Its Time for Minnesota to Move On From Richard Pitino

Richard Pitino, Minnesota

A late Sunday night duel between Rutgers and Minnesota didn't garner much attention from the mainstream, but it was certainly important for one program. It marked Minnesota's sixth loss in seven games, and downed them to a 17-11 overall record, and 7-10 in league play. Once a team right on the edge of Top 25 polls, the Gophers are now one of the "First Four Out" in Joe Lunardi's newest bracketology released. It has been a steep fall for the Gophers, but one that has been all too familiar under sixth-year head coach Richard Pitino. Pitino may have the name recognition, but the results just haven't been there during his tenure in the Twin Cities. If athletic director Mark Coyle is serious about his commitment to Minnesota's basketball program he can't afford to wait much longer. Its time to move on from Pitino, and seek a new direction for the struggling program.

Richard Pitino was an interesting hire when the Gophers decided to roll him with following the up-and-down tenure of former head man Tubby Smith. He had been an assistant at a number of Division I programs, namely under Billy Donovan at Florida and his father Rick at Louisville. Yet, his lone head coaching experience was one year at Florida International, which was then part of the Sun Belt Conference. Granted it was a pretty successful year for FIU, who came within one game of the NCAA Tournament, playing in the Sun Belt Conference Championship in 2013. Despite the lack of head coaching experience at a high level, Minnesota moved forward with Pitino, making him the 17th head coach in program history in early April of '13. Its important to note that Pitino certainly made a major impact in his first season with the Gophers. There was an energy and excitement around Williams Arena that had been desperately missing during the final few years of Tubby. Pitino's up-tempo, aggressive style of play also seemed to fit this roster surprisingly well, and the results showed for themselves. A late January victory over arch-rival Wisconsin at home impressed so many that even ESPN's Dick Vitale was raving about Pitino. Even though Minnesota wouldn't go to the NCAA Tournament, they capped off the year with an NIT Championship by beating a very strong SMU squad. It was a pretty smashing debut for Pitino, who seemed eager to prove that he was hired for his coaching prowess and not his last name.

Yet, the momentum and excitement created by that debut began to wear down with two consecutive seasons of no postseason, including a 2015-2016 season that was among the worst in Minnesota's entire history. Its understandable to have some ups-and-downs in the first few years taking over a new program, as you get acclimated to the role and the recruiting that comes with it. And, to be fair to Pitino, few coaches would have had success with that '16 team, which was playing without four key players by the end of the year due to suspension and injury. A recovery over the course of the 2017 season looking it would be a second-life for the head coach and this Gophers program. Minnesota won 24 games, finished fourth in the Big Ten and made their first NCAA Tournament appearance under Pitino. People were so impressed by the turnaround, Pitino earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors, and again was praised. But, in that Tournament game against 12th-seed Middle Tennessee, the Gophers seemed unprepared and never adjusted to MTU's increased pace of play. This has been the issue for some time now; Pitino is simply not a good in-game head coach. It has been evident for some time now, and its time to realize that it is not going to magically change.

Pitino's inability to adjust and evolve has been especially evident this season. An early league game against Maryland at home was a perfect opportunity to continue the good vibes gained from an impressive win on the road against Wisconsin. The Gophers held a comfortable lead for much of the game until the Terrapins switched to a 2-3 zone defense in the second half. Minnesota looked absolutely lost trying to run any sort of offense, and in turn Maryland took the upper hand. The Terps would end up winning by 15 on the road, with the Gophers putting together a truly terrible shooting performance in that second half. This game was the perfect encapsulation of the issues Pitino has had and why this Gophers program has been so frustratingly streaky. Despite coaching in the Big Ten for half a decade, I'm still not sure whether Pitino has any idea how to break a zone. The offense as a whole has seemed regularly lost for much of the season. Outside of isolation possessions by star Amir Coffey and Jordan Murphy's action on the block, there is no flow to the offense and no rhythm. Perhaps you can blame that on the lack of a true point guard this season for the Gophers, but it has been evident for so much of Pitino's tenure. That Maryland game also showcased something that has absolutely haunted the Gophers under these past six seasons: free throw shooting. Currently, Minnesota is hitting 67% from the free throw line, which is 298th nationally. Thats about par for Pitino teams, whose teams have lost close game after close game because they simply can't convert one of the most fundamental parts of the sport. Sure, at some point players have have to make their shots, but how has free throw shooting not been made an even larger priority? The stats speak for themselves; either the coaching staff doesn't care about this major issue, or they don't know how to fix it. As a fan of this Gopher team, I'm not sure which is more troubling.

