See where the Hawkeyes end up in our power rankings before a marquee week of games.
It's power rankings Monday! While you all are grumbling about starting another week, take a few minutes over your lunch break to check out the latest in Big Ten basketball.
Not to spoil anything, but there's been a lot of movement in the conference this week, which may or may not lead us to a new No. 1 team on the list.
Your Iowa Hawkeyes had a terrific week of games, defeating Washington on the road on Wednesday and beating Northwestern on Sunday. The Hawkeyes continue to play good basketball, but where does that leave them in our power rankings?
Keep reading to find out!
1. Michigan (22-1, 12-1)
Michigan's lone loss to Wisconsin seems to be long in the past. The Wolverines continue to win, and not only are they winning, they are just pulverizing teams. Michigan beat Penn State by 41 on Thursday, and followed that up with a 21-point win at rival Ohio State.
Dusty May's team remains a legitimate national championship contender.
2. Illinois (20-4, 11-2)
Keaton Wagler is a human after all. The freshman sensation was held to just two field goals in Illinois' overtime loss to Michigan State on Saturday - its first defeat since Dec. 13.
The Fighting Illini were bound to lose at some point, and losing in East Lansing is nothing to worry about. Home games against Wisconsin and Indiana await this week.
3. Nebraska (21-2, 10-2)
Nebraska had only one game this week, and that was probably a good thing for Fred Hoiberg and Co. The Cornhuskers took care of business against a bad Rutgers team and got healthy in the process.
Nebraska will have another marquee opportunity to solidify itself as a top-4 NCAA tournament seed against Purdue on Tuesday.
4. Michigan State (20-4, 10-3)
Jeremy Fears Jr's controversial on-court actions have put a negative light on this Michigan State team, but the Spartans responded from a bad loss to Minnesota by outlasting Illinois in overtime on Saturday.
Michigan State still has some question marks, but Tom Izzo has another team capable of making a run in March.
5. Purdue (19-4, 9-3)
Purdue's lone game of the week was probably one its fans weren't expecting to be close. Oregon came to Mackey Arena riding a dismal eight-game losing streak, but the Boilermakers had to rally late to pull out a victory.
Purdue may have overlooked this one considering Nebraska and Iowa are up next, but this team feels very flawed right now.
6. Iowa (18-5, 8-4)
Iowa continues to win ugly at home. The latest chapter was a 76-70 win over a bad Northwestern team on Super Bowl Sunday, but the Hawkeyes have already surpassed last year's win total under first-year coach Ben McCollum.
Iowa will have a road game at struggling Maryland on Wednesday before coming back to Iowa City for a showdown against Purdue. Carver-Hawkeye Arena will be sold out for the first time in two years, but the Hawks have to take care of business against the Terps first.
7. Indiana (16-8, 7-6)
No lead is ever safe when Indiana has one, but the Hoosiers keep pulling out wild wins. Lamar Wilkerson is the X-factor for this team, and he showed it by nailing several clutch free throws at the end of regulation and in overtime during Saturday's one-point triumph over Wisconsin.
Indiana will have two tricky games this week - home against Oregon on Monday and at Illinois on Sunday.
8. Wisconsin (16-7, 8-4)
Wisconsin's only game of the week was a one-point overtime loss to Indiana. The Badgers rallied from a late deficit to send the game to the extra session, only to see two unfortunate calls go against them late.
Wisconsin fans remain livid about the defeat, but the Badgers will have to get themselves together. They travel to Illinois on Tuesday before coming back home to play Michigan State on Friday. We're going to find out quickly how good this Wisconsin team is.
9. USC (18-6, 7-6)
The Trojans had a great week, defeating Indiana at home on Tuesday and squeaking out a two-point win at Penn State on Sunday. USC isn't playing amazing basketball, but it's doing enough to keep itself on the right side of the NCAA tournament bubble. Eric Musselman has done a nice job with this group.
The Trojans have just one game this week, but it's a big one at a desperate Ohio State team.
10. UCLA (17-7, 9-4)
UCLA took care of business at home last week, beating Rutgers by 32 and pulling away late for a hard-fought win over Washington on Saturday. The Bruins still lack quality wins on their resume, but they'll have a chance to do that.
UCLA's lone game this week is at No. 2 Michigan on Saturday. A win in Ann Arbor would do wonders for Mick Cronin's team.
The rest
11. Ohio State (15-8, 7-6)
12. Minnesota (11-13, 4-9)
13. Washington (12-12, 4-9)
14. Northwestern (10-14, 2-11)
15. Oregon (8-15, 1-11)
16. Maryland (9-14, 2-10)
17. Rutgers (9-15, 2-11)
18. Penn State (10-14, 1-12)
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