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The 2024-25 Big Ten basketball season is complete. While the Final Four and national title game have yet to be played, a non-Big Ten team is guaranteed to cut down the nets for the 25th consecutive season.
That doesn't mean it wasn't a successful season for the conference. Conference regular-season champion Michigan State made a run to the Elite Eight, while Michigan, Maryland and Purdue each fell in the Sweet 16. The conference still boasted some of the top teams in the sport, with the Spartans finishing at No. 7 in KenPom, Maryland at No. 10, Wisconsin at No. 12, Purdue at No. 15, Illinois at No. 17, UCLA at No. 21 and Michigan at No. 22.
Overall, it finished the year as the clear second-best conference in the sport, behind an SEC that broke records with its NCAA Tournament bids and success.
The Big Ten was defined by its depth in 2024-25. Only two games separated second-place Maryland (14-6) and eighth-place Oregon (12-8). The additions of former Pac-12 powers UCLA and Oregon played a major role in that becoming the reality.
As always, a group of top-tier head coaches were the driving force behind an impressive Big Ten Conference landscape. With a few familiar names still leading the way, here is an updated ranking of those coaches, complete with the conference's four new hires entering 2025-26.
Previous Ranking: No. 18 (No change)
2024-25 Record: 16-15 (6-14 Big Ten)
Overall Record: 208-145 -- 32-32 in two years at Penn State
Mike Rhoades and the Nittany Lions struggled in 2024-25, finishing alone in 17th place in the conference. An 8-1 start and early-season win over Purdue created expectations of a second-year breakthrough. Instead, the team finished with a nearly identical record as the year prior. Rhoades will need to start generating results in year three.
Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire
Previous Ranking: No. 14 (Down 3)
2024-25 Record: 13-18 (4-16 Big Ten)
Overall Record: 122-68 -- 13-18 in one year at Washington
Sprinkle faced a significant rebuild at Washington, which is seen in the team's finish at the bottom of the conference. His strong work over four years at Montana State and one at Utah State will continue to carry weight entering 2025-26. He and the Huskies will need to avoid another 4-16 season in Big Ten play, however.
Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire
Previous Ranking: No. 16 (No change)
2024-25 Record: 17-15 (9-11 Big Ten)
Overall Record: 25-18 in one-plus year at Ohio State
Ohio State was much better in 2024-25 than its final record indicates. It finished No. 37 in KenPom, easily of strong enough quality to make the NCAA Tournament. However, Diebler's overall track record falls far below most of his Big Ten counterparts. While he's done a fine job since taking over, it's hard not to wonder why Ohio State didn't conduct a full search after firing Chris Holtmann midway through last season.
Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire
Previous Ranking: No. 15 (No change)
2024-25 Record: 15-17 (8-12 Big Ten)
Overall Record: 339-296 -- 147-140 in nine years at Rutgers
Rutgers recorded four consecutive winning seasons under Pikiell from 2019-20 to 2022-23. The last two years after that run have been a disappointment. 2024-25 was especially so, given the team's 15-17 overall record despite having two future top-five NBA draft picks in Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper.
Previous Ranking: No. 11 (Down 3)
2024-25 Record: 18-14 (7-13 Big Ten)
Overall Record: 196-164 -- 81-108 in six years at Nebraska
At the very least, Hoiberg is several tiers below his top-ranked salary would indicate. His top-end success at Iowa State has not translated to the Big Ten, as Nebraska has just one NCAA Tournament appearance in his six years at the helm (2023-24). The team was well on its way to a second this year before an incredible late-season collapse -- five consecutive losses, plus six in the team's last seven games. 2025-26 will be a big year as Hoiberg looks for a repeat of 2023-24.
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Previous Ranking: No. 7 (Down 6)
2024-25 Record: 17-17 (7-13 Big Ten)
Overall Record: 238-110 -- 17-17 in one year at USC
Musselman is the big faller in this year's power rankings. He took the USC job after terrific success at Arkansas, including two Elite Eight and a Sweet 16 trip from 2021-23, respectively. While time was likely needed to install his program and transition USC to a challenging Big Ten landscape, a 17-17 overall record and no NCAA Tournament appearance was a big disappointment. He'll need a strong transfer haul to reverse course entering 2025-26.
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Previous Ranking: N/A (New hire)
2024-25 Record (at Colorado State): 26-10 (16-4 Mountain West), NCAA Tournament second round
Overall Record: 222-173
Medved is the first of four new hires on this ranking. He is proven as a program-builder, with terrific success over seven years at Colorado State, including three NCAA Tournament appearances in the last four years. The experienced coach will have his hands full at Minnesota, unquestionably one of the tougher jobs in the conference.
