spartans are on an incredible seven-game win streak with five victories over ranked opponents.

2. Maryland (24-7 overall, 14-6 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 4th (+2)
Last week: at Michigan (W, 71-65), vs. Northwestern (W, 74-61)
This week: No. 2 seed in Big Ten Tournament — vs. Illinois, Ohio State or Iowa (March 14)

Maryland started off 13-5 overall and 3-4 in Big Ten play but finished by going 11-2 in its last 13 contests. The Terrapins have lost only three games since Jan. 5 — and all three came on game-winning buzzer beaters, including a miracle by Michigan State.

3. Wisconsin (23-8 overall, 13-7 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 2nd (-1)
Last week: at Minnesota (W, 74-67), vs. Penn State (L, 86-75)
This week: No. 5 seed in Big Ten Tournament — vs. Minnesota or Ohio State (March 13)

Wisconsin finished the regular season on the wrong note, losing 86-75 to Penn State Saturday in Madison. The Badgers have been without starting guard Max Klesmit over the last three contests, but he’s expected to return for the Big Ten Tournament. The Badgers have been one of the best teams in the league the majority of the season, but did drop three of their last five games.

4. Purdue (21-10 overall, 13-7 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 5th (+1)
Last week: vs. Rutgers (W, 100-71), at Illinois (L, 88-80)
This week: No. 6 seed in Big Ten Tournament — vs. USC or Rutgers (March 13)

Purdue has faltered down the stretch, losing four games in a row from Feb. 11 to Feb. 23 and five of its last seven in the regular season. The Boilermakers have two great players (point guard Braden Smith, forward Trey Kaufman-Renn) and one really good shooter (guard Fletcher Loyer). They’ll go as far as those three take them.

5. Illinois (20-11 overall, 12-8 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 6th (+1)
Last week: vs. Purdue (W, 88-80)
This week: No. 7 seed in Big Ten Tournament — vs. Ohio State or Iowa (March 13)

Illinois was a “bad good team” for a lot of January and February but has found a groove late in the year. Illinois is getting healthier at the right time and may see freshman forward Morez Johnson (wrist) come back for the Big Ten Tournament, and head coach Brad Underwood’s group is finally hitting some shots, connecting on 25 of their 67 three-point attempts over the last two games, wins over Michigan and Purdue.

There was a case for placing Illinois ahead of Purdue, but the Fighting Illini had worse losses that held them back.

6. Michigan (22-9 overall, 14-6 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 3rd (-3)
Last week: vs. Maryland (L, 71-65), at Michigan State (L, 79-62)
This week: No. 3 seed in Big Ten Tournament — vs. Purdue, Rutgers or USC (March 14)

First-year head coach Dusty May took over a team that finished in 14th and last place in the Big Ten season and turned them into the second-place squad in the league this year. It’s been an incredible turnaround, and Michigan has some marquee victories on its résumé. However, the Wolverines have lost three in a row and four of their last six games, looking to regain momentum in Indianapolis.

7. UCLA (22-9 overall, 13-7 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 7th (—)
Last week: at Northwestern (W, 73-69), vs. USC (W, 90-63)
This week: No. 4 seed in Big Ten Tournament — vs. Wisconsin, Minnesota or Northwestern (March 14)

UCLA won two Big Ten games away from the West Coast but still earned a double-bye in the conference tournament. Credit head coach Mick Cronin for improving his team throughout the season and taking advantage of a lighter schedule after a rough start. The Bruins have won 11 of their last 14 outings.

8. Oregon (23-8 overall, 12-8 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 8th (—)
Last week: vs. Indiana (W, 73-64), at Washington (W, 80-73 in OT)
This week: No. 8 seed in Big Ten Tournament — vs. Indiana (March 13)

Oregon is on a seven-game winning streak, having broken out of a midseason funk that most Big Ten squads had, even Michigan State. The Ducks have tough shot-makers like point guard Jackson Shelstad and score a lot from behind the three-point line, making them a dangerous tournament team.

9. Indiana (19-12 overall, 10-10 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 9th (—)
Last week: at Oregon (L, 73-64), vs. Ohio State (W, 66-60)
This week: No. 9 seed in Big Ten Tournament — vs. Oregon (March 13)

Indiana was 14-10 overall and 5-8 in the Big Ten coming off its loss to Michigan Feb. 8. Head coach Mike Woodson was already hit with a lame duck title, and Hoosiers’ fans were already looking forward to the next hire and the 2026 season. But Woodson’s crew kept fighting and is now on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble, winning five of its last seven games, including winning ‘The Bubble Bowl’ against Ohio State on Saturday.

