Entire Big Ten Ranked Among Top 100 In Preseason KenPom Ratings

While trying to predict what will happen during any given college basketball season is a tricky task, there are a number of sites that try to do just that. And one of the best is KenPom, who uses an interesting analytical model to project teams and predict games.

Earlier this week, KenPom released his preseason ratings entering this season and the Big Ten performed quite well. In fact, the entire league was ranked among the top 100, including two teams in the top 10. Obviously, that speaks to just how exciting this season should be for Big Ten fans.

Here’s a full look at the Big Ten teams listed below.

Big Ten Teams In Preseason KenPom Ratings:

• No. 1 - Michigan State
• No. 7 - Purdue
• No. 11 - Ohio State
• No. 16 - Maryland
• No. 21 - Michigan
• No. 34 - Indiana
• No. 35 - Illinois
• No. 41 - Iowa
• No. 43 - Penn State
• No. 45 - Wisconsin
• No. 63 - Rutgers
• No. 81 - Minnesota
• No. 87 - Northwestern
• No. 96 - Nebraska

Given how last season went, it really isn’t surprising to see teams like Michigan State, Purdue, and Michigan in the top 25. And with some of the pieces joining Maryland and Ohio State, it makes sense to see them ranked so highly as well.

The biggest takeaway for the Big Ten is obviously at the top of the list, where Michigan State enters this season at No. 1 nationally. If that does hold up, it would be the Big Ten’s first team to lead the nation in KenPom rating since the Buckeyes did it after the 2010-’11 season. The Spartans have never finished first nationally in KenPom rating.

It was also interesting to see Wisconsin so low in the ratings. The Badgers have just one finish below 40th on KenPom since Bo Ryan’s initial season in Madison. Fans are hoping that trend continues this season and Wisconsin can defy the ratings.

Rutgers also deserves a shout out for this list. The Scarlet Knights haven’t finished in the top 65 on KenPom since the website began during the 2001-’02 season. If Rutgers can deliver on that preseason projection, fans would have to be pretty excited.

It should be a fun season and if these odds are any indication, it looks like a tight and unpredictable race across the Big Ten this season.