Power Rankings: Vol. 3

by babaoreally on Jan 30, 2012 11:22 PM CST in Power Rankings

I stole the idea of grouping the teams from a comment in a previous power ranking post. The numbers of this edition were well-suited to grouping. As always, the number after the team is the average ranking from each of the voters.

1. Ohio State - 1.0 (no change)
2. Michigan State - 2.0 (no change)

No question among our writers about the top two teams. OSU hasn't lost since Brandon Paul had a career night and MSU rebounded this week after losing two in a row on the road.

3. Michigan - 3.4 (no change)
4. Wisconsin - 3.6 (up 2)

The Wolerines lost to Ohio St. on the road; there's no shame in that. Wisconsin is starting to play like a normal Wisconsin team: slow and with more points at the end of the game than the other team.

5. Purdue - 5.8 (up 2)
6. Minnesota - 6.2 (up 2)
7. Indiana - 6.8 (down 3)
8. Illinois - 7.2 (down 4)

The logjam at the middle is hard to figure. Not sure that Purdue deserves the top spot in this group, but arguments can be made against all four of these teams. Indiana's offensive explosion against Iowa on Sunday wasn't enough to jump Minnesota, who beat Illinois after the Illini refused to close it out in The Barn.

9. Nebraska - 9.4 (up 3)
10. Iowa - 9.6 (down one)

Nebraska beat Iowa in Iowa City, so they get the top spot in this group.

11. Northwestern - 11.4 (down one)
12. Penn St. - 11.6 (down one)

Northwestern has fallen off since beating MSU at home. Injuries added to their already thin bench has really hurt them this season. Penn St. continues their rebuilding year under Pat Chambers.

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Comments

No disagreements. The top 4 are pretty set and all safe for the NCAA tournament. I have a feeling that two teams from the third group will make the NCAA tournament and it will come down to the last weekend (Purdue plays Indiana) and the first day of the Big 10 tournament. Win there and you are in good shape for a bid.

The Mikan Drill

by JoshuaR on Jan 31, 2012 8:40 AM CST reply actions

Good call on the groupings

I think it gives an accurate picture of where all the teams are.

And like JoshuaR said, the top 4 are safely in the tourney barring a total collapse, and I think the second four are in as long as they can win at home. I don’t think any of the bottom four have a chance save for a miraculous run in the B1G tourney.

Also, looking at NW’s current state, I’m still shocked that my Spartans lost to them, even though it was in Evanston, they didn’t just lose, they got beat. NW owned them all game with the backdoor, and Curletti played his tail off. Oh, well, let’s hope that’s it in terms of DERP games for the Spartans this season.

M’s loss to OSU hurts their chances, but I still think the B1G champ will be 14-4, and I think it will be a co-champ of OSU & either MSU or M. Whomever wins in the game at MSU this Sunday will have the inside track. I don’t see Wisc having the horses to stay in this race, though they have been playing much better as of late.

by MSUDersh on Jan 31, 2012 10:54 AM CST reply actions

Upon further review

I think Minny has a tough road to get into the tourney.

They have a good overall record at 16-6, in conference they’re 4-5. They have a good, but not great RPI (38), and usually the bottom at-large teams are in the high 40’s, so not much room for error. They do have the good in-conference wins vs. Indiana & Illinois (you could say vs. NW too, RPI 46) but their best out of conference wins are S. Dakota State (63 RPI), Bucknell (72) & Va. Tech (83). And the RPI for Bucknell & SDS will fall as their season progresses, and plummet if either of them lose to schools in their conferences. All RPI’s courtesy of Minnesota’s RPI Breakdown on CBSSports.com.

But Minny has a brutal home schedule to close the season, hosting Wisconsin, OSU, MSU & Indiana (and closing with Nebraska). They could easily go 1-4 in that stretch. Plus, they have to play at Wisc & Iowa in two of their four remaining roadies, so it’s very possible they finish the season going 3-6 or even 2-7. Not conducive to an NCAA bid.

by MSUDersh on Jan 31, 2012 11:20 AM CST up reply actions