Big Ten women's basketball power rankings: Upsets, court-storming and a new No. 1

This week of Big Ten women’s basketball gave fans everything — upsets, court stormings, and a new No. 1 in this week’s power rankings.

More: Caitlin Clark collides with court-storming fan after Ohio State upsets Iowa basketball

The Big Ten season is about halfway through, and the tiers of the league — the leaders, the middlers, and the bottom of the barrel — are solidifying.

Onto the rankings:

1. Ohio State (16-3, 7-1 Big Ten)

Last week: 2

Ohio State may be the deepest team in the league, and it definitely showed in its overtime win over Iowa last week. Jacy Sheldon and Cotie McMahon are the dynamic duo the Buckeyes have needed in order to get back into the national conversation. For that, Ohio State is the hottest team in the conference, at least for now.

Ohio State women upset Iowa: What it represents and what is next

2. Iowa (18-2, 7-1)

Last week: 1

It would’ve been a momentous feat if Iowa could’ve managed to go undefeated in the Big Ten season, but that hasn’t happened in a long time. Whenever Caitlin Clark scores over 40 points, the Hawkeyes are all but destined to lose (take her career high of 46 in a loss to Michigan, for example).

3. Indiana (16-2, 7-1)

Last week: 3

The Hoosiers have effectively bounced back after their heavy loss to the Hawkeyes, taking down in-state rival Purdue behind a barrage of 3-pointers — a program-record 15, to be exact. But with starter and leading rebounder Sydney Parrish out with an injury, IU’s fortunes may change.

DOYEL: IU silences 'great college basketball crowd' at Mackey Arena with 3-point barrage

4. Michigan (14-6, 5-3)

Last week: 8

Michigan had a skid of three losses in four games last week, but the Wolverines have bounced back in a big way, which included gutting out a two-point win over Maryland at home. While Michigan won’t compete for the top of the Big Ten, it could easily finish as a NCAA tournament team.

5. Penn State (14-5, 5-3)

Last week: 9

Graduate senior guard Ashley Owusu, who has also played at Maryland and Virginia Tech, finally made her Nittany Lion debut on Jan. 14, and Penn State hasn’t lost since. Owusu has paired nicely with established guard Makenna Marisa (14.6 ppg) so far, and while Owusu’s 19 ppg over three games is a small sample size, she can help Penn State reclimb this season.

6. Nebraska (13-6, 5-3)

Last week: 4

Nebraska couldn’t husk through those fields of corn to get a victory against Penn State, which turned out to be the Huskers' only game of the week. But Nebraska’s schedule doesn’t get much easier this weekend, as they have a date with Iowa one state over.

7. Maryland (12-7, 4-4)

Last week: 7

The Terrapins are doing very well for themselves, considering this is a rebuilding year for coach Brenda Freese. While Maryland hasn’t identified a go-to player, one more year could get them on the right track.

8. Michigan State (14-5, 4-4)

Last week: 5

Michigan State is another dark horse team in the Big Ten — while the Spartans won’t compete for a Big Ten title this season, Robyn Fralick has them on the right track. They’ll be an NIT team at the very least.

9. Minnesota (14-5, 4-4)

Last week: 6

Minnesota has been having a good run — better than most expected — this year. The Golden Gophers’ season had a setback, though, after a three-point loss to border rival Wisconsin. Still, Minnesota is on its way to an NIT berth, at the very least.

10. Wisconsin (9-9, 2-6)

Last week: 13

While Wisconsin has beaten Minnesota each of its past three meetings, this one was probably the most impressive victory the Badgers have had. It’s the best team Minnesota has been in the past couple years, and this could be a sign of a turnaround for the Badgers.

11.Purdue (9-10, 2-6)

Last week: 10

Purdue has flashes of greatness, like its 9-for-10 shooting start against Indiana on Sunday. But what the Boilermakers lack, with only five returning players from its NCAA tournament team last season, is the resilience to finish games.

12. Illinois (8-10, 2-6)

Last week: 11

Illinois is the more surprising of falloff teams that made the NCAA tournament last season. Unlike Purdue, Illinois returned most of its scoring from last year, but they’re still trying to fight for relevance in the Big Ten — something they slightly did with an 11-point halftime lead over Ohio State,

13. Northwestern (7-12, 2-6)

Last week: 12

Things aren’t going well for Chicago’s Big Ten team, who haven’t been the same since Veronica Burton graduated in 2021. Losses to both Illinois and Michigan State don’t help the Wildcats’ case, and they’ll need a reset to again be the daunting team on the banks of Lake Michigan.

14. Rutgers  (6-15, 0-8)

Last week: 14

This has become a rebuilding year for Rutgers, and they’ll just hope this down year won’t affect recruiting for future seasons.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Big Ten women's basketball power rankings: Upsets, court-stormings