Big Ten Conference play resumes in earnest Thursday night with no clear vision of who to consider the championship favorite at this point.
No fewer than the first seven teams on the list below seem like strong contenders. UCLA’s early win at Oregon, though only one of 20 those teams will play this season, seems like an important early foothold.
No rankings changes from where we left off a week ago as most teams notched easy non-conference wins to ease back into the conference grind.
1. UCLA (11-2, 2-0)
Prev: 1
Snuck in a win over national power Gonzaga before resuming its role of west coast spoiler to this Midwestern party.
2. Illinois (9-3, 1-1)
Prev: 2
Will it prove beneficial for the Illini to get this frequent flyer bonus out of the way by playing Oregon and Washington right away?
3. Maryland (11-2, 1-1)
Prev: 3
Finished non-conference play against Maryland Eastern Shore, and that’s the first time I considered Maryland might have other shores.
4. Oregon (12-1, 1-1)
Prev: 4
Gets to restart at home, but facing Illinois and Maryland right away is not exactly easing back into things.
5. Michigan State (11-2, 2-0)
Prev: 5
Starting to get that vibe the Spartans are gonna make a championship run. Games like Friday at Ohio State will be key.
6. Michigan (10-3, 2-0)
Prev: 6
Averaging a mere 92.4 points over its last five games and somehow still lost two of them.
7. Purdue (9-4, 1-1)
Prev: 7
Three-time defending champs and preseason favorite to three-peat now looking like underdogs.
8. Wisconsin (10-3, 0-2)
Prev: 8
John Tonje looks right at home in Big Ten after stints at Colorado State and Missouri.
9. Ohio State (9-4, 1-1)
Prev: 9
With Meechie Johnson on leave of absence, Buckeyes still waiting to get their whole team together.
10. Penn State (11-2, 1-1)
Prev. 10
Ace Baldwin’s 23 points and 10 assists gave Nittany Lions state championship over Penn.
11. Iowa (10-3, 1-1)
Prev: 11
Three double-figure scorers off the bench vs. New Hampshire a reminder the Hawkeyes will be tough to defend.
12. Northwestern (9-3, 1-1)
Prev: 12
Not sure anyone has a tougher first give games of the new year than Wildcats: at Penn State and Purdue, home vs. Michigan State and Maryland, at Michigan.
13. Nebraska (11-2, 1-1)
Prev: 13
Can really shake things up at the top of the standings by defending home court against UCLA on Saturday.
14. Indiana (10-3, 1-1)
Prev: 14
With Rutgers, Penn State and USC first out of the gate in the new year, Hoosiers have a chance to build some momentum.
15. Rutgers (8-5, 1-1)
Prev: 15
After tripping up against Princeton, took out their Ivy League frustrations on Columbia.
16. USC (9-4, 1-1)
Prev: 16
Setting the over/under on Trojan wins in January at 0.5 — and taking the under.
17. Washington (9-4, 0-2)
Prev: 17
Huskies’ good news: They start the resumption of league play at home. Huskies’ bad news: They get the Terrapins and the Illini for those games.
18. Minnesota (8-5, 0-2)
Prev: 18
After watching your team beat the Gophers in their gym at night, try Wood + Paddle Eatery from breakfast the next morning.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Big Ten men’s basketball rankings: Championship contention anyone’s game