Previous Ranking: N/A (New hire)
2024-25 Record (at West Virginia): 19-13 (10-10 Big 12)
Overall Record: 169-68
DeVries joins a long list of coaches who take over at Indiana with expectations of a program resurgence. He brings a strong track record: a solid 2024-25 season at West Virginia after terrific success in six years at Drake. He won an average of 25 games per year with the Bulldogs, plus made three NCAA Tournament appearances in his final four years at the helm. It's Indiana, so DeVries shouldn't struggle with resources and brand recognition. If anything, he may struggle with the relentless top-end expectations.
Previous Ranking: No. 9 (Down 1)
2024-25 Record: 17-16 (7-13 Big Ten)
Overall Record: 194-190 in 12 years at Northwestern
Chris Collins and Northwestern won't win at a high level -- it's Northwestern. However, there's an argument that Collins has the program operating at its absolute peak. It reached consecutive NCAA Tournaments in 2023 and 2024, plus it likely would have made another in 2025 had it not been for significant injuries to starting guards Jalen Leach and Brooks Barnhizer. This is a classic case of a coach doing a terrific job under challenging circumstances.
Previous Ranking: N/A (New hire)
2024-25 Record (at Drake): 31-4 (17-3 Missouri Valley), NCAA Tournament second round
Overall Record: 31-4
Ben McCollum is a major name to watch entering the 2025-26 season. He won four D-II national titles at Northwest Missouri State before a breakthrough 2024-25 at the D-I level, leading Drake to a 31-4 overall record, conference title and NCAA Tournament berth. This slot is a bit of a projection, given McCollum's lack of power-conference experience. But his high-powered offense should be a seamless fit with the Hawkeyes program. Top transfer Bennett Stirtz also followed McCollum from Drake and could be one of the Big Ten's better players next season.
Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
Previous Ranking: N/A (New hire)
2024-25 Record: 23-11 (11-7 SEC), NCAA Tournament second round
Overall Record: 373-228
Unlike McCollum, Williams has decades of major-conference experience at Marquette (2008-14), Virginia Tech (2014-19) and Texas A&M (2019-25). He made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances with the Aggies from 2023-25, though failed to make it out of the second weekend. He'll face a pretty major rebuild at Maryland with nearly Kevin Willard's entire 2024-25 team gone to the portal.
Previous Ranking: No. 4 (Down 3)
2024-25 Record: 23-11 (13-7 Big Ten), NCAA Tournament second round
Overall Record: 503-235 -- 138-64 in six years at UCLA
Cronin and UCLA had a strong debut season in the Big Ten, finishing fourth in the conference regular-season standings. That season was a key bounce-back after a 16-17 2023-24 campaign. Cronin boasts recent top-end success, including a Final Four trip in 2021 and consecutive Sweet 16s in 2022 and 2023. His place at No. 7 has to do far more with the quality of coaches in the conference than any of his shortcomings.
Get more (UCLA) news, analysis and opinions on UCLA Wire
Previous Ranking: No. 3 (Down 3)
2024-25 Record: 22-13 (12-8 Big Ten), NCAA Tournament second round
Overall Record: 274-128 -- 165-101 in eight years at Illinois
Illinois took a step back in 2024-25 after a program-best run from 2020-24. Still, the team finished with 20-plus wins, including one in the NCAA Tournament. Underwood and the Fighting Illini need a great offseason, however, with a meaningful chunk of the roster gone to the transfer portal or NBA draft.
Previous Ranking: No. 5 (No change)
2024-25 Record: 25-10 (12-8 Big Ten), NCAA Tournament second round
Overall Record: 780-405 -- 370-162 in 14 years at Oregon.
Altman has not won fewer than 20 games in any of his 14 seasons with the Ducks. That terrific run includes nine NCAA Tournament appearances (10 including the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season), five Sweet 16s, one Elite Eight and a Final Four in 2017. Oregon appears the best-equipped of any former Pac-12 power to succeed in the new Big Ten landscape. While the team may not capture a conference title, it can be written in for a perennial top-seven finish.
Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire
Previous Ranking: No. 10 (Up 6)
2024-25 Record: 27-10 (14-6 Big Ten), NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
Overall Record: 153-79 -- 27-10 in one year at Michigan
Sometimes, recency bias is necessary. Dusty May took a Michigan program that went 8-24 in 2023-24 and took it to the brink of a Big Ten regular-season title, won the conference tournament, then reached the Sweet 16. That alone should warrant a position near the top of these rankings. His position is further bolstered by a Final Four run at FAU in 2023. The only real thing holding him back from a top-three position is a conference regular-season title.
