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Ohio State Basketball: Week 9 Big Ten power rankings

By Shayne Nissen

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 05: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes gives instructions to his team against the Illinois Fighting Illini at the United Center on December 05, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. Ohio State defeated Illinois 77-67. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 05: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes gives instructions to his team against the Illinois Fighting Illini at the United Center on December 05, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. Ohio State defeated Illinois 77-67. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 29: Michigan State Spartans Head Basketball Coach Tom Izzo watches the action dusting the first half of the game against the Northern Illinois Huskies at the Breslin Center on December 29, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Northern Illinois 88-60. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 29: Michigan State Spartans Head Basketball Coach Tom Izzo watches the action dusting the first half of the game against the Northern Illinois Huskies at the Breslin Center on December 29, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State defeated Northern Illinois 88-60. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

The Ohio State basketball team suffered its first conference loss to the Michigan State Spartans 86-77 on Saturday but is still ranked in the top four in this week’s power rankings.

It is getting into the bulk of conference season around college basketball and I couldn’t be anymore excited. In week 9 of the Big Ten season, two teams have separated themselves from the rest of the pack while several of the teams in the middle of the rankings fought to rise up to the top.

Some succeeded and some failed but either way, there was some exciting basketball played in week 9. Lets dive right into it.

  1. Michigan | 15-0 (4-0)
  2. Michigan State | 13-2 (4-0)
  3. Indiana | 12-3 (3-1)
  4. Ohio State | 12-2 (2-1)
  5. Maryland | 12-3 (3-1)
  6. Minnesota | 12-2 (2-1)
  7. Purdue | 9-5 (2-1)
  8. Wisconsin | 11-4 (3-1)
  9. Iowa | 112-3 (1-3)
  10. Nebraska | 11-4 (1-3)
  11. Northwestern | 10-5 (1-3)
  12. Rutgers | 7-6 (0-3)
  13. Penn State | 7-8 (0-4)
  14. Illinois | 4-11 (0-4)

Who is going to beat the Michigan Wolverines? It was baffling to me watching them dismantle Indiana yesterday 74-63 and Penn State on Thursday.  The Wolverines have stud athletes all over the court, and although as a Buckeye fan it pains me to say it, they are the most fun team to watch in the Big Ten.

Jordan Poole is one of the most dynamic players in college basketball and Charles Matthews, who had 18 points in the win over Indiana, is one of the most overlooked players in college basketball. There aren’t many players on this Michigan team that can’t knock down a three when asked to do so and that is scary for the rest of the Big Ten.

Week 9 was a huge week for the Spartans with two important conference wins including one on the road in Columbus. That was after the 6th ranked team in the country got a great start to week 9 with a blowout victory over Northwestern.

But the Spartans’ big win came on the road against the 16th ranked Ohio State Buckeyes when Cassius Winston dazzled with his combination of speed and shooting skill scoring 25 points. Michigan State looks to stay perfect in conference with games against Purdue and Penn State next week.

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