It was a significant week for significant Ten women’s basketball, as some of the conference’s best teams struggled. Things appear to be getting tighter as conference play approaches the key month of February. Here’s how our power rankings look this week:
1. No. 5 Iowa Hawkeyes: 18-2 (7-1 B1G)
Next game: vs. Nebraska
The Hawkeyes were court-stormed at Ohio State this week, but it doesn’t mean they should be removed from this list. They remain the country’s fifth-ranked squad, with Caitlin Clark continuing to be the best player in the game. Iowa’s season outlook remains unchanged. Make no mistake: this is still a title contender, and it has the opportunity to restore momentum at home against Nebraska. Clark and the Hawkeyes will travel to Evanston to play Northwestern on Wednesday. Nebraska is solid, but this is a home game, and Northwestern is quite beatable, particularly at Welsh Ryan. This is a “get right” stretch for both black and yellow.
2. No. 12 Ohio State Buckeyes: 15-3 (6-1 B1G)
Next game: at Illinois.
Anytime you beat Caitlin Clark, you deserve to move forward. The Buckeyes achieved precisely that on Sunday, with sophomore Cotie McMahon scoring a career-high 33 points. Ohio State has some terrifying athletes, including powerful senior guard Jacy Sheldon, who leads the team in scoring at 17.6 points per game. Since their loss to Michigan at the end of December, the Buckeyes have been on fire and remain unblemished in January. The following schedule is especially advantageous; their next two games will be against Illinois and Purdue, both of which are in the bottom part of the conference rankings.
3. No.14 Indiana Hoosiers
Record: 16-2 (7-1 B1G).
The 49ers’ quest for another last-second miracle merits a thorough rewind.
Next game is against Northwestern.
The Hoosiers have done nothing to earn this tumble. Their victory over Purdue was not the most convincing of all time, but a road win is still a win. Indiana loses very little. The Hoosiers have not lost a game since November, with the exception of an away loss at Iowa (about as difficult a contest as you can get). The game was against Stanford, which is now rated sixth in the USA. So, yeah, Mackenzie Holmes and his Hoosiers are legitimate. No one wants to play with them right now.
4. Minnesota Golden Gophers’ record is 14-5 (4-4).
Next game: at Illinois.
The Gophers lost by three against Wisconsin after easily defeating Michigan State at home. Mara Braun looks crazy for a sophomore. The rest of the rotation leaves plenty to be desired, particularly in terms of scoring production, although Mallory Heyer is an extremely talented defensive player. This is a team that is right in the middle of things, attempting to get into March. The next month, like always, will determine everything.
5. Michigan State Spartans’ record is 14-5 (4-4 B1G).
Next game: at Illinois.
The Spartans suffered a tough loss in Minnesota this week, which is why the Gophers edged them out. However, MSU also defeated Purdue at home by 27 points. So it’s been a difficult week to judge, but at the end of the day, it held serve at home in convincing form. It’s close, but this will catapult them to fifth place. The Spartans’ losses aren’t particularly troubling. Coming within three points at Iowa is an impressive loss, and losing at Ohio State isn’t too bad either. Moira Joiner is a reliable number one scorer, while Julia Ayrault contributes additional points and outstanding rebounding. This team isn’t quite at the elite level, but it’s extremely good.
6. Penn State Nittany Lions – 13-5 (4-3 B1G)
Next game: at Northwestern.
It becomes extremely tight here, but of the teams who potentially deserve this slot, Penn State is the only one that has recently won. The Nittany Lions easily defeated one of the conference’s top teams, Nebraska, at home. Ashley Owusu, who scored 20 points, is an excellent player. She averages 19 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a guard. Shay Ciezki and Makenna Marisa give further offensive production, both averaging more than 14 points. This is a strong roster with the potential to challenge the league’s elite clubs.
7. Nebraska Cornhuskers’ record is 13-6 (5-3 B1G).
Next game: at Iowa.
The Huskers lost at Penn State. Again, this is why the Nittany Lions edge them out. However, the change is minor. Alexis Markowski averages a double double and allows them to compete game after game. Iowa is the next challenging matchup, but the schedule gets easier after that. If Nebraska can win the games it should win while still giving itself a shot in the rest, this is a club that could matter come March.
8. Michigan Wolverines
Record: 14-6 (5-3 in B1G).
Next game: at Michigan State.
I’m not going to give the Wolverines too much credit for a close road win over Rutgers and an overtime win at home against Maryland, but they’ll go up one slot. Laila Phelia is a decent offensive threat. Lauren Hansen is a knowledgeable senior who does her job effectively and contributes to the scoreboard. However, this club lacks the firepower to compete against the conference’s finest rosters. That is exactly the truth. However, two consecutive victories can never be bad for a squad. It’ll definitely take it.
9. Maryland Terrapins’ record is 12-7 (4-4 B1G).
Next game: at Penn State.
Despite Jakia Brown-Turner’s 21-point performance, the Terps lost to Michigan on the road. The senior is one of three players averaging double figures this season, with Bri McDaniel and Shyanne Sellers. A convincing victory over Illinois on Saturday prevents them from falling too far in the rankings. This is a squad that is still alive and hopes to make the playoffs. Don’t rule them out. Definitely not yet.
10. Purdue Boilers
Record: 9-10 (2-6 in B1G)
Next game: versus Ohio State.
Purdue gets the nod here since its second loss this week came on the road at Ann Arbor, and its first loss was by six points against Indiana. That’s a difficult draw for a club that just does not compare to the stronger teams in this league. This is where the major slide in these rankings begins. A home game against Ohio State will be a terrific litmus test for this squad to determine whether it can be gritty throughout the rest of the conference season.
11. Illinois Fighting Illini’s record is 8-9 (2-5 B1G).
Next game: versus Ohio State.
The Illini were not embarrassed this week on the road in College Park, which is a good thing. The bad news is that this team’s losses are piling up, and it does not appear to be able to reverse the trend. With Ohio State and Minnesota up next, a three-game skid on the way to a 2-7 conference record appears to be the most likely outcome. In addition, games against Iowa and Indiana remain on the schedule. Champaign is in for a difficult year. Such a shame.
12. Wisconsin Badgers’ record is 9-9 (2-6 B1G).
Next game: against Rutgers.
Wisconsin won big at home against Minnesota on Tuesday. Following a 46 (46!) score setback at Iowa, the Badgers used their wounded animal syndrome back in Madison. Serah Williams is an excellent scorer who stands 6-foot-4 and averages 10.3 rebounds per game. But she doesn’t have much support. This isn’t a really good team.
13. Northwestern Wildcats’ record is 7-11 (2-5 B1G).
Next game: versus Penn State.
The Wildcats haven’t played since we last updated our power rankings, but they’ll fall nevertheless due to the Wisconsin victory and the desire to punish them for their awful performance against Michigan State last week. I mean, they committed 11 turnovers in the first half. During an early run, they turned the ball over on SIX consecutive possessions. You just cannot win basketball games that way. Northwestern has had a difficult season and is virtually out of contention. Moral victories down the line, as well as improved play from individual players, could assist to mitigate the program’s losses.
14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights’ record is 6-15 (0-8 B1G).
Next game is at Wisconsin.
When you have no conference wins, it’s difficult to be anyplace other than last place. Rutgers is extremely awful. Sophomore Kaylene Smikle is the bright spot, and she represents optimism for the future, but that future does not exist today, as she has not played since Dec. 30 against Northwestern. This squad currently serves as the conference’s doormat. Fortunately, it has already faced Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio State, and it will not have to face any of them again.
