Every Large Ten has performed no less than three convention video games after league play resumed final week. Right here is our second version of Large Ten energy rankings, which can be printed periodically this season:
(Observe: Effectivity numbers under solely embrace convention video games.)
18. Minnesota (8-6, 0-3, 1.046 PPP, 1.323 PPP allowed, convention SOS: 7)
The Gophers are 0-3 in Large Ten video games and not one of the video games have been shut. Minnesota has misplaced each of its Large Ten video games at Williams Enviornment by a mixed 38 factors and likewise fell by 15 at Indiana on Dec. 9. KenPom at the moment initiatives Minnesota to complete 12-19 and 4-16 in convention play. Barring an unexpected turnaround, Minnesota gained’t be taking part in within the Large Ten event in Indianapolis.
17. Washington (10-5, 1-3, .975 PPP, 1.094 PPP allowed, convention SOS: 10)
The Huskies confirmed indicators of life this previous week by beating Maryland at Alaska Airways Enviornment earlier than battling Illinois to a four-point loss on Sunday afternoon in Seattle. DJ Davis was terrific within the loss to the Combating Illini. The senior guard got here off the bench, made seven 3-pointers and completed with 31 factors. Washington has struggled with its capturing by 4 Large Ten video games. The Huskies are capturing 27.1 p.c on 3s and 50.7 p.c on 2s. This week, a tough highway journey looms for Danny Sprinkle as Washington performs at Michigan State on Thursday and at Michigan on Sunday.
16. USC (9-5, 1-2, 1.047 PPP, 1.023 PPP allowed, convention SOS: 14)
The Trojans’ four-game successful streak ended on Saturday when Michigan got here to the Galen Heart and gained 85-74. USC was within the sport late after a 15-2 run, however the Wolverines answered with two 10-0 runs within the last 10 minutes to place the competition away. Eric Musselman’s staff heads east this week to tackle IU in Bloomington on Wednesday and Illinois in Champaign on Saturday.
15. Rutgers (8-6, 1-2, 1.028 PPP, 1.122 PPP allowed, convention SOS: 5)
Ace Bailey’s herculean effort wasn’t sufficient, because the Scarlet Knights fell by 10 to Indiana in Bloomington final week. Bailey went off for 39 factors towards the Hoosiers, however the absence of Dylan Harper was an excessive amount of for Rutgers to beat. Defensively, Rutgers is a large number this season. The Scarlet Knights rank fifteenth within the Large Ten in factors per possession allowed to date and are final within the convention in forcing turnovers. It shouldn’t be stunning with out Cliff Omoruyi round to anchor the protection within the paint. Nonetheless, Rutgers isn’t going to win many Large Ten video games if its protection doesn’t enhance rapidly.
14. Northwestern (10-5, 1-3, 1.026 PPP, 1.093 PPP allowed, convention SOS: 1)
The Wildcats have performed the hardest Large Ten schedule of any staff so far and have had two slender losses towards Iowa and Penn State on the highway. Sunday’s 18-point loss at Purdue was the primary time the Wildcats haven’t been aggressive in a sport all season. Northwestern now has per week to regroup earlier than internet hosting Michigan State on Sunday and Maryland subsequent Thursday. Nick Martinelli is averaging 19.4 factors per sport this season after scoring simply 8.8 factors per sport final season as a sophomore.
13. Iowa (10-4, 1-2, 1.128 PPP, 1.273 PPP allowed, convention SOS: 2)
Fran McCaffery’s staff was blitzed on Friday evening in Madison, 116-85. The Badgers hung 1.53 factors per possession on the Hawkeyes, who misplaced by 31 regardless of scoring 85 factors. Iowa has the worst 2-point area aim proportion protection of any staff, as opponents are capturing 63 p.c contained in the arc. The Hawkeyes have an opportunity to get some constructive momentum this week with residence video games towards Nebraska and Indiana on the schedule.
12. Penn State (12-3, 2-2, 1.089 PPP, 1.071 PPP allowed, convention SOS: 17)
The Nittany Lions may have stretched their successful streak to 5 video games towards Indiana on the Palestra, however an early second-half run was an excessive amount of for Penn State to beat in a 77-71 loss. The Nittany Lions had been a dreadful 3-for-21 on 3s towards Indiana. Penn State is close to the highest of the Large Ten in free throw fee (FTA/FGA) and leads the league in turnover proportion at 23.7. If Penn State hopes to complete within the prime half of the league standings, enchancment on the boards is important. Penn State at the moment ranks 14th within the league in offensive rebounding proportion and sixteenth in defensive rebounding proportion.
11. Indiana (12-3, 3-1, 1.103 PPP, 1.053 PPP allowed, convention SOS: 18)
The Hoosiers gained two video games this previous week with out main scorer Malik Reneau, who went down with a knee harm within the opening minute of the Rutgers sport. Indiana’s 3-point capturing got here to life in each video games because the Hoosiers went 12-for-27 towards the Scarlet Knights and 9-for-23 towards Penn State on the Palestra. Indiana is off to a strong 3-1 begin in Large Ten play however has performed the weakest schedule so far. That’s going to alter quickly. After Wednesday’s sport towards USC, KenPom has the Hoosiers as an underdog in its subsequent 11 video games.
