Honestly, if you thought you had a handle on the Big Ten standings this year, you’ve probably been humbled by now. January in this league is always a meat grinder, but the 2025-26 cycle is hitting different. We’ve got West Coast blue bloods trying to figure out if they can handle a Tuesday night in Piscataway, and a Nebraska team that refuses to lose. It’s chaotic. It's beautiful.
Let's talk about the big ten all conference basketball race, because the "locks" we had in November are looking a lot more like "maybe" as we hit the mid-January stretch.
The Braden Smith Problem (And Why Purdue is Still the Bar)
Look, Braden Smith is the sun that the rest of the conference orbits around. There’s no other way to put it. Coming off a 2024-25 season where he basically did everything but drive the team bus—averaging roughly 15 points and 8 assists—he’s somehow found another gear as a senior.
Just last week against Penn State, the guy went for 26 points and 14 assists. That's a "video game" stat line. He’s the first player in the conference to hit those specific marks in over two decades. Matt Painter has built a system where Smith is the conductor, and right now, the music is loud.
But it’s not just the Smith show in West Lafayette. Trey Kaufman-Renn has moved from "solid contributor" to "nightmare matchup." He’s got these weird, unstoppable floaters and a low-post game that feels like a throwback to the 90s. If the season ended today, both these guys are First Team Big Ten. No debate.
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Nebraska is 17-0? Yes, Seriously.
If you had the Cornhuskers as the last undefeated team in the conference on your bingo card, you’re a liar. Fred Hoiberg has found some sort of magic elixir in Lincoln.
Nebraska is currently 17-0 and 6-0 in the league. They aren't doing it with one superstar, either. It’s the "anyone can hurt you" approach. One night it’s Pryce Sandfort hitting seven triples; the next it’s Rienk Mast bullying people in the paint. They play a style that is incredibly hard to scout because you don't know who to take away.
"When it isn't Pryce Sandfort... it's Rienk Mast... there's always someone else helping carry the water." — Recent SI Power Rankings analysis.
Are they actually the best team? Maybe not. Their strength of schedule is significantly lower than Michigan’s. But in the big ten all conference basketball discussions, you cannot ignore winning. Jamarques Lawrence is playing like an All-Defense lock, and if they keep this up, Hoiberg is walking away with Coach of the Year honors.
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The Newcomers: UCLA and the Transfer Impact
The Big Ten expansion still feels a bit weird, doesn't it? Seeing UCLA and USC on the schedule is a trip. But Donovan Dent has made the transition look effortless. The New Mexico transfer is a blur. He’s essentially the engine for Mick Cronin’s Bruins, and he’s currently a frontrunner for a First Team guard spot.
Then you have Yaxel Lendeborg at Michigan. Dusty May hit the jackpot here. Lendeborg is a 6-foot-9 Swiss Army knife who can legitimately guard positions 1 through 5. He’s currently leading the Wolverines in rebounds and blocks while shooting nearly 40% from deep. That’s not normal.
Current Statistical Leaders (Mid-January Snapshot)
- Scoring: Braden Smith (Purdue) and Donovan Dent (UCLA) are neck-and-neck.
- Rebounding: Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan) and David Mirkovic (Illinois) are cleaning the glass.
- Assists: Braden Smith is the runaway leader, followed closely by Jeremy Fears (MSU).
The Illinois Freshman and the "Ivisic Twin" Factor
Brad Underwood went international, and it’s paying off. Keaton Wagler has already bagged three Freshman of the Week honors. He’s 6-foot-6, he’s bouncy, and he doesn’t play like a kid. He’s currently averaging 16 points a game for an Illini team that is quietly sitting at 14-3.
And then there are the Ivisic brothers. Tomislav and Zvonimir. Having two 7-footers who can pass and shoot is just unfair. Illinois is currently the best rebounding team in the conference, and it’s largely because of that size. If you're looking for a dark horse for the All-Big Ten Second Team, Tomislav is the name to watch.
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What the "Experts" Got Wrong
The preseason polls were high on Indiana and Oregon. Right now? Both are struggling to stay above water. Indiana is 3-3 in the conference, and Tucker DeVries—while still a pro prospect—is finding out that Big Ten defenses are a lot physical than what he saw at Drake.
Oregon is 1-5 in the league. Nate Bittle is doing his best, but the Ducks are finding that life on the road in the Midwest is a different beast. It’s a reminder that talent on paper doesn’t always translate to wins in a league that values "grit" and "mucking it up" over pure athleticism.
Defensive Specialists You Aren't Watching
We all love the scorers, but the big ten all conference basketball defensive team is where the real grinders live.
- Ace Baldwin Jr. (Penn State): Still the gold standard for point-of-attack defense.
- Jeremy Fears (Michigan State): He’s a pest. He doesn't just steal the ball; he steals your soul.
- Hannes Steinbach (Washington): A freshman who is already one of the best rim protectors in the country.
Actionable Insights for the Second Half of the Season
If you’re following the race for the conference awards, here is how you should be looking at the next six weeks:
- Watch the Schedule: Michigan has the hardest remaining schedule according to KenPom. If Lendeborg keeps his numbers up against that gauntlet, he’s a First Team lock.
- The "Purdue vs. Nebraska" Date: Circle January 27th. This isn't just a game; it's a battle for the top spot in the standings and will likely decide the Coach of the Year frontrunner.
- Freshman Race: It’s basically a two-man race between Keaton Wagler (Illinois) and Hannes Steinbach (Washington). Wagler has the scoring, but Steinbach’s defensive metrics are off the charts.
- The Bubble Factor: Teams like Ohio State and UCLA are currently on the NCAA Tournament bubble. All-Conference voters often favor players on teams that actually make the dance, so these next few weeks are "make or break" for guys like Bruce Thornton and Tyler Bilodeau.
The race is far from over. One bad week can turn a First Team lock into a Third Team "what happened?" story. Keep your eyes on the Wednesday night slate—that’s where the Big Ten title is usually won or lost.