BIG TEN POWER RANKINGS
Marcus Fuller's rankings, with five teams to watch:
1. Michigan State (15-1): The Spartans entered the new year as the top-ranked team in the nation for the first time since 2002.
2. Purdue (14-2): Coach Matt Painter is already talking about his Boilermakers having Final Four potential after 10 consecutive victories.
3. Gophers (13-3): Senior point guard Nate Mason's return from an ankle injury means Richard Pitino still has a starting five that can beat anyone, especially now that they are playing well defensively.
4. Michigan (13-3)
5. Ohio State (12-4)
6. Maryland (13-4)
7. Nebraska (11-5)
8. Northwestern (10-6): The Wildcats dodged a bullet with senior point guard Bryant McIntosh avoiding a season-ending knee injury, but how long is he sidelined?
9. Penn State (11-5)
10. Illinois (10-6)
11. Indiana (8-7)
12. Wisconsin (9-7)
13. Iowa (9-8): The Hawkeyes lost at home again Thursday, dropping to 0-4 to start Big Ten play for the first time since Fran McCaffery's first season in 2010-11.
14. Rutgers (10-6)
