We’re 16 days into the common season and each Massive Ten group has performed between three and 5 video games. Solely seven of the league’s 18 groups stay unbeaten.
Damaged into three classes – transferring up, transferring down or staying regular – right here’s a take a look at the motion in KenPom for every Massive Ten program thus far.
Since his preliminary rankings had been launched in October, groups in our moving-up class have improved their rating by greater than 5 spots. Groups within the moving-down class have fallen greater than 5 spots. And groups staying regular have solely moved between one and 5 spots in KenPom.
MOVING UP
Ohio State (began: 31; presently: 21) – The Buckeyes are the highest-ranked Massive Ten group in KenPom after two weeks within the common season. Ohio State had a formidable early season win towards Texas in Las Vegas and has a pair of blowout wins at residence towards Youngstown State and Evansville. The one blemish on its document was a 78-64 loss at Texas A&M, a high 15 group in KenPom, final Friday.
Michigan (began: 36; presently: 27) – Turnovers have been an issue for Dusty Could’s group – Michigan presently ranks 346th nationally in turnover proportion, however the Wolverines have received their three residence video games by a mixed 87 factors. The Wolverines did lose a impartial courtroom sport to Wake Forest on Nov. 10. That loss might not age nicely because the Demon Deacons have fallen to No. 84 in KenPom as of Wednesday morning.
Maryland (began: 37; presently: 30) – The Terps have performed 5 residence video games and have blown out 4 unhealthy groups whereas falling narrowly to Marquette 78-74 on Nov. 15. We’ll know way more about Maryland in early December when the Terps host Ohio State and journey to Purdue for his or her early Massive Ten video games.
Indiana (began: 39; presently: 32) – Hoosier followers should be happy with the 3-0 begin and the upward trajectory to date. A season in the past, Indiana’s early season struggles tanked this system’s laptop rankings. The Hoosiers by no means recovered in a disappointing 19-14 season.
Wisconsin (began: 46; presently: 39) – No Chucky Hepburn, AJ Storr or Tyler Wahl, no drawback thus far for Greg Gard and the Badgers. Wisconsin had a formidable 103-88 win towards Arizona on Nov. 15 earlier than escaping with an 87-84 win towards UT Rio Grand Valley on Monday.
Penn State (began: 61; presently: 33) – The Nittany Lions are an ideal instance of how a group can transfer up by bludgeoning lesser opponents. Penn State beat Binghamton, UMBC and Saint Francis by a mixed 121 factors in its first three video games. After which Penn State crushed Virginia Tech, one of many worst ACC groups, by 22 on a impartial ground. Ace Baldwin is off to a terrific begin in State School, averaging 14.3 factors, seven assists and a couple of.8 steals.
MOVING DOWN
Purdue (began: 10; presently: 23) – The autumn for the Boilermakers was pushed by an 18-point blowout loss to Marquette on the street Tuesday night time. Purdue turned it over 15 instances and scored simply .85 factors per possession. That loss adopted a formidable 87-78 win towards Alabama at Mackey Enviornment on Nov. 15.
Iowa (began: 33; presently: 40) – The Hawkeyes are 5-0, which features a 76-66 win towards Washington State in Moline, Illinois, on Nov. 15. As standard, Iowa is taking part in an up-tempo fashion and Payton Sandfort is averaging 17.8 factors and 7 rebounds in half-hour per sport.
Michigan State (began: 35; presently: 45) – Tom Izzo’s group blew out Monmouth and Niagara on the Breslin Middle earlier than falling to Kansas by eight within the Champions Traditional in Atlanta. Since that loss, Michigan State beat Bowling Inexperienced by 14 and Samford by eight. Each video games had been in East Lansing and the margin of victory triggered some downward transferring within the rankings.
Northwestern (began: 50; presently: 61) – The Wildcats misplaced a aggressive street sport at Dayton however are struggling to place groups away. Brooks Barnhizer performed for the primary time this season on Tuesday towards Montana State and Northwestern escaped with a 72-69 win. Earlier than that, the Wildcats wanted time beyond regulation to beat Jap Illinois in Evanston.
Nebraska (began: 56; presently: 66) – An early season scare towards Bethune Cookman tanked the Huskers in KenPom. Nebraska fell 15 spots because it solely received that sport by 5 on Nov. 9 at Pinnacle Financial institution Enviornment.
USC (began: 57; presently: 78) – After narrowly escaping UT Arlington at residence on Nov. 13, the Trojans misplaced by 5 at residence to Cal and, in consequence, have fallen 21 spots for the reason that preseason. A slim six-point win towards Idaho State on Nov. 7 additionally didn’t assist.
Minnesota (began: 59; presently: 77) – The Gophers misplaced a house sport to North Texas, a really strong group from the AAC after which survived towards Yale for a 3-point win on Nov. 16. Minnesota will struggle an uphill battle simply to make the Massive Ten event this season.
Washington (began: 75; presently: 82) – The Huskies beat UC Davis by simply six, UMass Lowell by 5 and misplaced by 10 at Nevada. Their solely double-digit win thus far got here towards Seattle Pacific, a Division II program. And Washington solely received that sport by 15.
STAYING STEADY
Illinois (began: 23; presently: 26) – The Combating Illini have received three video games by a mixed 89 factors towards inferior competitors. We’ll be taught extra about Illinois when it takes on Alabama tonight in Birmingham.
UCLA – (began: 26; presently: 25) – The Bruins have crushed three unhealthy groups – Rider, Boston College and Lehigh – and misplaced to New Mexico on a impartial ground. Vital non-conference assessments await, together with Arizona, North Carolina, and Gonzaga.
Oregon (began: 29; presently: 31) – The Geese survived an early scare towards Portland and wanted time beyond regulation to win that contest. This group, led by Jackson Shelstad, most likely didn’t get the respect it deserved and will contend within the Massive Ten title race.
Rutgers (began: 63; presently: 65) – The Scarlet Knights are 3-0 and simply acquired Ace Bailey into the lineup for its most up-to-date sport, a 17-point win towards Monmouth. So far, the Rutgers protection is ranked simply No. 62 in KenPom and the lack of Cliff Omoruyi as a rim protector might be robust to beat in the long run.
Filed to: Ken Pomeroy