To Pitino's credit, he has recruited extremely well and that can't be overlooked at a program not known for producing top-tier talent. Back in the 2017 class, the staff was able to go out east and land Isaiah Washington, a Top 50 national recruit from the Bronx. They've done an incredible job capitalizing on the impressive talent playing in the state of Minnesota. They locked down Amir Coffey from a number of other big-time programs, and also managed to keep four-star Daniel Oturu and three-star Gabe Kalscheur in the state. Both of those guys have made an immediate impact, namely Kalscheur, who hit six threes in Sunday's loss to Rutgers. Yet, this recruiting success raises a really fundamental question: why can't Minnesota win with this talent? Coffey is easily one of the greatest talents the program has ever had, and yet there is a good chance he could end his Gophers career with one single, short-lived NCAA Tournament appearance. Meanwhile, Washington has really struggled in his time in Minnesota, showing no real development and butting heads with the coaching staff. While we can applaud Pitino's success on the recruiting trail, the fact it hasn't materialized into anything very meaningful just goes to further show the shortcomings he has as a head coach.

One of the most common arguments that I've heard for the Gophers to retain Pitino is that they don't believe they can land any head coach better. I do understand that landing a huge, established name at this type of program won't be easy, but that shouldn't be any reason to keep around an underachieving coach. Here is a short list of guys that should be in play if Minnesota does indeed decide to part ways with the sixth-year coach.
Eric Musselman, Nevada: Musselman has made his way around nearly every level of basketball, currently leading a Nevada squad that looks ready to make a deep NCAA Tournament run. He has coached in the NBA with both the Warriors and Kings, as well as the G-League. His success with the Wolf Pack shows he can win at unconventional places, and he may be eager to leave, considering Nevada is a senior-laden team that will need significant rebuilding after this season. Musselman has some Minnesota ties: he was a Timberwolves assistant in the early 90's.
Fred Hoiberg, Former Iowa State Coach: This really would be a dream scenario for any Gophers fan. Hoiberg has a proven pedigree, winning big at Iowa State (2 Big 12 Tournament victories) before making a short-lived jump to the NBA. Hoiberg has to be eager to return to the collegiate ranks, and he knows Minnesota well. He played for the Timberwolves, and also served as VP of Basketball Operations for them. At 46, he is the perfect blend of still being fairly young but possessing ample experience.
Nate Oats, Buffalo: At Buffalo, Nate Oats has built a tremendous mid-major program that has proven they can take down the top dogs. They've been to the Big Dance twice in four seasons with him, and look well on their way to a third at this point in 2019. Originally from Wisconsin with his alma mater being at Maranatha Baptist (Watertown, WI) returning to the Midwest may be in the cards for the 44-year old.

Top 10 March Madness Moments of the Last Ten Years

Ali Farokhmanesh, UNI over Kansas

We are now reaching late February, a quick reminder that any college sports fan's favorite time of the year is nearly upon us: March Madness. As of publishing, we sit 23 days away from Selection Sunday and just 25 days away from the time games actually tip off on March 19th. In order to pass some of the time and get us further pumped up for the crazy we're about to witness, I decided to count down my Top 10 favorite March Madness moments of the last decade (2009-2018). Take a stroll down memory lane with some of the most insane and improbable moments in the NCAA Tournament's storied history.

10. R.J. Hunter's (Georgia State) Buzzer Beater over Baylor (2015) 

We've seen no shortage of buzzer-beaters in March Madness history, but R.J. Hunter's huge shot in the 2015 NCAA Tournament was special in a few ways. It was the culmination of a stunning late run by Georgia State that reminds you how quickly momentum can shift in basketball (Baylor was up 12 with less than three minutes to play). The shot was also so crazy it caused GSU head coach Ron Hunter to fall off his chair in excitement, less than a week after hurting himself celebrating the Panthers' trip to the Big Dance. Ron just happened to be R.J.'s father, and seeing the two share such a thrilling moment on the grand stage was awesome, and easily one of the coolest moments in recent March action.

9. Trey Burke's (Michigan) Deep Three to Sink Kansas (2013)

Trey Burke was instrumental in Michigan's run to the 2013 National Championship, and he had no greater moment than his deep three in a Sweet 16 duel versus Kansas. It was a fearless play by a fearless player, going out and launching from thirty feet out with a decent amount of time still left on the clock. It might not have been a game winner, but allowed the Wolverines to go into overtime and eventually take down the No. 1 seeded Jayhawks. It was also the embodiment of just how great Burke was in that Tournament, coming so close to handing UM their first National Title since 1989.

