Big Ten women's basketball report: Second-half thoughts, power rankings and more
Only the top 15 teams qualify for the conference tournament in Indianapolis
As the second half of the conference season is underway, here are items of interest about what we might see during the next month leading up to the league tournament in Indianapolis:
Can anyone challenge UCLA and USC for the regular season title?
Probably not. We’ll know this week if Ohio State can join the pair at the top. The Buckeyes travel to Los Angeles to play the Bruins on Wednesday and the Women of Troy on Saturday. It’s hard to see Ohio State going to Southern California and coming home with a sweep, but there’s a chance. UCLA and USC will still decide the league race but the Women of Troy blinked first by losing at Iowa on Sunday. The Bruins are unbeaten and show no signs of slowing down. They remained the No. 1 team in the country and are the nation’s only team without a loss. Assuming UCLA takes care of business, it could split with USC and still win the conference title outright.
The race for No. 4 and the coveted double-bye
UCLA, USC, and Ohio State are the top three teams. But who slides into the No. 4 spot? Michigan State holds the position with an 8-3 record, but Illinois, Maryland, Nebraska, Oregon, and Indiana sit one game back in the loss column. With so many games remaining, it’s challenging to sort through the schedule and tie-breakers to determine who has an edge. Michigan, Minnesota, and Iowa could sneak into the group. The top nine teams avoid playing on the first day of the tournament.
Who’s in the running to be left out of the conference tournament?
For the first time, there’s interest at the top of the league and also at the bottom. The last three teams in the standings won’t travel to Indianapolis, and their seasons will end. Only 15 teams will make the tournament, and UCLA, USC, and Ohio State have already claimed spots. Five teams (Wisconsin, Rutgers, Penn State, Purdue, and Northwestern) have two or fewer wins, and three will stay home. The Wildcats are the last winless team in the league but face the other four, giving them a chance to move up in the standings. The Boilermakers won their first Big Ten game on Sunday against Wisconsin and play the Scarlet Knights, the Lady Lions, and Northwestern.
MORE: Big Ten schedule, standings and statistics
Still waiting to hear about the rescheduled games in Los Angeles
Remember that the Wildcats haven’t played UCLA and USC, declining to travel to Los Angeles during the wildfires when Penn State did. No word from the Big Ten if those games will be rescheduled or declared forfeits. As long as Northwestern remains without a win, it won’t matter. But if the Wildcats aren’t required to forfeit, they won’t play the same number of games, and placement is determined by winning percentage. The Big Ten must avoid an embarrassing situation by declaring those games wins for UCLA and USC or reschedule them. It’s not that difficult. And depending on what Ohio State does this week in California, the situation could impact the top of the standings.
The Player of the Year is …
USC’s JuJu Watkins or UCLA’s Lauren Betts. Maybe they share or split the honor between the media and coaches. Whoever wins the regular-season championship likely receives the edge in the voting. Watkins was the Preseason Player of the Year and has played at a high level all season. Betts has been equally impressive, dominating down low. Watkins and Betts rank first and second in scoring in Big Ten games, averaging 24.7 and 20.2 points, respectively. Watkins has 49 steals; Betts has 54 blocked shots. It’s hard to compare their statistics since they play different positions.
How many NCAA bids?
Could over 70% of the league earn spots in the 68-team field? That’s 13 of the 18 teams, and it wouldn’t be a surprise. Washington is a bubble team and likely will stay there the rest of the season. Iowa had dropped into bubble territory, but the win over USC provides security for now. UCLA and USC are likely No. 1 seeds. Ohio State will be a top 16 seed and host first and second-round games, and whoever finishes fourth will be positioned to possibly host.
