Big Ten basketball power poll

Iowa (16-4; 7-1): Loss or not, the Hawkeyes' résumé says they are still top dog after topping Michigan once and Michigan State and Purdue twice.

Maryland (18-4; 7-2): The Terrapins finally snatched their signature Big Ten win against Iowa in a league game on Thursday that, if nothing else, lived up to its billing.

Michigan State (18-4; 5-4): Do the Spartans have their identity back? Consecutive wins, the first against No. 8 Maryland, indicate a gain.

Wisconsin (12-9; 4-4): Nobody can guard Nigel Hayes, he says, but center Ethan Happ is becoming a problem for Badgers opponents, too.

Indiana (17-4; 7-1): Just when everyone was finally on board, the Hoosiers fell to Wisconsin, but Yogi Ferrell is still playing out of his mind and making 47.3 percent of three-pointers.

Purdue (18-4; 6-3): The Boilermakers were shorthanded against Minnesota, but AJ Hammons was pulling down rebounds with a shoe in his hand.

Michigan (16-5; 6-2): The Wolverines haven't been overly convincing in their margin of victory against bad teams lately, topping Minnesota, Nebraska and Rutgers by an average of 9.7 points.

Nebraska (12-9; 4-4): The four-game winning streak ended, but once again the Huskers were competitive in a loss to Michigan.

Northwestern (15-7; 3-6): The Wildcats have taken steps but are 0-5 against ranked teams after falling to Michigan State while shooting 20.7 (!) percent.

Ohio State (14-8; 6-3): The Buckeyes have a long way to go, but they're taking care of the ones they should, posting a 6-0 record against teams lower in the league standings.

Illinois (10-11; 2-6): The Illini finished regulation against Ohio State on a blazing 15-2 run to force overtime but turned the ball over on their last possession of the extra session to lose the opportunity.

Penn State (11-10; 2-6): The Nittany Lions mustered just 46 points at Ohio State, a season low, and scored just .69 points per possession.

Minnesota (6-15; 0-9): The Gophers have lost the past four games by seven points or fewer but have dropped 10 straight for the first time since 1986-87.

Rutgers (6-15; 0-8): Looking for a bright side? The Scarlet Knights' 11-point loss to Michigan was their closest of the calendar year.