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THE STANDINGS

Team Big Ten Overall

Michigan State 8 2 18 4

Purdue 6 3 17 5

Minnesota 6 4 18 4

Illinois 6 4 18 5

Penn State 6 4 17 6

Ohio State 6 4 16 5

Michigan 5 6 15 8

Northwestern 4 5 13 7

Wisconsin 4 6 13 9

Iowa 2 8 12 11

Indiana 1 8 6 15

The schedule

Want to know which of this week's games are worth your time? Here's the scoop from sports editor Jim Rossow, who is seeking more playing time after an 8-3 week upped his record to 39-10:

TODAY

Indiana at No. 13 Michigan State

3 p.m., ESPN

Rivals have produced only three Big Ten players to make nine three-pointers in a game (Indiana's Matt Roth and Roderick Wilmont, Michigan State's Shawn Respert).

Rossow's pick: Michigan State, 70-51

Michigan at No. 1 Connecticut

5 p.m., ESPN

Big Ten's nonconference winning percentage (81.4) best since 1988-89 (82.4).

Rossow's pick: Connecticut, 88-61

Northwestern at Iowa

5 p.m., Big Ten Network

Craig Moore has 32-game streak with at least one three-pointer.

Rossow's pick: Iowa, 59-58

No. 19 Minnesota at Ohio State

7 p.m., Big Ten Network

Only Fred Taylor (61 games) reached 50 Big Ten wins faster at Ohio State than Thad Matta (75 games).

Rossow's pick: Ohio State, 65-55

SUNDAY

No. 12 Purdue at No. 23 Illinois

Noon, WCIA (CBS)

Illini's nine-game home winning streak longest in the Big Ten.

Rossow's pick: Illinois, 55-54

Wisconsin at Penn State

2 p.m., Big Ten Network

Badgers last finished below .500 in Big Ten play in 1997-98.

Rossow's pick: Wisconsin, 71-59

TUESDAY

Michigan at No. 13 Mich. State

6 p.m., ESPN

Wolverines haven't won in East Lansing since 1997.

Rossow's pick: Michigan State, 75-70

Indiana at No. 19 Minnesota

8 p.m., Big Ten Network

Hoosiers have made 42 of 79 three-point attempts in their last four games.

Rossow's pick: Minnesota, 62-39

WEDNESDAY

Penn State at No. 12 Purdue

5:30 p.m., Big Ten Network

Starters played 196 of a possible 225 minutes at Ohio State for Boilermakers.

Rossow's pick: Purdue, 69-65

Iowa at Wisconsin

7:30 p.m., Big Ten Network

Hawkeyes off to their worst start in Big Ten play since George Raveling's first season (1983-84).

Rossow's pick: Wisconsin, 51-41

THURSDAY

No. 23 Illinois at Northwestern

8 p.m., ESPN2

Wildcats have won three straight Big Ten home games for first time since 2004.

Rossow's pick: Illinois, 64-61

Jim Rossow's random thoughts

CHECK THE PERIMETER

In each of its next five games, Illinois will face one of the league's best three-point shooters: Purdue (ailing Robbie Hummel, ranked No. 8 in three-pointers made), Northwestern (No. 1 Craig Moore), Indiana (No. 4 Devan Dumes, No. 7 Matt Roth), Penn State (No. 2 Talor Battle, No. 5 Stanley Pringle) and Ohio State (No. 3 Jon Diebler), After what Jason Bohannon did Thursday, be worried.

RED, WHITE AND WRONG

Bob Knight can't be happy to see his one-time powerful program dip this low: For next Sunday's game against Illinois, Indiana is asking fans to dress according to section as part of an embarrassing "Stripe Out" gimmick. If you're in Section H, wear red. If you're in Section I, wear white. There's even a seating chart online for those confused by colors.

IT'S A WRESTLING SCHOOL

Following Indiana's lead, Iowa has slashed ticket prices in hopes of luring fans to watch a subpar product. For the five remaining home games, seats behind each basket will cost $10, down from as much as $27. The downturn in basketball enthusiasm – and talent level – has to have Todd Lickliter wondering why he left Butler for the Big Ten in the first place.

