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As the Big Ten basketball season heads toward its final stretch, Purdue has taken over as the conference’s top team. On the back of superstar Caleb Swanigan, the Boilermakers are peaking at the right time. Combined with Wisconsin’s recent two game skid (a home loss to Northwestern followed by a road defeat at Michigan) and Bronson Koenig’s injury, the Boilermakers could make a major impression on the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee with a Big Ten title. But Maryland is still very much in the mix after an impressive road win over the Scottie Lindsey-less Wildcats. As it stands, it looks to be a three-horse race for the conference title, with Northwestern, Michigan State, Minnesota and Michigan lurking on the outside. Those four teams are in a race of their own: a battle for the all-important fourth seed and double bye in the Big Ten Tournament.
Here are our Big Ten power rankings (as of Feb. 17):
1
Purdue Boilermakers
RECORD: 21-5 (10-3)
NEXT: vs. Michigan State
AVERAGE RANK: 1.0
Caleb Swanigan is in poll position for B1G POY.
NEXT: vs. Michigan State
AVERAGE RANK: 1.0
| Zach Pereles | 1 | Will Ragatz | 1 |
| Martin Oppegaard | 1 | Isaac Bushnell | 1 |
| Josh Burton | 1 | Zach Wingrove | 1 |
| Chris Grismer | 1 | Caleb Friedman | 1 |
2
Wisconsin Badgers
RECORD: 21-5 (10-3)
NEXT: vs. No. 23 Maryland
AVERAGE RANK: 2.3
With Bronson Koenig hobbled, Wisconsin will face some major adversity down the stretch.
NEXT: vs. No. 23 Maryland
AVERAGE RANK: 2.3
| Zach Pereles | 2 | Will Ragatz | 3 |
| Martin Oppegaard | 3 | Isaac Bushnell | 2 |
| Josh Burton | 2 | Zach Wingrove | 2 |
| Chris Grismer | 2 | Caleb Friedman | 2 |
3
Maryland Terrapins
RECORD: 22-4 (10-3)
NEXT: at No. 11 Wisconsin
AVERAGE RANK: 3.1
A win at Wisconsin on Sunday would make the Terps favorites to win the Big Ten title.
NEXT: at No. 11 Wisconsin
AVERAGE RANK: 3.1
| Zach Pereles | 3 | Will Ragatz | 2 |
| Martin Oppegaard | 4 | Isaac Bushnell | 4 |
| Josh Burton | 3 | Zach Wingrove | 3 |
| Chris Grismer | 3 | Caleb Friedman | 3 |
4
Northwestern Wildcats
RECORD: 19-7 (8-5)
NEXT: vs. Rutgers
AVERAGE RANK: 4.0
Northwestern finished its toughest stretch of its schedule at 1-3, without Scottie Lindsey.
NEXT: vs. Rutgers
AVERAGE RANK: 4.0
| Zach Pereles | 4 | Will Ragatz | 6 |
| Martin Oppegaard | 2 | Isaac Bushnell | 3 |
| Josh Burton | 4 | Zach Wingrove | 4 |
| Chris Grismer | 4 | Caleb Friedman | 5 |
5
Michigan Wolverines
RECORD: 17-9 (7-6)
NEXT: at Minnesota
AVERAGE RANK: 5.0
No Big Ten point guard has been better than Derrick Walton.
NEXT: at Minnesota
AVERAGE RANK: 5.0
| Zach Pereles | 5 | Will Ragatz | 4 |
| Martin Oppegaard | 5 | Isaac Bushnell | 5 |
| Josh Burton | 5 | Zach Wingrove | 6 |
| Chris Grismer | 6 | Caleb Friedman | 4 |
6
Michigan State Spartans
RECORD: 16-10 (8-5)
NEXT: at No. 16 Purdue
AVERAGE RANK: 5.9
The Spartans are challenging for fourth in the Big Ten, but have a tough slate to finish the season.
NEXT: at No. 16 Purdue
AVERAGE RANK: 5.9
| Zach Pereles | 6 | Will Ragatz | 5 |
| Martin Oppegaard | 7 | Isaac Bushnell | 6 |
| Josh Burton | 7 | Zach Wingrove | 5 |
| Chris Grismer | 5 | Caleb Friedman | 6 |
7
Minnesota Golden Gophers
RECORD: 19-7 (7-6)
NEXT: vs. Michigan
AVERAGE RANK: 6.8
After losing five in a row to end January, the Gophers are 4-0 in February.
