Why the Big 10 men's basketball standings are looking upside down this January

Honestly, if you looked at a preseason poll back in October and then glanced at the actual Big 10 men's basketball standings today, you’d probably think the website was glitching.

Nebraska is at the top.

No, for real. Fred Hoiberg has the Cornhuskers sitting at 17-0 overall and a perfect 6-0 in conference play as of January 15, 2026. This isn't just a "nice start" anymore. It is a full-blown takeover. We are talking about a program that, for years, was basically the Big Ten’s basement dweller, and now they are staring down the likes of Purdue and Michigan from the penthouse.

The Shocking Reality of the Big 10 Men's Basketball Standings

The hierarchy has shifted. Usually, by mid-January, we see a clear separation where the "blue bloods" pull away, but the expansion to 18 teams has made the middle of the pack look like a mosh pit.

Purdue is right there, obviously. Matt Painter doesn't rebuild; he just reloads. Even without Zach Edey, the Boilermakers are 15-1, with Braden Smith playing like the best floor general in the country. He’s averaging nearly 10 assists a game. Think about that. Ten. In a league that plays as physically as this one, that’s borderline impossible.

Then you have the Michigan schools. Dusty May has Michigan at 14-1, playing a brand of basketball that is actually, well, fun to watch? They are putting up 94 points a night. Meanwhile, Tom Izzo has Michigan State grinding out wins at 15-2. It’s the classic contrast: one team wants to outrun you, the other wants to put you in a headlock for 40 minutes.

Who's actually winning the grind?

• Nebraska (6-0): They haven't lost a single game. Not one. They are ranked No. 8 in the AP poll, but KenPom still seems a bit skeptical, which is typical for the "math" guys.
• Purdue (5-0): Still the gold standard. Trey Kaufman-Renn has stepped into that "monster in the paint" role, averaging a double-double.
• Michigan State (5-1): Their only blemish is a nail-biter against Nebraska. Jaxon Kohler is finally healthy and rebounding everything in sight.
• Michigan (4-1): They took a weird loss to Wisconsin but otherwise look like Final Four contenders.
• Illinois (4-1): Brad Underwood’s "European Experiment" is working. Tomislav Ivisic is a problem for other centers because he can actually shoot the three.

The West Coast Invasion is... Kinda Quiet?

Remember the panic about UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington joining the league? People thought the travel would kill them or they’d dominate with "West Coast speed."

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It’s been a mixed bag.

UCLA is sitting at 3-2 in the conference. Mick Cronin’s defense travels, but their offense sometimes stays in LA. They are currently 11-5 overall, which is fine, but it’s not the "league-conquering" arrival some expected.

USC is the real wildcard. Eric Musselman basically replaced the entire roster with transfers, and they are 14-3. They’ve got a 7-foot-5 center named Gabe Dynes who just stands there and blocks everything. It’s hilarious and effective. But they’ve already dropped three conference games. The Big Ten road environments are just different. Winning in a half-empty gym in November is one thing; winning in a screaming, snow-covered arena in West Lafayette or Lincoln is another beast entirely.

The Stat Leaders You Need to Know

If you want to know why the Big 10 men's basketball standings look the way they do, look at the individual production.

Nick Martinelli at Northwestern is leading the league in scoring at 24.1 points per game. He is a bucket. Pure and simple. But Northwestern is 0-5 in the conference. That tells you everything you need to know about how deep this league is. You can have the best scorer in the conference and still be winless in league play.

Washington has a freshman, Hannes Steinbach, who is leading the league in rebounding with 11 per game. He’s a monster. But the Huskies are 2-3 in the Big Ten.

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It’s a brutal, unforgiving cycle.

What’s Going Wrong for the Blue Bloods?

Indiana is the one that hurts for the traditionalists. Darian DeVries came in with his son, Tucker, and high expectations. They are 12-5 overall, which sounds decent, but they are 3-3 in the conference. They just can't seem to find consistency. One night they look like they can beat anyone, the next they are getting outrebounded by teams they should handle.

And then there's Maryland.

0-6.

Zero.

Buzz Williams has his work cut out for him. They are losing games by an average of five points, so they aren't getting blown out, but in this league, a "close loss" is just a fast track to the NIT.

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Looking Ahead: The March Madness Implications

Right now, Joe Lunardi and Mike DeCourcy have about 10 Big Ten teams in the bracket.

Ten.

That’s more than half the league.

If Nebraska keeps this up, they aren't just looking at a tournament bid; they are looking at a No. 1 or No. 2 seed. Purdue and Michigan are also firmly in that conversation. The real battle is going to be in that 6-10 range in the standings. Teams like Iowa (2-3) and Ohio State (3-3) are essentially playing "elimination" games every Tuesday and Thursday night.

If you're betting on the outcome, keep an eye on the home-court advantage. Home teams in the Big Ten are winning at a nearly 70% clip this season. If you can’t steal a road win in January, you’re basically cooked by February.

Actionable Insights for the Second Half

1. Watch the Nebraska vs. Purdue rematch: That game will likely decide the regular-season title.
2. Monitor the Bubble: Keep a close eye on Wisconsin and Rutgers. They have the talent (especially Rutgers with those high-level freshmen) but they lack the wins right now.
3. Efficiency over record: Check the NET rankings. A team like Illinois might have a few losses, but their "Quality Wins" are stacking up, making them more dangerous in March than their standing suggests.

The standings will shift again by next week. They always do. But for now, just enjoy the chaos of a world where Nebraska is the king of the hill and the rest of the conference is scrambling to find a way up.