Power ranking the eight Big Ten teams in the NCAA Tournament

Michigan Wolverines basketball is one of eight Big Ten teams in the NCAA Tournament, set to take on UC San Diego in the first round Thursday in Denver. Here are our power rankings of the eight teams that are alive in the NCAAs.

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1. Michigan State (27-6 overall, 17-3 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 1st (—)
NCAA Tournament seed: 2
First-round game: vs. No. 15 seed Bryant Friday at 10 p.m. ET (TBS)

Michigan State won the Big Ten outright by three games but bowed out of the Big Ten Tournament in the semifinals with a disappointing loss to Wisconsin. The Spartans haven’t had much NCAA Tournament success in recent years, but this is their highest seed line since also being a two in 2016.

2. Michigan (25-9 overall, 14-6 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 6th (+4)
NCAA Tournament seed: 5
First-round game: vs. No. 12 seed UC San Diego Thursday at 10 p.m. ET (TBS)

Michigan lost its last three regular-season games but is playing close to its best basketball at the right time, having won three games in as many days to win the Big Ten Tournament championship, beating Purdue, Maryland and Wisconsin. The Wolverines were underseeded in the Big Dance and have a tough matchup with 30-4 UC San Diego but are a five seed that nobody wants to play, including potentially Auburn in the Sweet 16.

3. Wisconsin (26-9 overall, 13-7 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 3rd (—)
NCAA Tournament seed: 3
First-round game: vs. No. 14 seed Montana Thursday at 1:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Wisconsin played four games in Indy, beating Northwestern, UCLA and Michigan State before falling to the Maize and Blue in the championship game. The Badgers are hot and cold as a shooting team but have two guards in John Tonje and John Blackwell who are going to be tough matchups for anyone they face in the NCAA Tournament.

The Badgers got a tough assignment. Instead of playing in nearby Milwaukee, they have one of the first games of the tournament Thursday afternoon in Denver, after getting home from a four-day Big Ten Tournament late Sunday.

4. Maryland (25-8 overall, 14-6 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 2nd (-2)
NCAA Tournament seed: 4
First-round game: vs. No. 13 seed Grand Canyon Friday at 4:35 p.m. ET (TBS)

Maryland dominated Illinois, 88-65, before losing to Michigan at the buzzer. The Terrapins’ last four losses have come on buzzer beaters, devastating for a team that’s stacked a lot of wins. With their combination of shooting and strength down low, they’ll be a tough matchup.

5. Purdue (22-11 overall, 13-7 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 4th (-1)
NCAA Tournament seed: 4
First-round game: vs. No. 13 seed High Point Thursday at 12:40 p.m. ET (TruTV)

Purdue severely lacks offensive options outside of point guard Braden Smith and big man Trey Kaufman-Renn. Fletcher Loyer is a great shooter, but if opponents can slow down a couple of those three, which many have done lately, the Boilermakers won’t be able to beat any good teams or make a run. At the same time, when Smith and Kaufman-Renn get rolling, they’re tough to stop and it opens everything else up.

6. Illinois (21-12 overall, 12-8 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 5th (-1)
NCAA Tournament seed: 7
First-round game: vs. No. 11 seed Xavier/Texas Friday at 9:45 p.m. ET (TNT)

Illinois may get hot and make a run. Or the Fighting Illini will get bounced early because they don’t make their threes. They’re 3-10 when shooting less than 28 percent from beyond the arc.

7. Oregon (24-9 overall, 12-8 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 8th (+1)
NCAA Tournament seed: 5
First-round game: vs. No. 12 seed Liberty Friday at 10:10 p.m. ET (TruTV)

Oregon won its last seven regular-season games and then essentially bounced Indiana out of making the NCAA Tournament with a first-round Big Ten Tournament win. The Ducks hung in for a while but lost to Michigan State, and there’s no shame in that. With their shot-making and defense, the Ducks are a scary matchup.

8. UCLA (22-10 overall, 13-17 Big Ten)

Previous ranking: 7th (-1)
NCAA Tournament seed: 7
First-round game: vs. No. 10 seed Utah State Thursday at 9:25 p.m. ET (TNT)

UCLA just didn’t have it in the Big Ten Tournament, losing 86-70 to Wisconsin after earning the double bye. The Bruins have talent and have improved throughout the year, finishing the regular season 22-9 after sitting at 11-6 back in mid-January.