8. VCU's Upset of Kansas to Send Them to Final Four (2011)

The 2011 NCAA Tournament was about as wild as you can get in a Tournament literally nicknamed "March Madness", with Butler and VCU both rolling to the Final Four in shocking fashion. VCU took down a number of top dogs en route to their Final Four berth but none bigger than Kansas, who was again, a No. 1 seed. The Jayhawks were 11-point favorites and were spearheaded by the Morris twins, but they weren't prepared for the Rams' up-tempo, blazing pace of play. This victory helped VCU become the first "First Four" team to ever make it to the Final Four, and introduced the world to "Havoc" and Shaka Smart, which captivated college hoops for a number of years.

7. Scottie Reynolds (Villanova) Coast-to-Coast to Beat Pitt (2009)

Old Big East rivals squaring off in the Elite Eight is always going to be fun to watch, and 2009's Villanova-Pittsburgh duel didn't disappoint. Both teams played with incredible heart and passion, but it all came down to a buzzer-beating layup by Scottie Reynolds. Reynolds had a terrific Villanova career, but racing past most of the Pitt defense to hit this tough shot as time expired will obviously be his signature moment. It was such an impressive play by a great player in a thrilling game that could've easily made its way higher on the list.

6. Texas A&M's Shocking Comeback Against Northern Iowa (2016)

Things can change with the blink of an eye on a basketball court, and nothing exemplifies this more than Texas A&M's unbelievable comeback against Northern Iowa in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament. UNI held a 12-point lead with just 35 seconds left on the clock, before the Aggies unleashed a furious press. UNI made mistake after mistake and A&M capitalized, miraculously finding a way to force overtime and eventually, win the game. It had to have been heart-wrenching for the Panthers but it is a reminder that the game is never over until that clock hits zero. The Aggies would fall their next game against Buddy Hield and Oklahoma, but their furious comeback will live on forever.

5. "Dunk City" Sweet 16 Run (2013)

Seeing a 15-seed earn their spot in the Sweet 16 is thrilling itself, but it was made even better by Florida-Gulf Coast's high-flying play. They had some truly amazing dunks and play loose and fast, beating two-seed Georgetown and seventh-seeded San Diego State before they were downed. This team played with an amazing energy and just seemed to be having more fun, something becoming more rare in the big-money world of today's college athletics. It was also a reminder of how thin the margin is between a 2 seed and a 15 seed; FGCU just had better athletes on the court and they came out and proved out. 

4. Gordon Hayward Missed Half-Courter (2010)

Even though Gordon Hayward's half-court pray in the 2010 National Championship ended up rattling out, it was still one of the most iconic moments in recent NCAA Tournament history. It reminds us that a basketball game, even a National Championship, can be decided by merely a few inches or the roll of the ball in the bucket. The shot would've also immortalized Hayward and Butler forever; the Bulldogs were the ultimate dark horse in this Tournament and they played toe-to-toe with the sport's ultimate blue blood, Duke. They might have come up just short, but it was still pretty inspiring seeing the scrappy Bulldogs fight so hard in a game they, theoretically, shouldn't have even been in.

3. Ali Farokhmanesh (Northern Iowa) Dagger to Upset Kansas (2010)

Back in 2010, top-seeded Kansas was on a mission to win their second National Title in three years. Star players Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins had straight out said that they came back for their senior seasons with the Jayhawks with the sole purpose of winning it all. However, they ended up running into the well-rounded Northern Iowa Panthers in the second round, who played smart, fundamental basketball through the entire forty minutes. Up 63-62 with 43 seconds remaining, UNI broke Kansas's press and got the ball to Ali Farokhmanesh, who ended up hitting one of the most "ice in his veins" shots in NCAA history. It was the dagger that sealed the win, and it took some unbelievable confidence to go for it against the nation's top team. Farokhmanesh is now an assistant coach at Colorado State, but this shot will live on forever.

2. Kris Jenkins' (Villanova) National Championship Game Winner (2016)

What a terrific basketball game the 2016 National Championship was. Two heavyweights, Villanova and UNC, battled it out for the entire matchup up until an insane ending. It looked like Marcus Paige's sprawling, double-clutch three to tie the game would be the biggest moment of the game until Kris Jenkins ended up hitting the game winner just moments later. Jay Wright drew up a superb play to open things up for Jenkins, who did not disappoint. Jenkins did what every basketball player dreams of: hitting the game-winner in the big game with time expiring. 

