Back in October, when Wisconsin was the unanimous pick to win the Big Ten, most of the conversation at Big Ten Media Day was in regards to one question: Who is the second-best team in the league?
Nearly four months later, halfway through the Big Ten season, there still isn't a clear answer.
The Badgers are the Big Ten's best team, there's no debating that. They are 19-2 overall and 7-1 in league play. Wisconsin is two games ahead of any team in the loss column.
After that, though, it remains a crapshoot. There are currently five teams with three conference losses, all of which sit at 6-3 in the Big Ten. Michigan and Iowa each has four league losses, making it seven schools within striking distance of being the No. 2 team in the Big Ten.
Sure, nobody wants to be second best. But in a season where nothing is certain in the world of Big Ten basketball, emerging as the league's second-best team could open a few eyes around the country, especially if a team comes out as the clear-cut No. 2.
Let's dive in and look at some of the remaining schedules for top contenders for that No. 2 spot behind the Badgers.
Ohio State (17-5 overall, 6-3 B1G)
Remaining Big Ten games: at Purdue, at Rutgers, vs. Penn State, at Michigan State, at Michigan, vs. Nebraska, vs. Purdue, at Penn State, vs. Wisconsin
We'll start with the Buckeyes, one of the league's hottest teams and winners of three straight.
Ohio State has a candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year in freshman D'Angelo Russell, who leads the team in scoring (19.4 ppg.) and rebounding (5.6 rpg.), and is second in assists (5.2 apg.).
The schedule is manageable for the Buckeyes, too. They travel to Purdue on Wednesday, but only have two somewhat difficult road games after that — against Michigan State on Feb. 14 and at Michigan Feb. 22. Ohio State finishes its regular season by hosting Wisconsin.
| TEAM | B1G | OVERALL |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 7-1 | 19-2 |
| Maryland | 6-3 | 18-4 |
| Ohio State | 6-3 | 17-5 |
| Indiana | 6-3 | 16-6 |
| Michigan State | 6-3 | 15-7 |
| Purdue | 6-3 | 14-8 |
| Michigan | 6-4 | 13-9 |
| Iowa | 4-4 | 13-8 |
| Illinois | 4-5 | 14-8 |
| Nebraska | 4-5 | 12-9 |
| Minnesota | 3-7 | 14-9 |
| Penn State | 2-7 | 14-8 |
| Rutgers | 2-8 | 10-13 |
| Northwestern | 1-7 | 10-11 |
Maryland (18-4 overall, 6-3 B1G)
Remaining Big Ten games: vs. Penn State, at Iowa, vs. Indiana, at Penn State, vs. Nebraska, vs. Wisconsin, vs. Michigan, at Rutgers, at Nebraska
The Terrapins looked like the front-runners for the No. 2 spot but have trended downward in recent weeks after blowout losses to both Indiana and Ohio State.
Maryland's only road game remaining against teams in the upper half of the league is a date Sunday against Iowa. Every other game it has against the upper-tier Big Ten teams — Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan — will be played at home, which is a good thing for the Terps as they have only lost one game at home all year.
Indiana (16-6 overall, 6-3 B1G)
Remaining Big Ten games: at Wisconsin, vs. Michigan, at Maryland, vs. Minnesota, vs. Purdue, at Rutgers, at Northwestern, vs. Iowa, vs. Michigan State
Another team which was trending the wrong way was the Hoosiers, who had dropped a pair of games against Purdue and Ohio State before picking up a recent win over one of the Big Ten's bottom feeders in Rutgers.
Indiana has proven when it's not knocking down the outside shot it has a hard time beating teams. The Hoosiers attempt 22 3-pointers per game.
IU also has tough road games left at Wisconsin and at Maryland, while hosting Michigan, Purdue, Iowa and Michigan State. Not exactly an ideal situation.
Michigan State (15-7 overall, 6-3 B1G)
Remaining Big Ten games: vs. Illinois, at Northwestern, vs. Ohio State, at Michigan, at Illinois, vs. Minnesota, at Wisconsin, vs. Purdue, at Indiana
The Big ten schedule is backloaded for the Spartans, who close the season with three straight games against teams that could finish in the league's upper echelon: at Wisconsin, Purdue, and at Indiana. Michigan State also has to play Ohio State and at Michigan.
The Spartans have won their last two, most recently escaping with an overtime win against Michigan on Sunday. They should be sitting at 8-3 in the Big Ten before they begin their gauntlet stretch to end the year.
Purdue (14-8 overall, 6-3 B1G)
Remaining Big Ten games: vs. Ohio State, at Minnesota, at Rutgers, vs. Nebraska, at Indiana, vs. Rutgers, at Ohio State, at Michigan State, vs. Illinois
Like Ohio State, the Boilermakers seem to be playing their best ball of the season right now as winners of three straight. They welcome the Buckeyes to Mackey Arena on Wednesday in a huge swing game for both teams.
Purdue has three difficult road games left — against Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan State — but other than that the schedule is pretty favorable. The Boilermakers could still very well be in the discussion at the end of the year.
There's still a lot of basketball to be played and there's plenty of time for any of the teams listed above — even the Hawkeyes and Wolverines aren't totally eliminated from the conversation — which will make for an interesting second half of the Big Ten season.
Usually, at this point in the year, we tend to have some sort of idea as to who the top teams are in each league. But with no really great teams this season behind the Badgers, it still remains a mystery.
So, you ask, who is the second-best team in the Big Ten?
At this point in time the only correct answer might be this: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