10. Ohio State (17-4 overall, 9-11 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 10th (—)
Last week: vs. Nebraska (W, 116-114 in 2OT), at Indiana (L, 66-60)
This week: No. 10 seed in Big Ten Tournament — vs. Iowa (March 12)

The Buckeyes were the losers of ‘The Bubble Bowl,’ after hanging on to beat Nebraska in an epic double-overtime game that saw 230 points scored earlier in the week. Ohio State will look to make some noise in Indianapolis in an attempt to solidify a bid to the Big Dance.

11. Rutgers (15-16 overall, 8-12 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 11th (—)
Last week: at Purdue (L, 100-71), vs. Minnesota (W, 75-67 in OT)
This week: No. 11 seed in Big Ten Tournament — vs. USC (March 12)

Nebraska will head to Indianapolis and play Wednesday with full intentions to win the whole damn thing. The Scarlet Knights are capable of beating pretty much anyone, led by two top-five NBA Draft picks in Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, but this team is defensively challenged, making it difficult to string together wins. Maybe this is the week they lock in.

12. Minnesota (15-16 overall, 7-13 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 13th (+1)
Last week: vs. Wisconsin (L, 74-67), at Rutgers (L, 75-67 in OT)
This week: No. 12 seed in Big Ten Tournament — vs. Northwestern (March 12)

Minnesota looked like it was going to be one of the worst high-major teams in the nation at 8-9 overall and 0-6 in the Big Ten, but Ben Johnson got his team off the mat and they’ve gone .500 from that point on.

13. Northwestern (16-15 overall, 7-13 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 14th (+1)
Last week: vs. UCLA (L, 73-69), at Maryland (L, 74-61)
This week: No. 13 in Big Ten Tournament — vs. Minnesota (March 12)

Just when you think Northwestern is out of capable players, others emerge, such as freshman guard KJ Windham, who’s been a good complement to Ty Berry in the back court. The Wildcats play a bunch of competitive games.

14. Nebraska (17-14 overall, 7-13 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 12th (-2)
Last week: at Ohio State (L, 116-114 in 2OT), vs. Iowa (L, 83-68)
This week: Didn’t make Big Ten Tournament

Nebraska didn’t just even limp to the finish line — it ran out of gas before even reaching it. The Cornhuskers looked like an NCAA Tournament team in mid-February but have lost their last five games, missing the Big Ten Tournament.

15. Penn State (16-15 overall, 6-14 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 16th (+1)
Last week: vs. Maryland (L, 68-64), at Wisconsin (W, 86-75)
This week: Did not make Big Ten Tournament

Nobody saw Penn State’s 11-point win at Wisconsin coming, with the Nittany Lions exploding on offense, highlighted by 11 made threes. It was a disappointing year two for Mike Rhoades, whose team lost 11 of 12 Big Ten games at one point. That was too big of a hole to climb out of, even with the Wisconsin win.

16. USC (15-16 overall, 7-13 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 15th (-1)
Last week: vs. Washington (W, 92-61), at UCLA (L, 90-63)
This week: No. 14 seed in Big Ten Tournament — vs. Iowa (March 12)

USC turns the ball over and doesn’t play good defense, and that caught up to them after a solid January. The Trojans went 2-8 after upsetting Michigan State Feb. 1.

17. Iowa (16-15 overall, 7-13 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 17th (—)
Last week: vs. Michigan State (L, 91-84), at Nebraska (W, 83-68)
This week: No. 15 seed in Big Ten Tournament — vs. Ohio State (March 12)

Iowas hasn’t been as good as Northwestern, but the Hawkeyes have dealt with injuries and continued to battle. The Hawkeyes beat Nebraska in Lincoln to make the Big Ten Tournament in what head coach Fran McCaffery insists isn’t his last season.

18. Washington (13-18 overall, 4-16 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 18th (—)
Last week: at Minnesota (W, 74-67), vs. Penn State (L, 86-75)
This week: Did not make Big Ten Tournament

Washington was the worst team in the Big Ten this season by a pretty decent margin. The Huskies’ last win came Feb. 15 at Penn State.