POWER RANKINGS
UCLA
Faces Ohio State and USC in two of its next three games and can take control of the league race. Wednesday vs. Ohio State, 9:30 p.m. (Peacock); Sunday at Oregon, 4 p.m. (B1G+)
USC
No need to drop the Women of Troy after the loss at Iowa. Credit Lindsay Gottlieb for keeping her players inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday to watch Caitlin Clark’s jersey retirement ceremony. Wednesday at Wisconsin, 7:30 p.m. (Peacock); Saturday vs. Ohio State, 9 p.m. (Fox)
OHIO STATE
Chance to see how the Buckeyes stack up against the top two teams. Wednesday at UCLA, 9:30 p.m. (Peacock); Saturday at USC, 9 p.m. (Fox)
ILLINOIS
Four-game winning streak after beating Maryland for the first time. An opportunity to extend the run with Northwestern, Wisconsin, and Penn State up next. Thursday vs. Northwestern, 7 p.m. (B1G+); Sunday at Wisconsin, 4 p.m. (B1G+)
MICHIGAN STATE
Rolling along until a surprise loss to Oregon at home. Six of the next seven against possible NCAA tournament teams. Sunday vs. Michigan, 2 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)
MARYLAND
Lost four of the last five and continue to deal with injuries. Still enough talent to make a run. Thursday at Oregon, 9 p.m. (Fox Sports 1); Sunday at Washington, 4 p.m. (B1G+)
OREGON
Led the Big Ten in points allowed in conference games until Michigan put up a season-high 80 on Sunday. Thursday vs. Maryland, 9 p.m. (Fox Sports 1); Sunday vs. UCLA, 4 p.m. (B1G+)
INDIANA
Let a double-digit lead slip away at Oregon but bounced back to take down Nebraska on Sunday. Struggling on the boards but leads the conference in 3-point shooting in league games. Thursday vs. Rutgers, 6 p.m. (BTN); Sunday at Minnesota, 3 p.m. (B1G+)
NEBRASKA
Held off Purdue, thanks to freshman Britt Prince, but couldn’t get on track against the Hoosiers. Made five 3-pointers in the last two games. Thursday vs. Michigan, 8 p.m. (Peacock); Monday vs. Iowa, 8 p.m. (BTN)
IOWA
Huge victory over USC on Sunday could provide a springboard during the final month. Thursday at Minnesota, 8 p.m. (BTN); Monday at Nebraska, 8 p.m. (BTN)
MICHIGAN
A surprising loss to Wisconsin after Michigan State laid down the hammer, winning by 30 points. Nice bounce back against Oregon and is looking forward to the second matchup against the Spartans. Thursday at Nebraska, 8 p.m. (Peacock); Sunday at Michigan State, 2 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)
MINNESOTA
Still in the mix to avoid playing on the first day of the conference tournament. Credit part of the Gophers’ success to taking care of the ball. They’re averaging 10.2 turnovers. Thursday vs. Iowa, 8 p.m. (BTN); Sunday vs. Indiana, 3 p.m. (B1G+)
WASHINGTON
Probably needs to win five of its last eight games to move off the NCAA bubble. Wednesday at Penn State, 6 p.m. (B1G+); Sunday vs. Maryland, 4 p.m. (B1G+)
WISCONSIN
Despite the loss on Sunday at Purdue, the victory over Michigan separates the Badgers - for now - from the teams that have one win at the bottom of the standings. Wednesday vs. USC, 7:30 p.m. (Peacock); Sunday vs. Illinois, 4 p.m. (B1G+)
PENN STATE
Same with the Lady Lions, who knocked off Ohio State two weeks ago. Wednesday vs. Washington, 6 p.m. (B1G+); Sunday at Northwestern, 2 p.m. (B1G+)
PURDUE
Snapped the nine-game losing streak and has a chance to stack wins over the next 10 days. Sunday at Rutgers, 1 p.m. (B1G+)
RUTGERS
Played one of its better games against Illinois but came up short. Destiny Adams and Kiyomi McMiller combined for 41 of 65 points, and the Scarlet Knights committed just 10 turnovers. Thursday at Indiana, 6 p.m. (BTN); Sunday vs. Purdue, 1 p.m. (B1G+)
NORTHWESTERN
Six conference teams have gone winless during the regular season in league history. Thursday at Illinois, 7 p.m. (B1G+); Sunday vs. Penn State, 2 p.m. (B1G+)