Big Ten Power Rankings, Feb. 2: Northwestern continues to slide

After five-straight losses — one to Penn State and four to the conference's top four teams — Northwestern fell in our Big Ten Power Rankings for the second straight week. The Wildcats now sit in 10th place in the conference standings, just a half-game out of a tie for 11th with Penn State and Illinois, and that's exactly where they slot into our first rankings of February.

At the top, despite its first loss of conference play, Iowa barely holds onto the top spot. Here are the rankings:

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

1 Iowa Hawkeyes RECORD: 17-4 (8-1) ||  KenPom Rank: 2 The Hawkeyes suffered their first conference loss, but it was on the road to a top-10 team. Nothing to be ashamed of. HB JR ZP JB KD DR MO LA IM SB ZW TJ DG AVERAGE 1 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1.62

2 Maryland Terrapins RECORD: 19-3 (8-2) ||  KenPom Rank: 9 Six first place votes for the Terps. Maryland still doesn't have a top-50 win away from home though. Iowa has three. HB JR ZP JB KD DR MO LA IM SB ZW TJ DG AVERAGE 2 1 1 1 1 3 1 2 1 3 3 2 2 1.77

3 Michigan State Spartans RECORD: 19-4 (6-4) ||  KenPom Rank: 6 A huge week looms for the Spartans, with road trips to Ann Arbor and West Lafayette. HB JR ZP JB KD DR MO LA IM SB ZW TJ DG AVERAGE 3 2 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 2 2 3 4 2.69

4 Indiana Hoosiers RECORD: 18-4 (8-1) ||  KenPom Rank: 25 The Hoosiers' OT loss at Wisconsin was by no means a huge blemish on Indiana's resume. HB JR ZP JB KD DR MO LA IM SB ZW TJ DG AVERAGE 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 3 4

5 Purdue Boilermakers RECORD: 19-4 (7-3) ||  KenPom Rank: 13 Purdue won with defense for much of nonconference play, but opposing guards exposed the Boilermakers a bit in January. HB JR ZP JB KD DR MO LA IM SB ZW TJ DG AVERAGE 5 5 6 6 6 6 5 6 5 5 5 4 5 5.31

6 Michigan Wolverines RECORD: 17-5 (7-2)  ||  KenPom Rank: 32 Michigan has a chance to make a statement this week at Crisler Arena against Indiana and Michigan State. HB JR ZP JB KD DR MO LA IM SB ZW TJ DG AVERAGE 6 6 5 5 5 5 6 5 6 6 6 6 6 5.62

7 Ohio State Buckeyes RECORD: 14-9 (6-4)  ||  KenPom Rank: 68 Despite placing sixth in our rankings, Ohio State is well on the wrong side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. HB JR ZP JB KD DR MO LA IM SB ZW TJ DG AVERAGE 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 7.46

8 Wisconsin Badgers RECORD: 13-9 (5-4)  ||  KenPom Rank: 53 Wisconsin is making a Tourney charge. The Badgers got their fourth top-40 win over Indiana. HB JR ZP JB KD DR MO LA IM SB ZW TJ DG AVERAGE 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 7.54

9 Nebraska Cornhuskers RECORD: 12-10 (4-5) ||  KenPom Rank: 96 The Huskers lead the Big Ten in two-point field goal percentage in conference play. HB JR ZP JB KD DR MO LA IM SB ZW TJ DG AVERAGE 9 10 9 10 9 9 9 9 9 10 9 9 9 9.23

10 Northwestern Wildcats RECORD: 15-8 (3-7)  ||  KenPom Rank: 97 The four-game murderer's row is over. Five of NU's remaining eight games come against the conference's bottom five. HB JR ZP JB KD DR MO LA IM SB ZW TJ DG AVERAGE 10 9 12 9 10 10 10 10 11 9 10 11 10 10.08

11 Illinois Fighting Illini RECORD: 10-12 (2-7)  ||  KenPom Rank: 134 As our Josh Rosenblat ruthlessly harps on, Illinois has talent... but so little to show for it in the way of results. Long live John Groce. HB JR ZP JB KD DR MO LA IM SB ZW TJ DG AVERAGE 11 11 10 11 11 11 12 12 10 11 11 10 12 11

12 Penn State Nittany lions RECORD: 11-11 (2-7)  ||  KenPom Rank: 145 Penn State might have to win at Nebraska to avoid a seven-game losing streak. HB JR ZP JB KD DR MO LA IM SB ZW TJ DG AVERAGE 12 12 11 12 12 12 11 11 12 12 12 12 11 11.69

13 Minnesota Golden Gophers RECORD: 6-16 (0-10) ||  KenPom Rank: 189 The Gophers are in last place in the conference. Not just in any conference, but a conference that includes Rutgers. HB JR ZP JB KD DR MO LA IM SB ZW TJ DG AVERAGE 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

14 Rutgers Scarlet Knights  RECORD: 6-16 (0-9)  ||  KenPom Rank: 275 THIRTEENTH PLACE (IN THE WIN-LOSS STANDINGS). MOVIN' ON UP. HB JR ZP JB KD DR MO LA IM SB ZW TJ DG AVERAGE 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14