Wilson Moore’s Big Ten men’s basketball rankings, Feb. 28

Last week: beat Rutgers 98-68, beat Michigan 84-76.

This week: vs. Michigan State.

The Boilers lost to Ohio State on Feb. 18, but it’s going to take more than that to knock them off the top spot. The chasm between Purdue and the rest of the conference remains considerable. Zach Edey should win his second National Player of the Year award unanimously.

Last week: lost to Penn State 90-89, beat Iowa 95-85.

This week: vs. Minnesota, at Wisconsin.

Illinois led Penn State by nine points with 2:30 remaining. With 37 seconds left, the margin was seven. The Illini lost. It was a collapse that sullied an otherwise solid stretch for Illinois. It has one other loss since Jan. 24, and with a jumble of teams in the middle of the conference, the Illini are close to wrapping up a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament.

Last week: beat Maryland 74-70.

This week: at Indiana, vs. Illinois.

Wisconsin has recovered slightly from its four-game skid but no longer resembles the smooth, flowing offensive team that looked close to unbeatable in early January. Neither of the Badgers’ two wins in the past three games were especially impressive: single-digit victories over Ohio State and Maryland sandwiching an overtime loss to Iowa.

Last week: beat Michigan 76-62.

This week: at Maryland, vs. Iowa.

Ty Berry’s season-ending injury may have thrown a wrench into Northwestern’s plans. The junior was shooting 43.3% from 3-point range when he went down with a torn meniscus. It’s still Boo Buie’s show, but the Wildcats are now down a quality supporting option on the perimeter.

Last week: beat Indiana 85-70, beat Minnesota 73-55.

This week: at Ohio State, vs. Rutgers.

The Huskers finally won a game away from home, and an NCAA Tournament bid is well within reach. NU’s victory four days later over Minnesota was its fourth straight by double figures. The last time Nebraska did that in conference play was as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference during the 1911-12 season.

Last week: beat Ohio State 88-79, lost to Nebraska 73-55.

This week: at Illinois, vs. Penn State.

The deeper humor of Nebraska’s student section serenading Minnesota with chants of “N-I-T” on Sunday was that any postseason appearance for the Gophers would be the result of a wildly successful season. Minnesota has won more Big Ten games this year than in the previous two combined. It’s tangible progress in Year 3 under Ben Johnson.

Last week: beat Michigan State 78-71, lost to Illinois 95-85.

This week: vs. Penn State, at Northwestern.

Iowa has enough individual pieces and enough flashes of potential to enter March just barely on the bubble. Owen Freeman has been a revelation as a freshman, and Tony Perkins is steady on the perimeter. Short of winning the Big Ten Tournament, it would take a serious run for the Hawkeyes to make the field of 68, but it’s possible.

Last week: lost to Iowa 78-71, lost to Ohio State 60-57.

All year long, Michigan State has been a darling of predictive metrics and bracketology. The Spartans’ performance has rarely backed up their reputation, and this week contained losses to two teams unlikely to make the NCAA Tournament. Things won’t get any easier with MSU playing at Purdue on Saturday.

Last week: beat Illinois 90-89, beat Indiana 83-74.

This week: at Iowa, at Minnesota.

Strange week in State College. Leading scorer Kanye Clary was abruptly dismissed from the team before the Nittany Lions won two straight, including an improbable comeback victory over Illinois. Mike Rhoades’ first season has been successful regardless as Penn State pushes to finish .500 in conference play in a rebuilding season.

Last week: lost to Minnesota 88-79, beat Michigan State 60-57.

This week: vs. Nebraska, vs. Michigan.

The new coach bump is real at OSU. The Buckeyes beat Purdue in their first win after firing Chris Holtmann, a memorable, court-storming debut for interim coach Jake Diebler. A week later, they won on the road for the first time in over a year. Talent has never been the issue for Ohio State, and now it has a chance to close out an ugly season on a positive note.

Last week: lost to Wisconsin 74-70, beat Rutgers 63-46.

This week: vs. Northwestern, vs. Indiana.

The Terrapins followed up its throttling of Nebraska in late January with five losses in six games, beating Rutgers to end the slide. With the win, they gained the inside track to avoid playing on the Wednesday of the conference tournament.

Last week: lost to Purdue 96-68, lost to Maryland 63-46.

This week: vs. Michigan, at Nebraska.

Rutgers has followed up a four-game winning streak with three consecutive losses, ending a brief pipe dream of an NCAA Tournament appearance. The Scarlet Knights were done in by an inability to score from the perimeter, but their defense — fourth in the nation according to KenPom — has stayed consistent all year.

Last week: lost to Nebraska 85-70, lost to Penn State 83-74.

This week: vs. Wisconsin, at Maryland.

A season that began on unsteady ground has devolved into a disaster for Indiana, an ugly, discouraging campaign that will be mercifully over in three weeks. The Hoosiers have lost four consecutive games and eight of their last 10. They still can’t consistently make jump shots and need major changes in personnel or style to resemble a good team. Trayce Jackson-Davis isn’t walking through that door.

Last week: lost to Northwestern 76-62, lost to Purdue 84-76.

This week: at Rutgers, at Ohio State.

The Wolverines stayed with Purdue. They’ll have to settle for the smallest of moral victories at this point. They’ve won twice since Dec. 16 in a season maybe most notable for guard Dug McDaniel’s bizarre suspension for road games only.