NEXT: vs. Michigan
AVERAGE RANK: 6.8
| Zach Pereles | 7 | Will Ragatz | 7 |
| Martin Oppegaard | 6 | Isaac Bushnell | 7 |
| Josh Burton | 6 | Zach Wingrove | 7 |
| Chris Grismer | 7 | Caleb Friedman | 7 |
8
Indiana Hoosiers
RECORD: 15-12 (5-9)
NEXT: at Iowa
AVERAGE RANK: 8.6
Indiana is reeling, losing six of its last seven games.
NEXT: at Iowa
AVERAGE RANK: 8.6
| Zach Pereles | 8 | Will Ragatz | 10 |
| Martin Oppegaard | 8 | Isaac Bushnell | 8 |
| Josh Burton | 9 | Zach Wingrove | 8 |
| Chris Grismer | 10 | Caleb Friedman | 8 |
9
Penn State Nittany Lions
RECORD: 14-13 (6-8)
NEXT: vs. No. 16 Purdue
AVERAGE RANK: 9.0
Penn State's youngsters are showing their potential.
NEXT: vs. No. 16 Purdue
AVERAGE RANK: 9.0
| Zach Pereles | 9 | Will Ragatz | 8 |
| Martin Oppegaard | 9 | Isaac Bushnell | 9 |
| Josh Burton | 8 | Zach Wingrove | 11 |
| Chris Grismer | 9 | Caleb Friedman | 9 |
10
Iowa Hawkeyes
RECORD: 14-12 (6-7)
NEXT: vs. Illinois
AVERAGE RANK: 9.8
The young Hawkeyes have been up and down this season, but still have a chance to go .500 in conference play.NEXT: vs. Illinois
AVERAGE RANK: 9.8
| Zach Pereles | 10 | Will Ragatz | 9 |
| Martin Oppegaard | 11 | Isaac Bushnell | 10 |
| Josh Burton | 10 | Zach Wingrove | 9 |
| Chris Grismer | 8 | Caleb Friedman | 11 |
11
Ohio State Buckeyes
RECORD: 15-12 (5-9)
NEXT: vs. Nebraska
AVERAGE RANK: 10.8
The Buckeyes could be a spoiler down the stretch and in the Big Ten Tournament.NEXT: vs. Nebraska
AVERAGE RANK: 10.8
| Zach Pereles | 11 | Will Ragatz | 11 |
| Martin Oppegaard | 10 | Isaac Bushnell | 11 |
| Josh Burton | 11 | Zach Wingrove | 10 |
| Chris Grismer | 11 | Caleb Friedman | 11 |
12
Nebraska Cornhuskers
RECORD: 11-14 (5-8)
NEXT: at Ohio State
AVERAGE RANK: 12.1
With Tai Webster and Glynn Watson, Nebraska has the fire power to play with the conference's best.
NEXT: at Ohio State
AVERAGE RANK: 12.1
| Zach Pereles | 12 | Will Ragatz | 12 |
| Martin Oppegaard | 13 | Isaac Bushnell | 13 |
| Josh Burton | 13 | Zach Wingrove | 12 |
| Chris Grismer | 12 | Caleb Friedman | 10 |
13
Illinois Fighting Illini
RECORD: 14-12 (4-9)
NEXT: at Iowa
AVERAGE RANK: 12.6/span>
The Fighting Illini's win at Northwestern was the team's first road win of the season.
NEXT: at Iowa
AVERAGE RANK: 12.6/span>
| Zach Pereles | 13 | Will Ragatz | 13 |
| Martin Oppegaard | 12 | Isaac Bushnell | 12 |
| Josh Burton | 12 | Zach Wingrove | 13 |
| Chris Grismer | 13 | Caleb Friedman | 13 |
14
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
RECORD: 13-14 (2-12)
NEXT: at Northwestern
AVERAGE RANK: 14.0
Rutgers has doubled its Big Ten win total from last season.
NEXT: at Northwestern
AVERAGE RANK: 14.0
| Zach Pereles | 14 | Will Ragatz | 14 |
| Martin Oppegaard | 14 | Isaac Bushnell | 14 |
| Josh Burton | 14 | Zach Wingrove | 14 |
| Chris Grismer | 14 | Caleb Friedman | 14 |