We’re 16 days into the common season and each Large Ten workforce has performed between three and 5 video games. Solely seven of the league’s 18 groups stay unbeaten.
Damaged into three classes – shifting up, shifting down or staying regular – right here’s a have a look at the motion in KenPom for every Large Ten program to this point.
Since his preliminary rankings have been launched in October, groups in our moving-up class have improved their rating by greater than 5 spots. Groups within the moving-down class have fallen greater than 5 spots. And groups staying regular have solely moved between one and 5 spots in KenPom.
MOVING UP
Ohio State (began: 31; presently: 21) – The Buckeyes are the highest-ranked Large Ten workforce in KenPom after two weeks within the common season. Ohio State had a powerful early season win in opposition to Texas in Las Vegas and has a pair of blowout wins at residence in opposition to Youngstown State and Evansville. The one blemish on its document was a 78-64 loss at Texas A&M, a prime 15 workforce in KenPom, final Friday.
Michigan (began: 36; presently: 27) – Turnovers have been an issue for Dusty Might’s workforce – Michigan presently ranks 346th nationally in turnover proportion, however the Wolverines have gained their three residence video games by a mixed 87 factors. The Wolverines did lose a impartial courtroom sport to Wake Forest on Nov. 10. That loss could not age effectively because the Demon Deacons have fallen to No. 84 in KenPom as of Wednesday morning.
Maryland (began: 37; presently: 30) – The Terps have performed 5 residence video games and have blown out 4 unhealthy groups whereas falling narrowly to Marquette 78-74 on Nov. 15. We’ll know way more about Maryland in early December when the Terps host Ohio State and journey to Purdue for his or her early Large Ten video games.
Indiana (began: 39; presently: 32) – Hoosier followers have to be happy with the 3-0 begin and the upward trajectory to date. A season in the past, Indiana’s early season struggles tanked this system’s laptop rankings. The Hoosiers by no means recovered in a disappointing 19-14 season.
Wisconsin (began: 46; presently: 39) – No Chucky Hepburn, AJ Storr or Tyler Wahl, no downside to this point for Greg Gard and the Badgers. Wisconsin had a powerful 103-88 win in opposition to Arizona on Nov. 15 earlier than escaping with an 87-84 win in opposition to UT Rio Grand Valley on Monday.
Penn State (began: 61; presently: 33) – The Nittany Lions are an ideal instance of how a workforce can transfer up by bludgeoning lesser opponents. Penn State beat Binghamton, UMBC and Saint Francis by a mixed 121 factors in its first three video games. After which Penn State crushed Virginia Tech, one of many worst ACC groups, by 22 on a impartial ground. Ace Baldwin is off to a terrific begin in State Faculty, averaging 14.3 factors, seven assists and a pair of.8 steals.
MOVING DOWN
Purdue (began: 10; presently: 23) – The autumn for the Boilermakers was pushed by an 18-point blowout loss to Marquette on the highway Tuesday night time. Purdue turned it over 15 occasions and scored simply .85 factors per possession. That loss adopted a powerful 87-78 win in opposition to Alabama at Mackey Area on Nov. 15.
Iowa (began: 33; presently: 40) – The Hawkeyes are 5-0, which features a 76-66 win in opposition to Washington State in Moline, Illinois, on Nov. 15. As normal, Iowa is taking part in an up-tempo fashion and Payton Sandfort is averaging 17.8 factors and 7 rebounds in half-hour per sport.
Michigan State (began: 35; presently: 45) – Tom Izzo’s workforce blew out Monmouth and Niagara on the Breslin Middle earlier than falling to Kansas by eight within the Champions Basic in Atlanta. Since that loss, Michigan State beat Bowling Inexperienced by 14 and Samford by eight. Each video games have been in East Lansing and the margin of victory brought about some downward shifting within the rankings.
Northwestern (began: 50; presently: 61) – The Wildcats misplaced a aggressive highway sport at Dayton however are struggling to place groups away. Brooks Barnhizer performed for the primary time this season on Tuesday in opposition to Montana State and Northwestern escaped with a 72-69 win. Earlier than that, the Wildcats wanted time beyond regulation to beat Japanese Illinois in Evanston.
Nebraska (began: 56; presently: 66) – An early season scare in opposition to Bethune Cookman tanked the Huskers in KenPom. Nebraska fell 15 spots because it solely gained that sport by 5 on Nov. 9 at Pinnacle Financial institution Area.
USC (began: 57; presently: 78) – After narrowly escaping UT Arlington at residence on Nov. 13, the Trojans misplaced by 5 at residence to Cal and, because of this, have fallen 21 spots because the preseason. A slim six-point win in opposition to Idaho State on Nov. 7 additionally didn’t assist.
Minnesota (began: 59; presently: 77) – The Gophers misplaced a house sport to North Texas, a really strong workforce from the AAC after which survived in opposition to Yale for a 3-point win on Nov. 16. Minnesota will battle an uphill battle simply to make the Large Ten event this season.
Washington (began: 75; presently: 82) – The Huskies beat UC Davis by simply six, UMass Lowell by 5 and misplaced by 10 at Nevada. Their solely double-digit win to this point got here in opposition to Seattle Pacific, a Division II program. And Washington solely gained that sport by 15.
STAYING STEADY
Illinois (began: 23; presently: 26) – The Preventing Illini have gained three video games by a mixed 89 factors in opposition to inferior competitors. We’ll be taught extra about Illinois when it takes on Alabama tonight in Birmingham.
UCLA – (began: 26; presently: 25) – The Bruins have crushed three unhealthy groups – Rider, Boston College and Lehigh – and misplaced to New Mexico on a impartial ground. Important non-conference exams await, together with Arizona, North Carolina, and Gonzaga.
Oregon (began: 29; presently: 31) – The Geese survived an early scare in opposition to Portland and wanted time beyond regulation to win that contest. This group, led by Jackson Shelstad, most likely didn’t get the respect it deserved and will contend within the Large Ten title race.
Rutgers (began: 63; presently: 65) – The Scarlet Knights are 3-0 and simply bought Ace Bailey into the lineup for its most up-to-date sport, a 17-point win in opposition to Monmouth. Up to now, the Rutgers protection is ranked simply No. 62 in KenPom and the lack of Cliff Omoruyi as a rim protector can be powerful to beat in the long run.
Filed to: Ken Pomeroy
