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Ohio State Basketball: Week 5 Big Ten power rankings

By Shayne Nissen

BOISE, ID - MARCH 17: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts during the second half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 17, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID - MARCH 17: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts during the second half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 17, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – DECEMBER 8: Michigan Wolverines Head Basketball Coach John Beilein shouts out instructions during the game against the South Carolina State Bulldogs at Crisler Center on December 8, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated South Carolina State 89-78.(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – DECEMBER 8: Michigan Wolverines Head Basketball Coach John Beilein shouts out instructions during the game against the South Carolina State Bulldogs at Crisler Center on December 8, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated South Carolina State 89-78.(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

Week 5 is over and while some Big Ten teams, including the Ohio State Buckeyes, took a break from the action to focus on finals week others participated in big games.

Several Big Ten teams are off to fast starts and Ohio State is 8-1 and 2-0 in conference play.  Here are my Big Ten Power Rankings heading into week 6.

  1. Michigan | 10-0 (2-0)
  2. Michigan State | 8-2 (2-0)
  3. Ohio State | 8-1 (2-0)
  4. Indiana | 8-2 (2-0)
  5. Wisconsin | 8-2 (2-0)
  6. Purdue | 6-4 (1-1)
  7. Iowa 7-2 (0-2)
  8. Maryland | 9-2 (1-1)
  9. Minnesota | 9-2 (1-1)
  10. Nebraska | 8-2 (1-1)
  11. Northwestern | 7-3 (0-2)
  12. Penn State | 5-4 (0-2)
  13. Rutgers | 5-4 (0-2)
  14. Illinois | 3-7 (0-2)

Now a look at how Big Ten teams have earned their rankings.

Michigan has continued to be the class of the Big Ten having yet to lose a game. That being said, there were some teams that finally gave the Wolverines a run the past week.

Their last two match ups were against a tricky Northwestern squad and South Carolina and both games were close late. The Wolverines only defeated the Wildcats by two points and the Gamecocks by a score of 89-78.

Coach Beilein has the Michigan defense firing on all cylinders this season. The Wolverines rank 3rd in the nation in opponent points per game and are 1st in the country in opponent field goal percentage. They get MAC opponent Western Michigan next on Saturday.

Michigan State has played one of the toughest schedules in the country so far and it shows as the Spartans rank 13th in strength of schedule. Their losses have both been close ones to Louisville and Kansas.

Michigan State played two games this past week getting a blowout win over ranked Iowa and a nail biter win over the Florida Gators. The junior class is proving to be a good one for Tom Izzo as Joshua Langford, Nick Ward and Cassius Winston lead the Spartans in scoring, all averaging at least 15 PPG.

Michigan State will take on Green Bay on Sunday.

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