College basketball resumes this weekend after a small break for the Christmas holiday. Wisconsin basketball has completed their non-conference schedule and will not play until January 2 against Iowa. Most teams will have one game left until conference play resumes for the rest of the regular season.
With less than a week left until the Big Ten season begins in full force, here is where I rank Wisconsin basketball with the rest of the Big Ten teams as Big Ten play begins next week.
Big Ten Basketball Rankings Post-Christmas
- Purdue
- Illinois
- Wisconsin
- Northwestern
- Ohio State
- Indiana
- Michigan State
- Nebraska
- Maryland
- Iowa
- Michigan
- Rutgers
- Minnesota
- Penn State
Why Wisconsin Basketball at 3?
I thought the Badgers had a good chance to be one of the better teams in the Big Ten going into this season. After a tough 1-2 stretch to begin the season, Wisconsin basketball has been playing good basketball since Thanksgiving. They have wins over Marquette, Virginia, and Michigan State, the Badgers sit at 9-3 and 14 in the KenPom rankings. Only Purdue and Illinois are ranked higher.
I also believe the Badgers have the best depth in the Big Ten after Purdue. Last season, the Badgers could not play more than eight players. This season, they have been playing 11 players at times. I don’t think that will last much longer in conference play, but very few teams in the Big Ten can say they have depth like the Badgers,
Other Big Ten Takeaways
I think after Wisconsin basketball, there is a case for a ton of teams to be ranked as high as four and as low as eight. After losing to Chicago State at home December 13, I still give Northwestern the edge over Ohio State because they have the win against Purdue. I still don’t know a ton about Ohio State, but I do know Northwestern has one of the best guards in the conference in Boo Buie. They need Buie to be great every night if they are going to contend.
While I believe Michigan State will get it figured out, there is still a lot to know about teams like Ohio State, Nebraska, Indiana, and Iowa. Nebraska has had a better year, but they don’t have a great schedule outside of their Kansas State win. They also lost to Minnesota. I don’t buy their 10-2 record, as does KenPom who ranks them 54.
Indiana and Iowa tend to get out to fast starts and this year is no different. However, the question with Indiana is can they shoot well enough. It seems to be their Achilles heel in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes are likely the best shooting team in the Big Ten outside of Purdue, but they still can’t defend. They have a good win against Seton Hall, but they have given up at least 87 points to Purdue, Iowa State, Michigan, and Creighton. Wisconsin basketball faces Iowa next week.
Anything could change, but as of now, teams like Michigan, Rutgers, Minnesota, and Penn State look to be like teams that will miss the NCAA Tournament. Maryland also has a ton of work to do and have to win some games one the road too.
Follow me on Twitter @DylanBuboltz and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here! Also, check out our merch store for some amazing WSH merchandise!
