BIG TEN POWER RANKINGS

Marcus Fuller's rankings, with five teams to watch:

1. Purdue (18-2, 7-0): Find me a more balanced team right now than the No. 3 Boilermakers, who have won 14 consecutive games entering Saturday.

2. Ohio State (16-4, 7-0): Who thought the Buckeyes would be undefeated in the Big Ten at this point under first-year coach Chris Holtmann? You're lying if you say so.

3. Michigan State (17-3, 5-2)

4. Michigan (16-5, 5-3)

5. Maryland (15-6, 4-4)

6. Nebraska (14-7, 5-3): Tim Miles has a team now on the NCAA tourney radar after upsetting No. 23 Michigan by 20 at home.

7. Indiana (11-8, 4-3)

8. Penn State (13-7, 3-4)

9. Northwestern (11-9, 2-5)

10. Minnesota (14-7, 3-5): Yes, the Gophers won Monday at Penn State, but that was in overtime. And they are 1-4 without Reggie Lynch and Amir Coffey.

11. Rutgers (12-8, 2-5): The Scarlet Knights have been one of the Big Ten's top defensive teams and nearly pulled off an upset at Michigan State.

12. Wisconsin (9-10, 2-4)

13. Iowa (10-10, 1-6)

14. Illinois (10-9, 0-6)