1. 16th-seeded UMBC Stuns top seed Virginia (2018)

Its not everyday you see something that has never happened in the history of college basketball, but thats just what happened this past March. Even though some had come close, no 16 seed had ever managed to take down a 1 seed until tiny UMBC (University of Maryland-Baltimore County) shocked top-seeded Virginia. Not only did UMBC end up winning they dominated, beating the Cavaliers by 20 points, while shooting 54% from the field and 50% from three-point. Even though this upset completely ruined my bracket, which had Virginia going all the way, you can't hate on such a shocking and monumental upset. It really goes to show you that on any day, anybody can beat anybody, which I find to be one of the greatest and most enduring aspects of sports. 

Honorable Mentions

• Block or foul? Trey Burke's play on Peyton Siva in 2013 National Championship
• Arkansas-Little Rock's furious comeback against Purdue in 2016 Tournament
• Tyus Jones sealing the National Championship over Wisconsin in 2015 National Championship
• Loyola-Chicago's multiple buzzer beaters during Final Four run in 2018 NCAA Tournament
• Syracuse huge comeback against Virginia in the Elite Eight of 2016 NCAA Tournament
• South Carolina shocking Duke en route to 2017 Final Four
• Wisconin's Bronson Koenig falling back buzzer beater to beat Xavier in 2016 NCAA Tournament

Scouting the Contenders 2019: Duke Blue Devils

Tre Jones, Duke

As March Madness slowly inches closer and closer, "Scouting the Contenders" takes a look at some of the nation's best teams in a chaotic race, and scouts their strengths and weaknesses and just how far they could go in the NCAA Tournament. We continue with the nation's new No. 1 squad, the Duke Blue Devils.

Track Record

• 23-2 overall record, 11-1 in the ACC
• Notable Victories: vs. Kentucky 118-84, vs. Texas Tech 69-58, @ Virginia 81-71
• Losses to Gonzaga 89-87 & Syracuse 95-91
• Has won nine consecutive games
• Averaging 86.4 points per game, fourth in the nation

Scouting Report: The hype surrounding 2018-2019 Duke has been intense since Zion Williamson's commitment last winter, and the Blue Devils have not disappointed. Spearheaded by Williamson and three other impressive freshmen, Duke has jumped to a 23-2 record and looks like they'll lock down the new No. 1 spot in the AP poll following Tennessee's loss over the weekend. With perhaps the most impressive resume in the entire country, Duke is certainly the favorite to earn the No. 1 overall seed come Selection Sunday, roughly a month out. But, is this youthful team really ready to go on a deep NCAA Tournament run, or will it eventually catch up with them? Any team that wants to take down Duke will have to find a way to slow down Williamson, who has looked like a man amongst boys for much of the season. He's stuffing the stat sheet, posting averages of 22.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG and 2.3 SPG while shooting 68% from the field. Williamson is also absolutely dominant in transition, which can help overcome some of his shooting woes that may show up in the half-court set. With that being said, Williamson may not be the most crucial piece on this Duke squad, which has to fall to point guard Tre Jones. Jones' ability to run the offense is what really makes Duke go, and he has asserted himself as one of the best perimeter defenders in the country. This is going to be important, because the Blue Devils aren't a superb defensive team, no matter what Zion's highlight-reel blocks may look like. Of course, we also have to talk about the other freshmen in Duke's feared foursome, R.J. Barrett and Cam Reddish. Barrett is probably the team's best all-around scorer but consistency continues to haunt him. The same can be said about Reddish, although when he is hot from deep, he is next to unstoppable. The four of them make up what will probably go down as one of the greatest freshman classes in college basketball history, if not the best. Yet, talent doesn't always win when it comes to March, when poor shooting sand other chaos can shake things up. We've seen our fair share of talented freshmen teams run into a wall in the NCAA Tournament and even with four future NBA pieces, the same can happen to the Blue Devils. Its also important to point out that this team does have some deficiencies beyond just inexperience, most notably a lack of depth and lack of a true post presence. With such talent in their starting lineup, the Blue Devils haven't needed to go deep very often this season, but could the wear and tear of a long tournament start to wear on them? I also think that this is a team that could really get exposed in the paint. Sure, the necessity of a true big man has been diminished in modern basketball, with the growth of three-point shot, but it can still be a problem. How will Duke look to defend and rebound against teams that run their most of their offense through the post, such as Tennessee? They may not seem like huge issues, but they can become a factor in March Madness, and perhaps make all the difference in a competitive game.

