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Big Ten College Basketball Power Rankings: Week 10

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By @Connormuldowney

Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 10

Wisconsin
Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports

With week nine of the college basketball season in the books, Big Ten play is just heating up. We saw some big upsets in week nine as Wisconsin lost its first conference game of the year to Rutgers and Indiana took down Ohio State at home.

Let's take a look at week ten's power rankings. You may be surprised at some of the movement.

14. Penn State Nittany Lions (12-4, 0-3); Last week: 11

Penn State
Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

14. Penn State Nittany Lions (12-4, 0-3); Last week: 11

Penn State
Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Penn State's 12-1 start to the season is starting to look more and more like a fluke as the Nittany Lions have lost all three of their conference battles thus far. Penn State might not have any more room for error if it wants to make the tournament.

This week: at Indiana, vs. Purdue

13. Northwestern Wildcats (10-6, 1-2); Last week: 13

Northwestern
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

13. Northwestern Wildcats (10-6, 1-2); Last week: 13

Northwestern
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Northwestern took a tough Michigan State team into overtime on the road, but that wasn't enough to move the Wildcats up the power rankings from last week. A week prior, the Wildcats were blown out by 23 at home against Wisconsin.

This week: vs. Illinois, at Michigan

12. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (10-7, 2-2); Last week: 14

Rutgers
Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports

12. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (10-7, 2-2); Last week: 14

Rutgers
Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports

Rutgers finally climbed out of my power rankings cellar with a huge win over Wisconsin at home. Did I mention it was a huge win? Okay, now that it's settled, this team has the potential to give some conference foes a fit. Rutgers is no longer a cakewalk.

This week: at No. 14 Maryland, at Minnesota

11. Minnesota Golden Gophers (11-6, 0-4); Last week: 7

Minnesota
Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

11. Minnesota Golden Gophers (11-6, 0-4); Last week: 7

Minnesota
Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Talk about a team that has dropped off the map of contenders so dramatically. The Golden Gophers have failed to win a conference game through four -- although they have come close in three contests. Minnesota was 11-2 not too long ago, but four consecutive defeats has people wondering how good this team really is.

This week: vs. Iowa, vs. Rutgers

10. Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-6, 2-2); Last week: 12

Nebraska
Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

10. Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-6, 2-2); Last week: 12

Nebraska
Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska is one of the most puzzling teams in the Big Ten this season. The Cornhuskers were ranked highly before the season began and now they have gone 5-5 in their last 10 games. Nebraska did have a solid week nine performance after losing its first two conference games.

This week: at No. 7 Wisconsin

9. Purdue Boilermakers (10-7, 2-2); Last week: 5

Purdue
Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

9. Purdue Boilermakers (10-7, 2-2); Last week: 5

Purdue
Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

Purdue was one of the fastest-rising teams in last week's power rankings, but now the Boilermakers are one of the biggest droppers in the rankings. Purdue lost both of its games last week to the top-two teams in the conference, so it wasn't that terrible of a week, but 0-2 is still 0-2.

This week: at Penn State

8. Illinois Fighting Illini (11-6, 1-3); Last week: 9

Illinois
Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

8. Illinois Fighting Illini (11-6, 1-3); Last week: 9

Illinois
Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Illinois beat an extremely talented Maryland team this week, moving it up a spot in the power rankings, but if it weren't for a loss to a reeling Nebraska team, the Fighting Illini would be much higher. How good is this team, really?

This week: at Northwestern, vs. Indiana

7. Michigan Wolverines (10-6, 3-1); Last week: 10

Michigan
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

7. Michigan Wolverines (10-6, 3-1); Last week: 10

Michigan
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan jumped a decent amount in the rankings because of a strong showing in week nine, leading to a first-place tie with Wisconsin, Maryland and Michigan State in the Big Ten rankings. This team is still young and growing by the day.

This week: at Ohio State, vs. Northwestern

6. Iowa Hawkeyes (11-5, 2-1); Last week: 4

Iowa
Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

6. Iowa Hawkeyes (11-5, 2-1); Last week: 4

Iowa
Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

I'm still a strong believer that Iowa is a serious contender for the Big Ten title despite a 14-point loss to Michigan State at home after blowing an 11-point halftime lead. Gabriel Olaseni has proven to be one of the best big men in the conference and he will try to lead the Hawkeyes past two tough foes in week 10.

This week: at Minnesota, vs. Ohio State

Indiana

Indiana
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

5. Indiana Hoosiers (12-4, 2-1); Last week: 6

Indiana
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana moved up to No. 5 in this week's rankings despite a 20-point road blowout against Michigan State. You can really find out how good a team is based on how it responds to tough losses -- Indiana rebounded with a win against No. 22 Ohio State.

This week: vs. Penn State, at Illinois

4. Ohio State Buckeyes (13-4, 2-2); Last week: 3

Ohio State
Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

4. Ohio State Buckeyes (13-4, 2-2); Last week: 3

Ohio State
Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State lost a tough one to Indiana on the road Saturday afternoon, but the Buckeyes are still one of the premier teams in one of the best conferences in the nation. It's hard to drop Ohio State more than one spot in the rankings because of a road loss at one of the hardest venues to play in as a road team.

This week: vs. Michigan, at Iowa

3. Michigan State Spartans (12-5, 3-1); Last week: 8

Michigan State
Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

3. Michigan State Spartans (12-5, 3-1); Last week: 8

Michigan State
Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan State is a tricky team to figure out. Right when you think the Spartans might not make the tournament after a 9-5 start to the season, they reel off three straight victories -- two by double digits -- against Indiana, Iowa and Northwestern. Michigan State could be a dark-horse conference title contender.

This week: at No. 14 Maryland

2. Maryland Terrapins (15-2, 3-1); Last week: 2

Maryland
Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports

2. Maryland Terrapins (15-2, 3-1); Last week: 2

Maryland
Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports

The surprise gift to the Big Ten that keeps on giving, the Maryland Terrapins keep on winning games. Although the Terrapins lost to Illinois in a road game, they still have impressive wins against Michigan State on the road and Minnesota at home. There's no question as to why this team is ranked in the top 15.

This week: vs. Rutgers, vs. Michigan State

1. Wisconsin Badgers (15-2, 3-1); Last week: 1

Wisconsin
Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports

1. Wisconsin Badgers (15-2, 3-1); Last week: 1

Wisconsin
Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin was supposed to be the team that wouldn't lose a conference game all season, but a road game at Rutgers to end week nine changed all of that. The Badgers are now 3-1 in conference play and looking human for once -- although they are a much better team when Frank Kaminsky and Traevon Jackson are healthy.

This week: vs. Nebraska

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