WE BACK. After a week of technical difficulties made this column not happen last week, we’re back this week, but with an abbreviated version. Let’s just say there’s no time to be proud or ashamed right now. Basically, everyone gets a medal! (Except Rutgers, no medal for you, you’re still bad at basketball) With that all cleared up, let’s head straight to the Rankings:

B1G Power Rankings, One-Ish Sentence Style:

   1. Maryland: Since we last chatted, Maryland dropped a tough contest against Michigan State, but bounced back with a good win against Iowa, keeping them firmly at number 1.

   2. Iowa: The Hawkeyes suffered their first Big Ten loss last night against Maryland, but still sit at 7-1 with one of the most potent offenses in the country. They’ll be fine.

   3. Indiana: Indiana dropped a game at Wisconsin this week (surprisingly an actual bad loss), but still remain 7-1, thanks to not really having played anybody.

   4. Michigan State: Yes the Spartans have 4 conference losses, but I have them ahead of Purdue mainly because of what they were able to do against a really, really good Maryland team.

   5. Purdue: The Boilermakers remained locked in at 5th, 6-3 in conference, and well on their way to a solid NCAA Tournament seed come March.

   6. Michigan: Don’t Look now, but Michigan is 6-2 in conference, and holds a nice looking win against Maryland. The Wolverines are safely in the tournament right now, and could be climbing up these rankings in the coming weeks.

   7. Ohio State: The Buckeyes keep beating who they should in conference play, and losing to who they should. At some point, they’ll have to shake it up if they want to feel safe on Selection Sunday.

   8. Wisconsin: A win against Indiana has the Badgers moving on up, with a chance to solidify themselves over the next few weeks with a couple of winnable games.

   9. Nebraska: Tim Miles’ squad knocked off Michigan State, and while they’re nowhere near the NCAA Tournament, the Huskers can still beat anyone on any night.

   10. Northwestern: The Wildcats’ downward slide continues this week, coming off of a beatdown in Bloomington and a loss to Sparty. The NCAA Tournament seems dead, now the question of the NIT remains.

   11. Illinois: By virtue of beating Purdue, Illinois earns “best of the rest” status. Don’t be fooled, the Illini are not good at basketball.

   12. Penn State: Speaking of not good at basketball, hello Penn State! The Lions have beaten Northwestern and Minnesota, good enough to keep them away from the bottom end of these rankings.

   13. Minnesota: The Gophers move ahead of Rutgers based on the fact that they’ve actually been in games this season! They’ll win a Big Ten game, even if it’s only against Rutgers.

   14. Rutgers: Rutgers basketball. It’s lit.