10. Ohio State (9-5, 1-2, .96 PPP, 1.041 PPP allowed, convention SOS: 12)
It’s onerous to know what to make of Ohio State. The Buckeyes have key non-conference wins towards Texas and Kentucky, but in addition misplaced by 24 towards Maryland and 38 towards Auburn. Final week, Ohio State fell by seven at residence to Michigan State. Turnovers and poor 3-point capturing doomed the Buckeyes within the loss. Ohio State dedicated 16 turnovers and shot 7-for-27 (25.9 p.c) from distance. The Buckeyes must maintain enterprise tonight at Minnesota, which is already 0-2 in convention video games at Williams Enviornment.
9. Maryland (11-4, 1-3, 1.1 PPP, 1.068 PPP allowed, convention SOS: 3)
The Terps went west this previous week and misplaced shut video games towards Washington and Oregon. It gained’t be the final time that occurs to a Large Ten staff this season. As strong as Maryland’s predictive metrics are, the Terps have simply two high quality wins on their resume and have vital work to do in Large Ten play to make the NCAA event. Derik Queen has been terrific in his debut season however had his worst sport (4 factors, one rebound in 17 minutes) towards Washington.
8. Wisconsin (11-3, 1-2, 1.197 PPP, 1,096 PPP allowed, convention SOS: 4)
The Badgers have steadied the ship after a three-game dropping streak in early December. Wisconsin has gained its final three video games, together with a 116-85 beatdown of Iowa on Friday evening. Sophomore guard John Blackwell was terrific in that win, ending with 32 factors, eight rebounds and 5 assists in 32 minutes. The Badgers head to Rutgers tonight in a pivotal sport for each groups.
7. Nebraska (12-2, 2-1, .964 PPP, 1.021 PPP allowed, convention SOS: 8)
Nebraska was anticipated to take a step backward following the commencement of Keisei Tominaga and the lack of Rienk Mast to a knee harm that may sideline him all season. That hasn’t been the case, as Nebraska has now gained six straight, together with a 66-58 triumph towards UCLA on Saturday in Lincoln. Brice Williams is without doubt one of the greatest wings within the Large Ten. By way of 14 video games, he’s averaging 18.8 factors and capturing 40.4 p.c on 3s and 90.5 p.c from the free throw line. Nebraska has two highway alternatives this week: Iowa and Purdue.
6. Oregon (13-2, 2-2, 1.069 PPP, 1.148 PPP allowed, convention SOS: 11)
Dana Altman’s staff rebounded from an embarrassing 109-77 beatdown at residence towards Illinois and beat Maryland 83-79 on Sunday at Knight Enviornment. The Geese have already got two residence losses in convention play, which makes this week’s journey east to play Ohio State and Penn State necessary. Oregon has been a terrific 3-point capturing staff in its first 4 Large Ten video games. The Geese are 39.1 p.c from distance. Nevertheless, Oregon at the moment ranks sixteenth within the convention in factors per possession allowed at 1.148.
5. UCLA (11-3, 2-1, .988 PPP, .963 PPP allowed, convention SOS: 9)
UCLA doesn’t play a horny type of basketball, however its protection is among the many greatest within the nation. Based on KenPom, the Bruins rank fourth nationally in adjusted defensive effectivity. Over the weekend, UCLA suffered a hard-fought 66-58 loss at Nebraska, nevertheless it was lacking certainly one of its most necessary gamers, ahead Eric Dailey. The Bruins could make an announcement on Tuesday when Michigan comes into Pauley Pavilion.
4. Purdue (11-4, 3-1, 1.179 PPP, 1.058 PPP allowed, convention SOS: 16)
Purdue stays firmly within the combine within the Large Ten standings and took care of enterprise this previous week with snug wins at Minnesota and towards Northwestern at Mackey Enviornment. Braden Smith has elevated his degree of play as a junior. The 6-foot guard from Westfield ranks second within the Large Ten in help fee and is averaging 15.4 factors, 8.6 assists, 4.8 rebounds and a pair of.1 steals in 35.7 minutes per sport.
3. Michigan State (12-2, 3-0, 1.216 PPP, .912 PPP allowed, convention SOS: 15)
Certainly one of two remaining unbeaten groups in Large Ten play, Tom Izzo’s staff has gained seven straight. The Spartans at the moment are 2-0 on the highway in league play after a 69-62 win at Ohio State on Friday. When it comes to effectivity margin, Michigan State is the category of the league by three video games. The Spartans rank first within the league in factors per possession (1.216) and factors per possession allowed (.912).
2. Michigan (11-3, 3-0, 1.1 PPP, 1.035 PPP allowed, convention SOS: 13)
It hasn’t taken Dusty Might any time to show issues round in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines are 3-0 in Large Ten play, together with wins at Wisconsin and USC. Danny Wolf is a matchup nightmare for Large Ten frontcourts attributable to his playmaking capacity at 7-foot. In Saturday’s win towards USC, Wolf completed with 21 factors, 13 rebounds, seven assists, six blocked pictures and two steals in 33 minutes. The Wolverines conclude their west coast journey tomorrow evening at UCLA.
1. Illinois (11-3, 3-1, 1.136 PPP, 1.01 PPP allowed, convention SOS: 6)
The Combating Illini swept their west coast journey, beating Oregon 109-77 on Thursday and Washington 81-77 on Sunday. Regardless of turning over almost your entire roster, Brad Underwood has Illinois rolling. Kasparus Jakucionis is without doubt one of the prime freshmen within the nation and the Combating Illini play with a tempo that’s matched by few groups within the league. Illinois returns to Champaign for video games towards Penn State and USC this week.
(Photograph credit score: Illinois Athletics)
Filed to: Large Ten Energy Rankings
