SEC basketball is staking its dominance over the Big Ten in ways the league’s football teams must envy.
Ken Pomeroy’s top 25 features eight teams from the SEC and seven from the Big Ten. However, Auburn (2), Florida (5), Tennessee (6) and Alabama (8) all show up before the first Big Ten teams, Illinois and Purdue at 9-10.
Also, the Big 12 has three with Houston (3), Iowa State (4) and Kansas (6).
Maybe schedule dynamics will help some Big Ten teams pick up the kinds of winds necessary to climb higher. So far we’ve seen only one game between any of the top four teams on my list below: Michigan State’s narrow home victory over Illinois last Sunday.
Purdue and Michigan can make a statement on Friday night at Mackey Arena.
1. Michigan State (16-2, 7-0)
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Spartans should be 9-0 heading into their L.A. getaway, but things get hairy from there.
2. Purdue (15-5, 7-2)
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Something about the Boilermakers, and maybe only the Boilermakers, brings out the best in Ohio State.
3. Michigan (14-6, 6-1)
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After back-to-back overtime games, Wolverines step into the Mackey Arena pressure cooker on Friday.
4. Illinois (13-5, 5-3)
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If Brad Underwood can keep his emotions in check Thursday, maybe Illini can get a winning streak going at Maryland.
5. Wisconsin (15-4, 5-3)
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Badgers only lose to the best teams around, but might want to think about beating another one of them at some point.
6. Maryland (14-5, 4-4)
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Terrapins’ desperate search for a Big Ten road win visits Champaign and Bloomington before the end of the weekend.
7. UCLA (15-6, 4-4)
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Seems to have righted the ship a bit with back-to-back wins heading into this weekend’s Pac-12 nostalgia tour.
8. Oregon (16-3, 5-3)
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I assumed the pine trees painted on the court would look better in person. On the other hand, that track facility puts some Big Ten football stadiums to shame.
9. Ohio State (11-8, 3-5)
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Buckeyes are three possessions away from being 5-2 in the league and also a threat to lose by 30 on any given night.
10. Penn State (13-6, 3-5)
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Zach Hicks having a quiet assassin season, shooting a meaty 42.9% from 3-point range.
11. Northwestern (12-7, 3-5)
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Offense showing more signs of life lately, including Wednesday’s bombardment of Indiana.
12. USC (12-7, 4-4)
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Look at you, Trojans. Won three of four (including at Illinois and at Nebraska) and have momentum for Monday’s Battle for Los Angeles.
13. Nebraska (12-7, 2-6)
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Just like their state bird the Western Meadowlark, the Cornhuskers are heading south for the winter with five straight losses.
14. Iowa (12-7, 3-5)
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The Hawkeyes may play in a topographically flat state, but this thing is in danger of falling off a cliff soon.
15. Indiana (14-6, 5-4)
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Next five games are against teams in the KenPom top 25. Spring football can’t get here soon enough.
16. Rutgers (10-9, 3-5)
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Scarlet Knights now 1-3 when either Ace Bailey or Dylan Harper scores 30-plus points. One sentence says a lot.
17. Minnesota (10-9, 2-6)
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Of all the luck. Gophers finally climb out of the 18th spot, and Revival closes all locations. Title of best friend chicken in the Big Ten officially up for grabs.
18. Washington (10-9, 1-7)
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Great Osobor alone isn’t enough, but the great nachos at Laredo’s on the corner of Taylor and Aloha should get the job done for a pregame munch.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Big Ten men’s basketball power rankings: There’s a new No. 1
