Michigan State Tops Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Michigan State basketball continues to dominate the Big Ten, securing the No. 1 spot in the latest power rankings released by Andy Katz of the Big Ten Network on Tuesday. The Spartans, riding an 11-game winning streak, are 16-2 overall and 7-0 in conference play this season.

Purdue, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin round out the top five, with the Spartans leading the pack. Michigan State’s streak dates back to their strong performance at the Maui Invitational in November, solidifying their position as the team to beat in the Big Ten.

Purdue and Michigan face off Friday night at Mackey Arena in a game that could shake up the rankings. Meanwhile, Illinois looks to build momentum with a potential winning streak as they face Maryland on Thursday.

Wisconsin, despite losses to top-tier teams, remains a formidable contender, while Maryland seeks its first Big Ten road win this weekend. Other teams, like Iowa and Minnesota, are struggling to find consistency, with Iowa facing a tough stretch of games against KenPom top 25 teams.

Zach Hicks of Indiana is quietly having a standout season, shooting 42.9% from 3-point range, while USC has won three of its last four games, including victories at Illinois and Nebraska.

Michigan State’s dominance has been a bright spot in a competitive Big Ten season, with the Spartans showing no signs of slowing down as they aim for a deep postseason run.