Temperature check

Who's hot

PENN STATE AT HOME

With four home games remaining, the Nittany Lions should set a school record for most single-season wins at Bryce Jordan Center. At 12-2, they're on pace to better the 13-win total of the 1999-2000 and 2007-08 teams. The 1995-96 team went 14-0 at home but split time between Bryce Jordan and Rec Hall.

CRAIG MOORE

With 280 three-pointers, the Northwestern senior soon will become the fifth (officially) Big Ten player to reach 300, joining Penn State's Pete Lisicky (332), Michigan's State's Shawn Respert (331), Illinois' Cory Bradford (327) and Penn State's Joe Crispin (308). Michigan's Louis Bullock made 339, but his records were wiped from the book because of NCAA wrongdoings.

JASON BOHANNON

His three-point shooting spree against the Illini – 6 for 7 – ranks No. 2 on Wisconsin's career chart (more than six attempts) behind Larry Hisle's 7-for-7 effort Dec. 22, 1990, against Texas-Arlington. Bohannon's percentage was a Kohl Center record.

Who's warm

CHRIS KRAMER

Reigning Defensive Player of the Year showed grit by playing against Ohio State after a Manny Harris elbow broke his nose last weekend. But he wasn't much help against Buckeyes star Evan Turner, who had 26 points and 12 rebounds. Even coach Matt Painter was surprised by Turner's output against Kramer.

TOM IZZO

Michigan State coach desperately wants to avoid another home slip-up, this time against woeful Indiana. But it won't make him happy to beat up on Tom Crean, his former assistant, as the two square off for the first time as rival coaches. Expect Keady-Weber-like embraces before and after the game.

MICHIGAN AT THE LINE

They're not getting fouled enough, but at least the Wolverines are cashing in most of their opportunities. Michigan leads the Big Ten in free throw percentage (77.0) and is on pace to break the school record (75.4) in 2001-02. Trouble is, John Beilein's perimeter game has resulted in 378 attempts, eighth in the Big Ten.

Who's cold

ILLINI'S SHOOTING ON THE ROAD

It's been a long time since Illinois has hit back-to-back potholes on the road. The Illini's combined point total in losses at Minnesota and at Wisconsin (86) had us wondering about the last time it happened. The answer: Doug Mills' 1946-47 Illini combined for 86 in consecutive road losses at Michigan (45) and at Indiana (41). The previous season, the Illini scored 35 and 45 in consecutive road losses to Ohio State and Northwestern.

HIGH-PROFILE TRANSFERS

The Big Ten's two marquee midseason additions – Illinois' Alex Legion and Michigan's Laval Lucas-Perry – are in a funk. Legion's 1-for-8 effort against Wisconsin had ESPN's announcers grumbling. Meanwhile, Perry went 0 for 4 against Penn State and is averaging 5.0 points in his last eight games (all as a starter).

MICHIGAN VS. NO. 1

History tells us the Wolverines have little chance against No. 1 Connecticut today. They are 1-19 against top-ranked teams, and even their only win no longer counts. In 1997, Brian Ellerbe's first team stunned Duke 81-73. But NCAA sanctions negated the effort, Michigan listing its official record against No. 1 teams as 0-17.

Gimme Fives

This week's rankings, courtesy sports editor Jim Rossow

Big Ten MVP

PLAYER PREVIOUS

1. Talor Battle, Penn State 4

2. Kalin Lucas, Michigan St. 1

3. Evan Turner, Ohio State 5

4. Kevin Coble, Northwestern 3

5. E'Twaun Moore, Purdue –

Illinois MVP

ILLINI PREVIOUS

1. Chester Frazier 1

2. Demetri McCamey 3

3. Mike Davis 4

4. Dominique Keller 5

5. Mike Tisdale 2

Coach of the Year

COACH PREVIOUS

1. Ed DeChellis, Penn State 3

2. Bruce Weber, Illinois 2

3. Thad Matta, Ohio State –

4. Tubby Smith, Minnesota 1

5. John Beilein, Michigan 5

ALL-AILING TEAM

PLAYER TEAM

Robbie Hummel Purdue

Cyrus Tate Iowa

Raymar Morgan Michigan St.

David Lighty Ohio State

Keaton Nankivil Wisconsin