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Big Ten College Basketball Power Rankings: Week 15

Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 15

Big Ten
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Week 14 of the Big Ten season was filled with big upsets and close calls for top teams. Some teams have come out of the bottom half of the conference to take control of the standings -- after Wisconsin, of course.

Let's take a look at the week 15 power rankings for the Big Ten.

14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (10-16, 2-11); Last week: 13

Rutgers
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14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (10-16, 2-11); Last week: 13

Rutgers
Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

Rutgers still hasn't won a game since defeating the Big Ten's top dog, Wisconsin, at home. The Scarlet Knights have lost nine in a row and have put themselves in the cellar of the conference.

This week: at Iowa, vs. Indiana

13. Northwestern Wildcats (11-14, 2-10); Last week: 14

Northwestern
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13. Northwestern Wildcats (11-14, 2-10); Last week: 14

Northwestern
David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Northwestern in one of the conference's worst teams, but you wouldn't have been able to tell by the way the Nittany Lions took down Iowa at home in overtime on Sunday afternoon. Finally, Northwestern is no longer last in my power rankings.

This week: at Minnesota, vs. Penn State

12. Penn State Nittany Lions (15-11, 3-10); Last week: 12

Penn State
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12. Penn State Nittany Lions (15-11, 3-10); Last week: 12

Penn State
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Penn State lost to two ranked teams in week 14, showing that it doesn't just lose to the conference's worst teams. The Nittany Lions were narrowly defeated by the Terrapins at home and salvaged a potentially embarrassing defeat.

This week: vs. No. 5 Wisconsin, at Northwestern

11. Nebraska Cornhuskers (13-12, 5-8); Last week: 11

Nebraska
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11. Nebraska Cornhuskers (13-12, 5-8); Last week: 11

Nebraska
Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska continues to be one of the conference's most disappointing teams. The Cornhuskers are barely over .500 through 14 weeks and they might be missing out on the NCAA Tournament after starting the year in the Top 25.

This week: at No. 16 Maryland, vs. Iowa

10. Michigan Wolverines (13-12, 6-7); Last week: 9

Michigan
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10. Michigan Wolverines (13-12, 6-7); Last week: 9

Michigan
Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan has lost five of six games to land itself in the bottom third of the Big Ten. The Wolverines have a chance to somewhat redeem themselves with a couple wins over big-time rivals this week.

This week: vs. Michigan State, vs. No. 24 Ohio State

9. Minnesota Golden Gophers (16-10, 5-8); Last week: 10

Minnesota
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9. Minnesota Golden Gophers (16-10, 5-8); Last week: 10

Minnesota
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

After taking down a tough Iowa team on the road, the Golden Gophers struggled at Indiana -- one of the conference's toughest places to play. Minnesota has been ailing heavily in Big Ten play.

This week: vs. Northwestern, at No. 5 Wisconsin

8. Iowa Hawkeyes (15-10, 6-6); Last week: 4

Iowa
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8. Iowa Hawkeyes (15-10, 6-6); Last week: 4

Iowa
Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa went from strong contender to likely out of the conference title race in the matter of a week. After the Hawkeyes took down Michigan on the road and Maryland at home last week, they lost to both Minnesota and lowly Northwestern this week.

This week: vs. Rutgers, at Nebraska

7. Illinois Fighting Illini (17-9, 7-6); Last week: 8

Illinois
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7. Illinois Fighting Illini (17-9, 7-6); Last week: 8

Illinois
Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports

Illinois had a 1-1 week 14 performance after blowing out Michigan in overtime, allowing the Wolverines to score just two points in the extra period, and becoming yet another Wisconsin victim.

This week: vs. Michigan State

6. Indiana Hoosiers (18-8, 8-5); Last week: 5

Indiana
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6. Indiana Hoosiers (18-8, 8-5); Last week: 5

Indiana
Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana has had an up-and-down year thus far, but overall, the Hoosiers are exceeding expectations. Indiana has lost three of its last six games, however.

This week: vs. Purdue, at Rutgers

5. Ohio State Buckeyes (19-7, 8-5); Last week: 2

Ohio State
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5. Ohio State Buckeyes (19-7, 8-5); Last week: 2

Ohio State
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State was shot down by a Denzel Valentine dagger on Valentine's Day, no less. However, the Buckeyes remain in the Top 25 and are ranked No. 24 overall in the nation.

This week: at Michigan

4. Michigan State Spartans (17-8, 8-4); Last week: 8

Michigan State
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

4. Michigan State Spartans (17-8, 8-4); Last week: 8

Michigan State
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan State rose the highest of anyone in my power rankings this week as the Spartans took down a tough Ohio State at home and pounced on a mediocre Northwestern squad on the road.

This week: at Michigan, at Illinois

3. Purdue Boilermakers (17-9, 9-4); Last week: 6

Purdue
Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

3. Purdue Boilermakers (17-9, 9-4); Last week: 6

Purdue
Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Purdue was not even on my radar when the season began. I didn't think the Boilermakers had any shot to contend for a conference title, but week after week, they continue to prove me wrong.

This week: at Indiana

2. Maryland Terrapins (21-5, 9-4); Last week: 3

Maryland
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

2. Maryland Terrapins (21-5, 9-4); Last week: 3

Maryland
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Maryland has remained steadily in the No. 2 slot basically all season long as the Terrapins are easily the second-most consistent team in the conference and one of just three Big Ten teams left in the Top 25.

This week: vs. Nebraska

1. Wisconsin Badgers (23-2, 11-1); Last week: 1

Wisconsin
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1. Wisconsin Badgers (23-2, 11-1); Last week: 1

Wisconsin
Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin doesn't even need a reason to be the No. 1 team in these rankings. They just keep on winning. Simple as that.

This week: at Penn State, vs. Minnesota

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