Big Ten Power Rankings, Feb. 15: Despite loss to Indiana, Iowa leads group at the top of the conference

The separation is clear in the Big Ten. Eight teams are 8-5 or better. Six teams are 6-7 or worse. Two teams have no wins (bless you, Minnesota and Rutgers). A title chase has developed between Iowa, Maryland and Indiana, all of which are separated by just a single win. Right now, KenPom has Iowa as the favorite with a projected 13-5 finish. Other teams will have a major say in how the top of the conference shakes out.

With that, here are our Feb. 15 Big Ten Power Rankings:

Voter Key: Henry Bushnell | Josh Rosenblat | Zach Pereles | Josh Burton | Kevin Dukovic | Danny Rapaport | Martin Oppegaard | Ian McCafferty | Sam Brief | Zach Wingrove | Tristan Jung | David Gernon

1 Iowa Hawkeyes RECORD: 20-5 (11-2) ||  KenPom Rank: 4 Iowa just couldn't handle Indiana at Assembly Hall this week. HB JR ZP JB KD DR MO IM SB ZW TJ DG AVERAGE 1 3 1 3 1 1 2 1 1 3 2 1 1.67

Maryland Terrapins

RECORD: 22-4 (10-3) ||  KenPom Rank: 13
Maryland suffered its first Big Ten home loss against Wisconsin.

HB	JR	ZP	JB	KD	DR	MO	IM	SB	ZW	TJ	DG	AVERAGE
3	2	3	1	2	3	3	2	2	2	1	2	2.17

Michigan State Spartans

RECORD: 21-5 (8-5) ||  KenPom Rank: 3
It took a few weeks for Tom Izzo's team to find its groove, but now Michigan State is rolling.

HB	JR	ZP	JB	KD	DR	MO	IM	SB	ZW	TJ	DG	AVERAGE
2	1	2	2	3	2	1	3	3	1	3	3	2.17

Indiana Hoosiers

RECORD: 20-6 (10-3) ||  KenPom Rank: 21

An offensive juggernaut, Indiana couldn't stop Michigan State at all Sunday.

HB	JR	ZP	JB	KD	DR	MO	IM	SB	ZW	TJ	DG	AVERAGE
4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4

Purdue Boilermakers

RECORD: 20-6 (8-5)  ||  KenPom Rank: 17

Purdue really wasn't all that impressive in a loss to Michigan.

HB	JR	ZP	JB	KD	DR	MO	IM	SB	ZW	TJ	DG	AVERAGE
5	6	6	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5.17

Wisconsin Badgers

RECORD: 16-9 (8-4)  ||  KenPom Rank: 33

With seven straight wins, the Badgers are the hottest team in the conference.

HB	JR	ZP	JB	KD	DR	MO	IM	SB	ZW	TJ	DG	AVERAGE
6	5	5	7	6	6	7	6	6	6	6	6	6

Michigan Wolverines

RECORD: 19-7 (9-4)  ||  KenPom Rank: 48

The Wolverines are keeping their heads above water as Caris LeVert continues to get healthier.

HB	JR	ZP	JB	KD	DR	MO	IM	SB	ZW	TJ	DG	AVERAGE
7	7	7	6	7	8	6	7	7	7	7	7	6.97

Ohio State Buckeyes

RECORD: 16-10 (8-5)  ||  KenPom Rank: 73

The Buckeyes might be fading, but they have three huge opportunities to end the season with two games against Michigan State and one against Iowa.

HB	JR	ZP	JB	KD	DR	MO	IM	SB	ZW	TJ	DG	AVERAGE
8	8	8	8	8	7	8	8	8	8	8	8	7.97

Nebraska Cornhuskers

RECORD: 14-12 (6-7) ||  KenPom Rank: 88

In its last six games, Nebraska has two wins: over Rutgers and Penn State.

HB	JR	ZP	JB	KD	DR	MO	IM	SB	ZW	TJ	DG	AVERAGE
9	10	9	9	9	10	9	9	9	9	9	9	9.17

Northwestern Wildcats

RECORD: 17-9 (5-8)  ||  KenPom Rank: 91

It wasn't pretty, but a win over Illinois may very well have saved whatever postseason hopes Northwestern clung to.

HB	JR	ZP	JB	KD	DR	MO	IM	SB	ZW	TJ	DG	AVERAGE
10	9	11	10	10	11	10	10	10	10	10	11	10.17

Penn State Nittany Lions

RECORD: 12-13 (3-9)  ||  KenPom Rank: 146

The Nittany Lions have lost five of six.

HB	JR	ZP	JB	KD	DR	MO	IM	SB	ZW	TJ	DG	AVERAGE
11	11	10	12	12	9	11	11	11	11	11	10	10.83

Illinois Fighting Illini

RECORD: 11-14 (3-9)  ||  KenPom Rank: 124

HAT.

HB	JR	ZP	JB	KD	DR	MO	IM	SB	ZW	TJ	DG	AVERAGE
112	12	12	11	11	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	11.83

Minnesota Golden Gophers

RECORD: 6-19 (0-12) ||  KenPom Rank: 179

Once Minnesota loses to Maryland this week, we get the matchup of the Big Ten season.

HB	JR	ZP	JB	KD	DR	MO	IM	SB	ZW	TJ	DG	AVERAGE
13	13	14	13	13	13	13	14	13	13	13	13	13.17

Rutgers Scarlet Knights 

RECORD: 6-19 (0-13)  ||  KenPom Rank: 283

Every week, we crawl closer to winless Minnesota vs. winless Rutgers.

HB	JR	ZP	JB	KD	DR	MO	IM	SB	ZW	TJ	DG	AVERAGE
14	14	13	14	14	14	14	13	14	14	14	14	13.83