The Verdict: With so much pure talent, its hard to imagine a scenario in which Duke doesn't put together some type of NCAA Tournament run., Now, it will be interesting to see whether that is say, an Elite Eight type run or another National Title under Coach K's belt. The only issues that I could see standing in their way has got to be the inexperience, and perhaps depth. Yet, it is also going to be necessary for somebody else to play superb basketball against them, like Gonzaga and Syracuse have done in their lone two losses. Just look at the Louisville game a week ago; the Blue Devils had a terrible shooting night for much of it and Louisville played solid, yet Duke was still able to come down from over 20 points. With that in mind, it looks pretty obvious that Duke is the favorite at this point in the season. That doesn't mean they're going to win, but they do still look head and shoulders above a number of other top contenders. 

How the SEC Has Transformed into a Power Basketball Conference

Ashton Hagans & Kentucky

Ever since their original formation nearly an entire century ago, the Southeastern Conference has been defined by what they can do on the gridiron. Programs at Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and more have given us some of the most memorable players and coaches in the history of collegiate football. They've also combined for a total of 41 claimed National Championships on the gridiron, including an impressive amount of success the past two decades. Naturally, the conference has tailed behind in the other main revenue-earning sport, basketball. Outside of Kentucky, no program has risen to a consistent status of a "blue blood" and even schools that have had significant success tend to see it short-lived (see Florida following their two consecutive National Titles in '05-'06). However, as we go deeper in the 2019 college hoops season, it has become clear that the SEC is likely the best conference in the sport. This comes one year after the sport placed eight teams in the NCAA Tournament and two years after the league got three teams in the Elite Eight during March. Its clear the SEC has risen to one of the most consistently strong leagues in the country, but how did it happen? Will it last? It appears it will, particularly with the talent that continues to flock to the league every summer.

The most defining change in SEC basketball over the past few seasons has undoubtedly been on the sidelines, where the conference has brought in some of the best and brightest minds in the sport. There is now an interesting mix of old, well-respected names as well as guys who seem to only be getting better. Look no further than names like Rick Barnes, Ben Howland and Avery Johnson, three guys who enter their fourth year with their respective programs. Barnes went from exiled at Texas to leading Tennessee to a No. 1 ranking in less than five years, Howland fell out of favor at UCLA but has done an impressive job at Mississippi State and then there is Johnson, who has done a superb job at an unquestionable football school. Then there is the younger guys who seem to be getting better by the passing day, such as LSU's Will Wade, Vanderbilt's Bryce Drew and Ole Miss' Kermit Davis. Wade has rose quickly from VCU to LSU and continues to gain momentum, Drew keeps on landing big names on the recruiting trail and Davis' first season with the Rebels has been quite the success after coming over from Middle Tennessee. These new additions to the sidelines down South have been the largest reason why the league's profile has improved so rapidly. Teams are better coached, better disciplined and in turn, they just play better basketball. Outside of perhaps the ACC, there isn't a better collection of head coaches and this league appears to go deeper than their main rivals in the Southeast.

Just as crucial to the success of the SEC has been how well these new coaches have hit the recruiting trail, and taken advantage of the fertile recruiting grounds in the area. Sure, John Calipari has been reeling in top recruiting classes for a decade now, but its the guys that are going to unexpected schools that have really boosted the conference. For example, Avery Johnson beat out other blue bloods in the sport to bring in two five-star recruits at Alabama, and that was not a lone aberration. Missouri landed former No. 1 overall recruit Michael Porter Jr., Vanderbilt and Drew brought in two five-star recruits to this year's recruiting class, Will Wade landed the fourth best class in the country also with multiple five-star recruits and Tom Crean appears to be doing magical things at Georgia. Crean, who is in his first season with the Bulldogs, managed to keep future five-star recruit Anthony Edwards in-state, possibly the biggest recruiting victory in UGA basketball history. Edwards, who is from Atlanta, is currently the No. 2 player in the 2019 class according to 247 Sports and could be a future No. 1 overall draft pick. These types of players just simply aren't what the conference used to be able to land, but now they're coming in waves. Even if not every prospect lives up to lofty expectations, the talent level in the SEC is still shooting up. When you have five and four-star prospects regularly playing each other, it not only improves the level of play but also brings in new eyes to what this conference can continue to be.

