Player of the Week
Derik Queen (Fr., Maryland)
Queen shocked fans across the world with having one of the best debuts in recent history with a 20-20 game against Manhattan and has only improved since then. He has led the Terrapins to an 8-2 record with the only two losses coming from then No. 15 Marquette and most recently, then No. 8 Purdue. Queen, despite only being a freshman, has only elevated his game in face of top ranked opponents. He recorded a season-high 26 points, grabbed 12 boards and hit not just his first collegiate three pointer but knocked down two, shooting 40% from deep. The need for good positioning goes out the window when you have the strength of Queen. He consistently wins battles at the top of the net for rebounds and has one of the best touches around the rim in the Big Ten. Queen’s large frame doesn’t keep him from being agile and able to create for himself and if he continues to shoot the way he did against Purdue, he will be the definition of what NBA scouts are looking for in a modern big man.
Who’s Hot:
Nick Martinelli (Jr., Northwestern)
Martinelli has been putting the Wildcats on notice all season as one of the best forwards in the nation. Especially after the Glenville, Illinois, native took down his hometown university, then No. 19 Illinois, in a thriller that went into overtime. Martinelli posted 27 points on 55% shooting from the field (11-20) and continued to showcase why he is one of the best scoring talents in the Big Ten. His ability to seamlessly transition from the perimeter to post play and be elite at both is rare from a player with his frame. Martinelli excels at attacking off the dribble and forcing defenders to react, then getting to his spots to finish. He used his physicality to dominate the Fighting Illini in both the low and high post to either score or create for others. Martinelli’s feel for the game combined with the ability to score from all three levels are one of the main reasons that the Wildcats have found so much success. Prepare for Martinelli to rise on draft boards across the nation with more performances like this one.
Trey Kaufman-Renn (Jr., Purdue)
With Zach Edey gone, many were left wondering who would take over the mantle of leader for the Boilermakers and so far, Kaufman-Renn has emerged as just the right person for the job. He’s scored 20-plus points in three of his last four games and led Purdue to wins over Maryland and then No. 23 Ole Miss. Kaufman-Renn makes the competition look like child’s play as he back downs defenders for an easy two points. His great touch around the rim paired with elite footwork that allows him to make opponents bite make him one of the best post players in the Big Ten. Defensively, Kaufman-Renn does a great job of disrupting players with his quick hands and tenacious playstyle. Overall, he has become one of the most consistent players on both ends of the floor on any given night and will keep the Boilermakers from derailing when the going gets tough.
Who’s Not:
Will Riley (Fr., Illinois)
Riley has looked like one of the best freshmen in his class all season long but has struggled to perform up to his standard the past two games. The Fighting Illini were able to withstand then No. 19 Arkansas but it wasn’t because of Riley. He shot just 22% from the field (2-9) and 20% from deep (1-5). For a player whose main role is to act as a spark plug off the bench for Illinois, when Riley’s shots aren’t falling, his productivity is drastically reduced. The slump only continued for the freshman after he shot just 33% from the field (4-12) and failed to knock down one of his six three point attempts against Northwestern. Illinois’ loss against the Wildcats proved that in order for it to remain ranked, Riley will have to heat back up. He has all the talent in the world, now it’s a matter of maintaining the level of play everyone knows is there.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
At 5-4, the Scarlet Knights are close to the bottom of the Big Ten despite being one of the select few teams from the conference to be ranked this season. Rutgers caught the eye of many this off season with the addition of two potential top 3 NBA picks in Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, and while both have been stellar, their play hasn’t translated to wins. The team is well above average offensively with an average of 80 points per game but its overall defense is where it falls short. Rutgers is ranked 277th out of all D1 teams in scoring defense and consistently struggles to lock in on that end. Even in a game where Harper dropped 37 points, the Scarlet Knights failed to walk out with a win against Alabama. You can’t ask much more of Bailey or Harper so it’ll come down to the rest of the team to elevate their games to bring Rutgers back up to the top of the Big Ten.
Top 5 Teams in the Big Ten
5. Indiana Hoosiers
The Hooisers are one of the most well rounded teams in the Big Ten with the potential to rise on this list for sure. Indiana is capable of scoring from all three levels with elite shooters in Mackenzie Mgbako and Myles Rice while Oumar Ballo crashes the glass with the best of them and controls the paint. They are top 15 in shooting percentage from the field across the nation and can put the ball in the basket with the best of them. Indiana’s only two losses were from Louisville and then No. 3 Gonzaga. Now on a four-game winning streak, the Hoosiers are playing their best basketball of the season with a lot left in the tank.
4. Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines have the longest active winning streak in the Big Ten and with the way they are playing, it’s hard to picture that ending anytime soon. Michigan has four players averaging 12 points or more and have thrived having one of the most balanced systems in the conference. Between Roddy Gayle Jr, Tre Donaldson or Vladislav Goldin, anyone can go off and lead the team to victory. Two out of three of the Wolverines last games were wins against ranked opponents (then No. 22 Xavier and then No. 11 Wisconsin) and the other was a conference win against Iowa. Michigan is overcoming other elite teams and may continue to do so with games against Arkansas and No. 13 Oklahoma on the way.
3. Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue has been at the top of the Big Ten for the past two years but now things look a little bit different. The Boilermakers are still one of the premier teams in the conference and have the capacity to match up and win against top level competition like then No. 2 Alabama and then No. 23 Ole Miss. Players like Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn have kept the program afloat, but without the presence of Zach Edey, Purdue no longer stands alone at the top. With a blowout loss from then No. 15 Marquette earlier in the season to most recently losing to unranked Penn State, the Boilermakers will have to try harder to regain that top spot.
2. Penn State Nittany Lions
Purdue may have lost to unranked Penn State, but the Nittany Lions are far from your average unranked team and will definitely be ranked after this week. Aside from its loss against Clemson, the blue and white have won every game this season by double digit points. Being ranked No. 4 in the country in total scoring offense with just over 90 points per game, they have one of the most prolific offenses in the country. Ace Baldwin Jr. continues to show why he is one of the most complete point guards in all of college basketball as he is ranked second in assists per game and fifth in steals in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions are sure to make themselves known as more than a football school if they maintain this level of play.
1. Oregon Ducks
The Ducks are plain and simple the most complete team in the Big Ten and one of the best overall in the country. The loss to No. 24 UCLA was definitely a tough blow but keep in mind the Bruins are the best overall defense in the country, holding opposing teams to only 55 points per game. Oregon has been able to space the floor with great shooters like Keeshawn Barthelemy and Brandon Angel which allows Nate Bittle, one of the best and most experienced players in the Big Ten, to dominate. With impressive wins over then No. 20 Texas Tech and then No. 3 Alabama, the Ducks have shown what they can do when they are at their best.