JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
This week's edition of our Power Rankings shows a few changes from last week, namely Michigan moving down a few notches. These rankings are based on who I believe is playing the best basketball based on what they have done this year and as of late. The number in parenthesis is where they teams ranked in Ken Pomeroy's rankings at the time this article was written (5:30am on November 21st)
1. Michigan State (6): Despite a pair of lackluster wins this week, they still beat Kentucky in convincing fashion, they are ranked #1 and therefore there is no controversy here.
2. Wisconsin (17): They scored 103 points two nights ago and Frank Kaminsky scored a school record 43 points in the game? He was 16-19 from the floor including 6-6 from three. He did this in 28 minutes of action as the Badgers were spanking the U of North Dakota.
3. Ohio State (3): Lackluster win at home against Morgan State and so far this year they've taken over the mantle of Big Ten's most boring team to watch from Wisconsin. That said, they did win at Marquette this past week, a Marquette team ranked 17th and held them to just 35 points. Ohio State scored just 52 themselves, but that's one of the best resume wins of the season for a Big Ten team to this point.
4. Iowa (19): Dev Marble scored 27 in 20 minutes the other night..he was on pace to score 38 points if he played 28 minutes...but I digress. The Hawkeyes have destroyed the teams on their slate, which is what you'd hope they do. The tests begin next week when six of their next seven games come against teams in the Ken Pomeroy Top 150, five of those likely being teams ranked in the top 50.
5. Michigan (18): Losing at Iowa State is no shame as the Cyclones appear to be a legit Top 25 team already this season, especially after their win at BYU. The Wolverines had Trey Burke to rely on late in games last year, or Tim Hardaway Jr. Those two are gone and Michigan looked a bit lost late in the game at Hilton on Sunday. They have talent, but do they have a closer? Not yet.
6. Indiana (31): Like Iowa, the Hoosiers have feasted on easy pickings for the most part. They beat Long Island University by one point at home a few weeks back, but it's better than a loss. This team will be up and down this year but should finish around .500 in the league.
7. Minnesota (22): At this point, they are here. Once we get into the Big Ten, I think their guard-oriented strength is going to create some problems and they will finish on the south side of .500 in the league.
8. Illinois (36): Inexperienced team who looks more explosive than Purdue at this time. Don't think they'll put enough together for an NCAA bid this year.
9. Purdue (65): The Boilermakers have a chance to move up, but their fortunes will rise and fall with the attitude of center AJ Hammonds.
10. Nebraska (72): I am rooting for UMass to beat Nebraska because I don't want to be in the position of pulling for a Craig Neal coached New Mexico team over Nebraska on Friday. I like Nebraska coach Tim Miles. Their faux Hoops fans? Generally speaking, not so much.
11. Penn State (89): Another guard dominated team, Frazier and Newbill are a pretty exciting tandem. They'll beat some B1G teams they shouldn't beat, at home. Then again when you are slotted this low in the Power Rankings, any win is one you shouldn't get.
12. Northwestern (87): Losing to Illinois State was bad. Chris Collins transitions them away from the Princeton offense to real basketball and the move is going to be painful for a while until Northwestern can recruit (and sign) players who fit the motion scheme better. This will be the big challenge; can they land that type of player and still maintain their academic standards?
Lastly, how how that ACC, the self professed best conference in college basketball history this year with its new editions? NC State loses to NC Central while Georgia Tech loses to Dayton. Boston College has already lost to Providence, UMass and Toledo, Maryland has lost to UConn and Oregon State and North Carolina lost a home game to Belmont. North Carolina is playing a couple players down as they are held out due to NCAA eligibility concerns, including their leading scorer. Miami began the year losing to St Francis and Virginia Tech lost to something called USC Upstate to start the year. Duke lost to Kansas, which is certainly respectable, but ACC coaches were the ones saying these things about their league.