From top to bottom, the league and its programs have invested in the sport like we haven't seen them do really ever. Kentucky is no longer carrying the conference; they have to fight for every single recruit and in every single game they play. Look no further than the money Mississippi State has poured into their program to get an idea of how much this league has committed to basketball. The program just announced an impressive renovation of their Humphrey Coliseum basketball arena, and has seen their attendance numbers skyrocket to over 3 million last season. With all the money that is currently flowing in college basketball, its evident to see the league take advantage of rich TV contracts and revenue streams. It has risen the league's profile to brand new heights, and it doesn't appear to be stopping anytime soon.

Football probably will still be the life blood of sports fans in the Southeast for the future, but its impressive how SEC basketball has had such a meteoric rise. The thing is, with such young, talented head coaches the conference could get only be getting better. Will they follow up this continuing momentum with a strong March? With Tennessee, Kentucky and LSU all playing some superb basketball, it certainly appears so.

Scouting the Contenders 2019: Tennessee Volunteers

Admiral Schofield, Tennessee

As March Madness slowly inches closer and closer, "Scouting the Contenders" takes a look at some of the nation's best teams in a chaotic race, and scouts their strengths and weaknesses and just how far they could go in the NCAA Tournament. We begin with the nation's current No. 1 team, the Tennessee Volunteers.

Track Record

• 21-1 overall record, 9-0 in the SEC
• Notable Victories: vs. Gonzaga 76-73, vs. Louisville 92-81, vs. Alabama 71-68
• Only loss to then-No. 2 Kansas 87-81
• Has won 17 consecutive games
• First No. 1 ranking since 2008

Scouting Report: In just his fourth season on Rocky Top, former long-time Texas head coach Rick Barnes has built a winner. Tennessee has gone from floundering for years in the post-Bruce Pearl era to the favorite in the SEC, and their first No. 1 ranking in over a decade. What is impressive and unique about this particular Tennessee team is that they play a brand of basketball distinctively different than the way modern basketball is trending. The Volunteers lean on a physical offense that plays inside-out basketball, even with a solid crop of shooters on the roster. Tennessee shoots three-pointers roughly 24 percent of the time down the court, which comes in at 330th in the entire nation. This reliance on post play is understandable considering the configuration of the roster; UT has two of the better forwards in the SEC, if not the nation. Junior Grant Williams has been terrific all year, and looks like a serious contender for National Player of the Year. He's a polished, versatile forward that has been unstoppable at times, including dropping 43 points in an overtime victory over Vanderbilt. Admiral Schofield has also been a crucial piece to this team's success, and is a valuable No. 2 scorer. Schofield, a senior who has been instrumental in the Volunteers' rise under Barnes, continues to expand his game. He's always been effective getting inside and finishing through contact, but his improved three-point shooting is important for this offense. Add in a trio of guards, Jordan Bone, Lamonte Turner and Jordan Bowden, and you understand why this Tennessee offense is currently averaging 86 points a game, which is sixth in the country. Defensively, they aren't quite as strong, and have been forced to win a few shootouts. The big question mark for this defense will be stopping opponents beyond the arc, and forward Kyle Alexander playing smarter. Alexander has been prone to foul trouble, which has really hurt a team that doesn't have much size to begin with. And, the Volunteers don't defend the three-point line as well as they should, which could haunt them once they get deep into the NCAA Tournament. With that being said, there is still a ton to like about this Tennessee squad, and a reason they are the top team in the country. They are well-rounded on both sides of the ball, have depth up and down the roster and a lot of experience, crucial elements to any deep postseason run. They also have the motivation factor; after a tremendous run through the SEC a year ago, the Volunteers were one of many who fell victim to Loyola-Chicago's improbable Final Four run. They want to come out and prove that was a fluke and that they are truly one of the best in the country, as does Rick Barnes. Barnes is well-respected around the country for his ability to develop talent, but he hasn't gotten past the second round in the NCAA Tournament in over a decade, when he went to the Elite Eight in '08.

The Verdict: Considering they currently sit atop the polls and have now for three weeks, it would be insane to call Tennessee "underrated". Yet, this still seems like the type of team that is going to get ignored by a lot of people when compared to Duke and Kentucky's talent or Virginia's suffocating defense. Personally, I'm incredibly high on this Volunteers team, and while it may be over a month until the start of the NCAA Tournament, think they'll go far. The big question this team is going to have to answer centers around the three-point line on both sides of the ball. They're going to face teams that have hot shooting nights, or teams that can make life difficult on offense. Can they keep up with very good shooting teams? Will they be able to defend beyond the arc well enough to keep up? These are valid concerns, but Tennessee has plenty of conference play action left to answer them, and give us more of an insight into what they can do. As it stands, I'm a firm believer in UT, and think they are one of the safest bets to go far in what should be an interesting NCAA Tournament.

