Barfknecht's Big Ten Ratings, Feb. 21

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Big Ten men's basketball ratings by World-Herald staff writer Lee Barfknecht. Published Tuesday, Feb. 21.

1. Michigan State (22-5, 11-3, second)

This week: at Minnesota, Nebraska. This team is a coach's delight. Excellent talent, premium chemistry, like-minded goals and a star player everyone likes and respects.

2. Ohio State (22-5, 10-4, seventh)

This week: Illinois, Wisconsin. The Buckeyes don't look like they are having much fun playing the game right now. Maybe all of the preseason expectations for the team and individually are wearing on them.

3. Michigan (20-7, 10-4, 14th)

This week: at Northwestern, Purdue. Watch out for the Wolverines sneaking in the back door to a Big Ten title. After this week, the final games are against reeling Illinois and last-place Penn State.

4. Wisconsin (20-7, 9-5, 23rd)

This week: at Iowa, at Ohio State. The Badgers actually have won more conference games on the road (five) than at home (four), so this week's road trip might be welcomed.

5. Indiana (20-7, 8-7, 16th)

This week: North Carolina Central, at Minnesota. The Hoosiers are playing for seeding now, both in the conference tournament — Nos. 1 through 4 get a first-round bye — and for a decent NCAA tourney slot.

6. Purdue (17-10, 7-7, 52nd)

This week: Nebraska, at Michigan. The "ugly offense" virus attacked the Boilermakers in the second half of Sunday's loss to Michigan State. They missed 22 of their first 23 shots.

7. Northwestern (16-10, 6-8, 43rd)

This week: Michigan, at Penn State. The last team in a power conference league to never make the NCAA tournament is keeping the dream of breaking that streak alive. A sweep this week could close the deal.

8. Minnesota (17-10, 5-9, 72nd)

This week: Michigan State, Indiana. For a team having problems with too many turnovers and not enough rebounds, there probably aren't two worse opponents to face this week for the Golden Gophers.

9. Iowa (14-13, 6-8, 151st)

This week: Wisconsin, at Illinois. Matt Gatens is surging down the stretch of his senior season. The 6-foot-5 guard, in the past six games, has scored 20, 18, 18, 15, 21 and 30 points.

10. Illinois (16-11, 5-9, 69th)

This week: at Ohio State, Iowa. The meltdown that the Illini currently are in is reminiscent of the talented 1995-96 Nebraska team that staged a walkout, lost nine league games in a row and then won the NIT.

11. Nebraska (12-13, 4-10, 126th)

This week: at Purdue, at Michigan State. The Huskers got a much needed feel-good win over Illinois. But good feelings will be hard to find this week with road trips to West Lafayette and East Lansing.

12. Penn State (12-16, 4-11, 132nd)

This week: Northwestern. The Nittany Lions love home cooking. At home, they score 67 points and shoot 42 percent from the field. On the road, those numbers are 55 points and 35 percent.

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