LAST WEEK'S RANKINGS
1. Michigan State
2. Michigan
3. Wisconsin
4. Iowa
5. Ohio State
6. Indiana
7. Illinois
8. Minnesota
9. Nebraska
10. Purdue
11. Northwestern
12. Penn State
1. Michigan State (6): Despite a pair of lackluster wins this week, they still beat Kentucky in convincing fashion, they are ranked #1 and therefore there is no controversy here.
2. Wisconsin (17): They scored 103 points two nights ago and Frank Kaminsky scored a school record 43 points in the game? He was 16-19 from the floor including 6-6 from three. He did this in 28 minutes of action as the Badgers were spanking the U of North Dakota.
3. Ohio State (3): Lackluster win at home against Morgan State and so far this year they've taken over the mantle of Big Ten's most boring team to watch from Wisconsin. That said, they did win at Marquette this past week, a Marquette team ranked 17th and held them to just 35 points. Ohio State scored just 52 themselves, but that's one of the best resume wins of the season for a Big Ten team to this point.
4. Iowa (19): Dev Marble scored 27 in 20 minutes the other night..he was on pace to score 38 points if he played 28 minutes...but I digress. The Hawkeyes have destroyed the teams on their slate, which is what you'd hope they do. The tests begin next week when six of their next seven games come against teams in the Ken Pomeroy Top 150, five of those likely being teams ranked in the top 50.
5. Michigan (18): Losing at Iowa State is no shame as the Cyclones appear to be a legit Top 25 team already this season, especially after their win at BYU. The Wolverines had Trey Burke to rely on late in games last year, or Tim Hardaway Jr. Those two are gone and Michigan looked a bit lost late in the game at Hilton on Sunday. They have talent, but do they have a closer? Not yet.
6. Indiana (31): Like Iowa, the Hoosiers have feasted on easy pickings for the most part. They beat Long Island University by one point at home a few weeks back, but it's better than a loss. This team will be up and down this year but should finish around .500 in the league.
7. Minnesota (22): At this point, they are here. Once we get into the Big Ten, I think their guard-oriented strength is going to create some problems and they will finish on the south side of .500 in the league.
8. Illinois (36): Inexperienced team who looks more explosive than Purdue at this time. Don't think they'll put enough together for an NCAA bid this year.
9. Purdue (65): The Boilermakers have a chance to move up, but their fortunes will rise and fall with the attitude of center AJ Hammonds.
10. Nebraska (72): I am rooting for UMass to beat Nebraska because I don't want to be in the position of pulling for a Craig Neal coached New Mexico team over Nebraska on Friday. I like Nebraska coach Tim Miles. Their faux Hoops fans? Generally speaking, not so much.
11. Penn State (89): Another guard dominated team, Frazier and Newbill are a pretty exciting tandem. They'll beat some B1G teams they shouldn't beat, at home. Then again when you are slotted this low in the Power Rankings, any win is one you shouldn't get.
12. Northwestern (87): Losing to Illinois State was bad. Chris Collins transitions them away from the Princeton offense to real basketball and the move is going to be painful for a while until Northwestern can recruit (and sign) players who fit the motion scheme better. This will be the big challenge; can they land that type of player and still maintain their academic standards?
Lastly, how how that ACC, the self professed best conference in college basketball history this year with its new editions? NC State loses to NC Central while Georgia Tech loses to Dayton. Boston College has already lost to Providence, UMass and Toledo, Maryland has lost to UConn and Oregon State and North Carolina lost a home game to Belmont. North Carolina is playing a couple players down as they are held out due to NCAA eligibility concerns, including their leading scorer. Miami began the year losing to St Francis and Virginia Tech lost to something called USC Upstate to start the year. Duke lost to Kansas, which is certainly respectable, but ACC coaches were the ones saying these things about their league.
LAST WEEK'S RANKINGS
1. Michigan State
2. Michigan
3. Wisconsin
4. Iowa
5. Ohio State
6. Indiana
7. Illinois
8. Minnesota
9. Nebraska
10. Purdue
11. Northwestern
12. Penn State