Big Ten Power Rankings 2019: Edition 2

Carsen Edwards, Purdue

1. Michigan Wolverines 20-2 overall, 9-2 conference Previous Ranking: 1
The Wolverines have slowed down after their fast start to conference play, but they still remain the tentative favorite in a shifting conference. A recent loss in Iowa City to the Hawkeyes stings, but it wasn't altogether surprising. The good news is that Michigan still remains a terrific defensive team (allowing 57.0 PPG, second in the entire country) and their next three road games are extremely winnable, as they face Rutgers, Penn State and then Minnesota away from home. It will be interesting to see if Michigan can regain some of their offensive flow that has eroded over recent weeks. In order for that to happen, young forward Ignas Brazdeikis must become more consistent, and the Wolverines have to shoot better from downtown.
2. Purdue Boilermakers 16-6 overall, 9-2 conference Previous Ranking: 10
Give a lot of credit to this Purdue team; they recovered from a tough non-conference slate where they went 7-4 and are now playing the best basketball in the conference. The guiding force to their improved play has been undoubtedly Carsen Edwards. The 2018 All-American has left off right where he started, and is notching 24.5 PPG. Down the stretch, the key for this Boilermakers team will be how they play in the paint. Matt Haarms has been okay in an extended role, as has junior Evan Boudreaux, but in a conference that leans heavily on its physical nature, Purdue needs even more contributions from their frontcourt. Purdue's schedule the next few weeks is very manageable, so it looks like they should be able to keep up their impressive play.
3. Michigan State Spartans 18-4 overall, 9-2 conference Previous Ranking: 2
Two straight losses to teams from Indiana (Purdue and the Hoosiers) dropped the Spartans from undefeated in the league to a three-way tie for first place. However, Tom Izzo's teams tend to traditionally play better down the stretch, and the Spartans are still certainly dangerous. Superb point guard Cassius Winston runs one of the sport's most efficient offenses, and he appears to be one of the favorites to win Big Ten Player of the Year. What really hurts this team is the absence of guard Josh Langford who was having an extremely productive year before a stress injury in his foot ended the year. That should put pressure on other wings to step up in his absence, namely youthful Aaron Henry.
4. Wisconsin Badgers 16-6 overall, 8-3 conference Previous Ranking: 7
The Badgers remain one of the most confounding teams in college basketball. They entered the new year with a bad non-conference loss to Western Kentucky and lost three of four in Big Ten play. Yet, they've recovered admirably, with five straight victories and an upset over Michigan to boot. Forward Ethan Happ remains as the unquestioned leader of this team, but improved play from guards D'Mitrik Trice and Brad Davison has been the main fuel behind their improved play. Davison in particular has impressed with his silky smooth shooting; he is coming off a showing where he was 4-6 from three in a win over Maryland. While they still remain confusing this Wisconsin team clearly is a threat that can beat anybody in this conference when they're playing well. They are just as much of a threat to win a Big Ten Title as the three ahead of them here.
5. Maryland Terrapins 17-6 overall, 8-4 conference Previous Ranking: 3
A lot of people were surprised by Maryland's hot start to conference play, and while they've slowed down, they still remain a threat. The Terrapins have dropped three of four, but they still remain a team that can move the ball and has a premier post presence in budding forward Bruno Fernando. Yet, the really concerning issue for this Maryland team is their upcoming slate, which gets brutal as February marches on. Over their next four, the Terps go on the road against Nebraska, Michigan and Iowa and get Purdue at home. Thats a terrifying stretch for a team that is sliding slightly; if they don't come out .500 in those games, things could go south quickly.
6. Minnesota Golden Gophers 16-6 overall, 6-5 conference Previous Ranking: 4
A hard-fought road loss to Purdue dropped Minnesota to 6-5 in the conference, and likely on the bubble at this point. They have some good wins, such as a road victory against Wisconsin and a non-conference win over Washington but also have some bad losses (ahem, Illinois). The improved health of big man Eric Curry and great play from freshman Daniel Oturu has helped their frontcourt, but what this team really lacks is a true floor general at point guard. The only true PG on their roster, sophomore Isaiah Washington, has really struggled and is shooting just 32% from the field. If they don't figure out that problem at some point over the next couple weeks, they could be in store for a tough February, with a couple tough road games.
7. Iowa Hawkeyes 17-5 overall, 6-5 conference Previous Ranking: 6
