The college basketball conference schedule is soon approaching. Where does each Big Ten team currently sit heading into league play?
The Big Ten Conference was deemed one of the best leagues and one of the main schedules to keep an eye on heading into this season, but after some early-season losses to non-power teams and a loss in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge for the first time since 2008, the conference is looking a bit weaker than expected.
Where does each team currently stand after almost completing their non-conference slate?
14. Iowa Hawkeyes (5-5)
The only team in the conference that currently does not have a winning record, the Hawkeyes have not only lost five times this season, but they are losing badly. Four of their defeats have come in Iowa City, including a 33-point loss to Virginia and a game against the Memphis Tigers in which they gave up 100 points.
It was anticipated to be a rebuilding year for the Hawkeyes after losing four starters. Can you imagine where this team would be had Peter Jok decided to go pro?
13. Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-4)
Granted, the Cornhuskers have played no cupcake schedule- playing the likes of UCLA and Creighton, two red hot teams. The main reason Nebraska sits next-to-last in the conference right now is because the team has no quality wins and has lost four of their last five games after starting the season 4-0.
It does not get easier for the boys from Lincoln as a date in Lawrence against third-ranked Kansas looms on Saturday.
12. Penn State Nittany Lions (6-4)
Despite hanging with the Duke Blue Devils, the Nittany Lions have not really brought their “A” game yet it seems. Two nice wins over George Washington and Georgia Tech look nice on paper, but both teams are not expected to live up to any sort of ridiculous expectation. Expect Penn State to linger at the bottom of these rankings as the year goes on, unless they surprise everyone like their football team did.
11. Ohio State Buckeyes (7-2)
Up until last week, the Buckeyes were very close to being on top of this list come this time. Having undefeated Virginia on the ropes, Ohio State blew a big lead, falling to the Cavaliers by two points.
OK, so losing to an undefeated top ten team is nothing to hang their heads about. In fact, if that were the lone blemish, the Buckeyes might be top three in the Big Ten right now. But a home overtime loss to Florida Atlantic, a game where the Buckeyes were favored by over 20 points is something to hang your heads on if you are a fan of Ohio State. The soft schedule the team has played thus far, paired with the loss to Florida Atlantic is why the Buckeyes are where they are.
Next Saturday the Buckeyes take on No. 2 UCLA for a chance to make me eat my words.
10. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (8-1)
Kudos to the Scarlet Knights for being one of just two Big Ten teams that currently have more than one true road game this season so far. The good news is: Rutgers is winning the games they are supposed to. The bad news: With a schedule this weak, a lot of teams could do 8-1 or better with the lineup they have had.
For a team still in its rebuilding mode, I have no complaints with the schedule. Head coach Steve Pikiell will have his time high on confidence heading into conference play.
9. Michigan State Spartans (6-4)
The good news about the Spartans’ 6-4 record right now is that their four losses are to very good teams- Duke, Kentucky, Arizona, and Baylor. The not-so-good news is that although the Spartans are experiencing the rough side of their annual non-conference gauntlet of a schedule, Michigan State is a few plays away from being under .500 with a couple of bad losses on their resume.
A one point win on a clock error over Florida Gulf Coast and a four point victory over Oral Roberts clearly indicated the team has more problems than just their schedule. Three weaker foes await them before Big Ten play opens up, but nothing is a given with this team.
8. Illinois Fighting Illini (7-3)
Again, another team that would be ranked much higher had they not lost a “buy” game to Winthrop at home. It is hard ranking a team this low when they have arguably the most explosive player in the conference in Malcolm Hill, but really getting dominated in their losses to Florida State and West Virginia have the Illini middle of the pack for now. We will really see what this team is made of when they open up conference play with two straight road games at Maryland and at Ohio State.
7. Michigan Wolverines (7-2)
The Wolverines salvaged the respect of the Big Ten in their matchups against the Big East when they knocked off Marquette fairly easily earlier this season. While it is unclear how much that victory weighs with Marquette being a wild card this season, the Wolverines also had a quality win taken away when a preseason ranked Texas Longhorns team went into a downfall before their recent matchup.
Nonetheless, the Wolverines will be a dangerous team in the Big Ten this season, despite student section ticket sales down 44 percent.
6. Northwestern Wildcats (6-2)
Could this be the year the Wildcats break the curse and get into the NCAA Tournament? Northwestern is currently six points away from being undefeated, with their two losses coming against an undefeated Notre Dame team and a two-point loss on the road at Butler- never an easy place to win.
Junior guard Bryant McIntosh is posting a career low in field goal percentage and assists up to this point. If he can get going, watch out Big Ten.
5. Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-1)
Another good record overshadowed by an ugly non-conference schedule, the Gophers have yet to play a top 25 team, with the only team that has sniffed the rankings being Florida State, whom they lost to by double digits.
Minnesota has played just one true road game, which they lost, and has remaining non-conference games against Georgia Southern, Northern Illinois, Long Island, and Arkansas State. If the Gophers hang around .500 in the Big Ten and miss the NCAA Tournament, you know why.
4. Purdue Boilermakers (7-2)
There is no question the Boilermakers hold one of the most talented front courts in the conference, if not the country. Their lone losses on the season came to the now-number one ranked Villanova Wildcats and on the road at Louisville. While talented and holding onto “good” losses, the Boilers are still in search of that marquee win, which they can get another opportunity at next Saturday when they host undefeated Notre Dame.
The Boilermakers currently sit as one of just three ranked Big Ten teams.
3. Maryland Terrapins (9-1)
Holders of the league’s best winning percentage, the Terrapins have squeaked out improbable wins game after game it seems. Still, the close calls this team has endured raises question marks about the team and their ability to put together a full 40-minute game.
Regardless, the Terps currently sit with the best record in the Big Ten and have secured wins over Georgetown, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State. Looking at their schedule, Maryland should be entering conference play at 12-1 and when you have an explosive player in Melo Trimble at your disposal, any game is winnable.
2. Wisconsin Badgers (8-2)
To those who were quick to write off the Badgers after their two losses, you look mighty foolish right now. North Carolina has proven they are one of the top teams in the nation, while the road loss in Creighton (which Wisconsin was in until the last five minutes or so) looks better and better every day as the Bluejays are primed to be undefeated entering Big East action.
Winners of four straight, the Badgers have endured one of the tougher schedules of any Big Ten teams, playing three of the four teams from last year’s Final Four and three games against in-state rivals still upcoming. Wisconsin will be looking for its first road game victory of the year when they visit Marquette on Saturday. The Badgers lost by two points at home to the Golden Eagles last season and are looking to get revenge on one of their biggest rivals.
1. Indiana Hoosiers (7-1)
Is there a team in the country that holds better wins on their resume than the Hoosiers? Indiana is responsible for two top five teams’ only losses when they defeated Kansas in the season opener, followed by a dominating win over North Carolina in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
It is still unclear how Tom Crean and his team lost to Fort Wayne, but as stated by Fort Wayne’s coach Jon Coffman- props to the Hoosiers for playing a road game in-state. A date with another ranked team awaits Indiana as they host Butler next Saturday.
More from Badger of Honor
This article originally appeared on 
