Where Michigan State basketball stands in first Big Ten power rankings

Where does Michigan State basketball stand in the initial Big Ten power rankings of the 2023 calendar year?

Personally, I don’t believe there are any elite teams throughout the Big Ten and some might say in the entire country. After the games on Saturday and Sunday to conclude the first week of 2023, let’s take a look at where I have Michigan State basketball in the initial Big Ten power rankings of the new year.

14. Minnesota (6-8, 0-3)

Minnesota is going to struggle throughout Big Ten play, but they will end up shocking some teams with a win. The Gophers just don’t have enough depth and quality players right now to even be average in the Big Ten. Minnesota has to go on the road to face Ohio State on Jan. 12.

13. Nebraska (9-7, 2-3)

Nebraska is already looking like they have overachieved throughout Big Ten play. This team in most of the Big Ten power rankings to start the season was at No. 14. This team’s calling card is its defense and playing through Derrick Walker. Nebraska has been able to beat Minnesota and Iowa already this year and took Purdue to the wire. Nebraska’s next game is at home against Illinois on Jan. 10.

12. Indiana (10-5, 1-3)

Indiana was projected to win the Big Ten according to most projections at the beginning of the season. The Hoosiers may have been overrated as the guard play has not been great throughout the year. Trayce Jackson-Davis is an impressive player but not developing a consistent midrange, or 3-point shot has severely limited this team. This team is only going to struggle even more going forward with Xavier Johnson and Race Thompson’s injuries. The home loss to Northwestern was a crushing blow to title hopes.

11. Maryland (11-5, 2-3)

Maryland, going into Big Ten play, was projected to be near the top of the Big Ten. But this has fallen dramatically due to them struggling to score the basketball in conference play. Maryland has only scored over 60 points twice in Big Ten play. Maryland’s only win in Big Ten play before Sunday’s massive win over Ohio State was against Illinois early in December. Potential is there, but it’s hard to read the Terps.

10. Iowa (10-6, 2-3)

Iowa has a legit player in Kris Murray who can lead this team to some big victories throughout the Big Ten season. But the Hawkeyes don’t have enough around him and play good enough defense to be average. Also, losing Patrick McCaffery for mental health issues just makes Iowa’s margin for error that much smaller. The win at Rutgers on Sunday was gutsy, however.

9. Michigan (9-6, 3-1)

Michigan has some serious defensive deficiencies and bad guard play. This team is on a rollercoaster that seems to kind of play up and down to their competition. Michigan lacks a true point guard who can facilitate and get them into any offense but has a threat in Hunter Dickinson who can go for 20-plus on just about any night. Michigan’s next game is going on the road against Iowa on Jan. 12.

8. Illinois (10-5, 1-3)

Illinois was at the top of the projections going into the season, but this team has struggled heading into Big Ten play. The chemistry with the two major transfers in Matthew Mayer and Terrance Shannon have been an issue. The Illini could very well turn this around with the amount of talent that they have (now minus Skyy Clark) but how long will it take for them to get it figured out? Illinois was just able to get a victory at home against Wisconsin but the Badgers were without their best player, Tyler Wahl. Illinois will make a trip to Nebraska on Jan. 10 to try and keep this run going.

7. Penn State (11-5, 2-3)

Penn State is a tricky matchup for most teams as they have four and sometimes even five guards in the lineup at some points. The Nittany Lions are going to struggle to defend good post players (like Zach Edey) throughout the season but is going to have a mismatch offensively. Jalen Pickett is playing like an All-Big Ten first-team guard who is able to take mismatches into the post as well as handle the ball in the pick-and-roll. Going forward, Penn State could very well slide into the 8-9 range in the power rankings after letting an opportunity against Purdue slip through its fingers.

6. Ohio State (10-5, 2-2)

Ohio State very well could be the No. 1 team in these power rankings but it’s tough to give it to them with the injury to Zed Key. At this point, we don’t know how long he may be out, but he is one of the leaders of this team and you could see it affected this team against Purdue and also at Maryland. I’d like to see going forward how Brice Sensabaugh currently the Big Ten freshman of the year at my point of view can carry this team going forward.

5. Northwestern (12-3, 3-1)

Northwestern has some of the better guard play within the Big Ten with Boo Buie and Chase Audige, but this team’s calling card is defense. The Wildcats are going to have to keep limiting teams in scoring due to not having a flurry of offensive options. This team has wins over Michigan State and Illinois, but I struggle to see this team consistently being able to hold teams to under 60. Going forward, Northwestern plays Indiana at home on Jan. 8.

4. Wisconsin (11-3, 3-1)

Wisconsin is a team that has Tyler Wahl, Steven Crowl, and Chucky Hepburn to lead the way throughout Big Ten play. But in the game against Illinois, the Badgers were without Tyler Wahl and you notice the issue with this team. If one of those three guys isn’t playing well or gets injured, this team is going to struggle. This team does not have much room for error due to their style of play. Wisconsin’s next game is at home against Michigan State on Jan. 10.

3. Rutgers (11-5, 3-2)

Rutgers’ only loss in Big Ten play before Sunday was by one point to Ohio State and Rutgers has a win over the No. 1 team in these power rankings. But the loss to Iowa on Sunday has them at No. 3 instead of No. 2. The Scarlet Knights are one of the more balanced teams in the Big Ten but at times will struggle to score. They’re led by Cliff Omoruyi, Paul Mulcahy, and Caleb McConnell who are going to lead this team all season. This team’s calling card is on the defensive end but with the emergence of Omoruyi on the offensive end has been a major surprise.

2. Michigan State (11-4, 3-1)

Michigan State basketball just got over an ugly win against its rival Michigan and their only loss in Big Ten play was without Malik Hall or Jaden Akins. MSU has the best backcourt tandem in the Big Ten in AJ Hoggard and Tyson Walker. That tandem is going to lead Michigan State to a lot of victories throughout the season and add in the likes of Joey Hauser and Hall this is a difficult team to beat. Michigan State does have its deficiencies but so do the rest of these Big Ten teams. The next game is at Wisconsin on Jan. 10.

1. Purdue (15-1, 4-1)

Purdue’s only slip-up of the season was a one-point loss to Rutgers at home. This Purdue team will go as far as the two freshman guards in Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith will take them. We all know that Zach Edey is a dominant force in the Big Ten and most teams aren’t able to match up with him. Ultimately this team is going to go as far as their guards take them. The Boilermakers’ win at Penn State on Sunday night further solidifies this position.

Do you agree with where Michigan State basketball currently stands or is it too high?