Big Ten Tops Newest Rankings

Wasn't this supposed to be the Big Ten's year off from high level basketball?

Entering the season, the only thing anyone was talking about in the Big Ten was big Greg Oden, the massive man-child at Ohio State. Most experts agreed that OSU would take a strong hold of the conference as the Buckeyes were unlikely to encounter much resistance.

Well most people who think about these things - myself included - vastly underestimated the talents of Alando Tucker at Kammron Taylor at Wisconsin. The two combine to average 33 points per game and Tucker - even though he's 6-6 but can't shoot the three - has been mentioned in the same breath as Oden and Kevin Durant as a contender for player of the year. Add the capable, though gloriously awkward, Bryan Butch and his nine points and six boards a game and the Badgers are suddenly the second ranked team in the nation. Or are they first? Depends who you ask.

The most recent AP poll, released today, has Wisconsin as numero uno and Ohio State holding steady at number two. The ESPN/USA Today poll has Ohio State at one and Wisconsin at two. Quite frankly, I'm not sure how you differentiate between the Badgers and Buckeyes at this point.

Ohio State has played the tougher schedule, making them worthy of the top spot to some. The only trouble with that logic, is that their three losses have come at the hands of the three teams that make the Buckeyes record so impressive: Florida, North Carolina and 'Sconsin. You can still argue that they should be cut some slack, though, as each of their shortcomings came on the road.

As of today, Wisconsin is the clear number one. They've won the head to head with OSU - though I'd bet the boys from Columbus will draw even when Tucker and company visit on Sunday. Plus, Wisconsin has done well with the tougher portions of its schedule including a dominant drubbing of Pitt and a win at in-state rival Marquette. They haven't played the UNC's or Florida's of the world but they still have as many wins over those teams as OSU does: zero.

It's not enough to just play a tough schedule. You still have to rack up wins against the best teams. OSU has yet to do that. But if they win the season series against a now well-known and respected Wisconsin team, the Buckeyes could still be looking at a number one seed. Right now, though, the number one ranking and the Big Ten's number one seed in March (I don't see the Big Ten being deep enough this year to convince the committee it's worthy of two top seeds) should be in Madison.