Their recent upset of Michigan helped Iowa jump to No. 20 in the polls, and they look like a team ready to rise up the rankings in this conference. Offensively, the Hawkeyes are among the best in the Big Ten, with two great forwards in Tyler Cook and Luke Garza, along with a high-scoring backcourt. Now, the key for them will be figuring out how to keep opponents from doing the same; in their last three losses they've allowed an average of 86.7 points. While they do on the road twice over their next three, the Hawkeyes face down what should be a good schedule for them.
8. Ohio State Buckeyes 14-7 overall, 4-6 conference Previous Ranking: 9
After a brutal five-game losing streak to begin the major chunk of their league play, Ohio State has figured things out, winning two of their last three. They remain out of the NCAA Tournament picture right now, but there is still ample time to make things up. Any hope of returning to serious contention in the conference would likely center around veteran point guard C.J. Jackson. After an up-and-down start to Big Ten action, Jackson notched 20 points in the Buckeyes' recent win over Rutgers. With matchups against Penn State, struggling Indiana and Illinois over their next three, don't count out this OSU squad just yet.
9. Indiana Hoosiers 13-9 overall, 4-7 conference Previous Ranking: 8
Entering this weekend's meeting with Michigan State coming off seven consecutive losses, Indiana didn't look like they had any chance. Instead, they stunned MSU in front of their home crowd, and perhaps completely changed the trajectory of the rest of their season. They still have work to do if they want to get back into the NCAA Tournament mix, but they do still retain one of the most explosive guards in the entire country in Romeo Langford. The X-factor could end up being forward Juwan Morgan, who has to recover from a shoulder injury.
10. Nebraska Cornhuskers 13-9 overall, 3-8 conference Previous Ranking: 5
Once a Top 25 team, things have gone downhill fast in Lincoln, as Nebraska has now lost five straight. The big issue has been an offense that has lost its punch, and has really struggled with turning the ball over. Wing James Palmer Jr. remains a dangerous offensive weapon, but he needs to get better shots. On this five-game losing streak, he has shot just 33 percent and doesn't seem to have the confidence he had earlier in the year. Unless he figures that out, any shot at a postseason berth will definitely go out the window.
11. Rutgers Scarlet Knights 11-10 overall, 4-7 conference Previous Ranking: 12
It hasn't exactly been the quickest or most impressive turnaround, but Steve Pikiell continues to dig Rutgers out of the cellar they've been in since joining the Big Ten. This year's Rutgers squad has been respectable, and was recently riding a nice little three game win streak. They still don't have a very explosive offense, but have instead focused on play sound, physical defense. It has worked for them, and this team is not a fun team to play anymore. Can they continue their improved stretch? The rest of February is tough, with games against Michigan, Michigan State and Iowa looming.
12. Northwestern Wildcats 12-10 overall, 3-8 conference Previous Ranking: 11
This Northwestern team certainly won't be earning the program a second ever trip to March Madness, but they could still rise up the totem pole if they can find some offense. They haven't been great offensively all season, but it has been very bad the last couple games, especially with just 46 on the road against Wisconsin. It isn't like the Wildcats don't have talent, as Vic Law and Derek Pardon are two of the better frontcourt players in the entire conference. The biggest issue has been the Wildcats' putrid shooting from deep, which absolutely has to change.
13. Illinois Fighting Illini 7-15 overall, 3-8 conference Previous Ranking: 14
The Fighting Illini had a disastrous start to league play but they've been playing significantly down the stretch. They are coming off a strong showing in a win over Nebraska and at the time of publishing, hold a halftime lead over Michigan State. Guard Trent Frazier hasn't been very consistent but is starting to look like the clear-cut No. 1 option on this offense, while freshman Giorgi Bezhanishvili has been a revelation. Again, this team won't be playing in the postseason, but they could still establish some momentum for next fall, which will be Brad Underwood's third in Champaign.
14. Penn State Nittany Lions 8-14 overall, 1-10 conference Previous Ranking: 13
After winning the NIT Title last spring, this year has gone quite a bit different for the Nittany Lions. They lost their first ten games in Big Ten action, before a recent seven point victory over Northwestern. The thing is, they aren't exactly getting blown out these games. Their last four losses have all been very competitive and with forward Lamar Stevens, they have a go-to scorer. This team needs to step up and figure things out late in games, because they appear to be better than a 1-10 record may indicate.