Get more (Michigan) news, analysis and opinions on Wolverines Wire
Previous Ranking: No. 6 (Up 3)
2024-25 Record: 27-10 (13-7 Big Ten), NCAA Tournament second round
Overall Record: 213-117 in 10 years at Wisconsin
Yes, Greg Gard and the Badgers have not reached the Sweet 16 since 2017. But since that time, they boast six 20-plus-win seasons and two conference titles. The team's form throughout the 2024-25 season should matter far more than its NCAA Tournament second-round loss to a strong BYU team. After stars Chucky Hepburn and A.J. Storr transferred out last offseason, Gard reloaded the roster, revamped the program's approach and delivered one of the best seasons of his tenure. Some of the March losses should not fool anyone into thinking Wisconsin is not one of the top programs in the conference, and Gard not one of the top coaches.
Previous Ranking: No. 1 (Down 1)
2024-25 Record: 24-12 (13-7 Big Ten), NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
Overall Record: 496-220 -- 471-215 in 20 years at Purdue
Matt Painter is arguably one of the top three coaches in the entire sport. But since Purdue took a minor step back this season after losing star center Zach Edey to the NBA, he dropped slightly from the No. 1 position. Painter and the conference's current top coach create an exclusive tier, where another coach may have to win a national title, something a Big Ten team hasn't done in 25 years, to join it.
Previous Ranking: No. 2 (Up 1)
2024-25 Record: 30-7 (17-3 Big Ten), NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
Overall Record: 737-302 in 30 years at Michigan State
Izzo's place on this ranking shouldn't require much explanation. The legendary coach added another Big Ten title and deep NCAA Tournament run to his resume in 2024-25 -- that with far from the best team of his tenure. He and the Spartans continue to be the conference's standard.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Big Ten basketball head coach power ranking after 2024-25 season
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That doesn't mean it wasn't a successful season for the conference. Conference regular-season champion Michigan State made a run to the Elite Eight, while Michigan, Maryland and Purdue each fell in the Sweet 16. The conference still boasted some of the top teams in the sport, with the Spartans finishing at No. 7 in KenPom, Maryland at No. 10, Wisconsin at No. 12, Purdue at No. 15, Illinois at No. 17, UCLA at No. 21 and Michigan at No. 22.
Overall, it finished the year as the clear second-best conference in the sport, behind an SEC that broke records with its NCAA Tournament bids and success.
The Big Ten was defined by its depth in 2024-25. Only two games separated second-place Maryland (14-6) and eighth-place Oregon (12-8). The additions of former Pac-12 powers UCLA and Oregon played a major role in that becoming the reality.
As always, a group of top-tier head coaches were the driving force behind an impressive Big Ten Conference landscape. With a few familiar names still leading the way, here is an updated ranking of those coaches, complete with the conference's four new hires entering 2025-26.
18. Mike Rhoades (Penn State)
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Previous Ranking: No. 18 (No change)
2024-25 Record: 16-15 (6-14 Big Ten)
Overall Record: 208-145 -- 32-32 in two years at Penn State
Mike Rhoades and the Nittany Lions struggled in 2024-25, finishing alone in 17th place in the conference. An 8-1 start and early-season win over Purdue created expectations of a second-year breakthrough. Instead, the team finished with a nearly identical record as the year prior. Rhoades will need to start generating results in year three.
Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire
17. Danny Sprinkle (Washington)
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Previous Ranking: No. 14 (Down 3)
2024-25 Record: 13-18 (4-16 Big Ten)
Overall Record: 122-68 -- 13-18 in one year at Washington
Sprinkle faced a significant rebuild at Washington, which is seen in the team's finish at the bottom of the conference. His strong work over four years at Montana State and one at Utah State will continue to carry weight entering 2025-26. He and the Huskies will need to avoid another 4-16 season in Big Ten play, however.
Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire
16. Jake Diebler (Ohio State)
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Previous Ranking: No. 16 (No change)
2024-25 Record: 17-15 (9-11 Big Ten)
Overall Record: 25-18 in one-plus year at Ohio State
Ohio State was much better in 2024-25 than its final record indicates. It finished No. 37 in KenPom, easily of strong enough quality to make the NCAA Tournament. However, Diebler's overall track record falls far below most of his Big Ten counterparts. While he's done a fine job since taking over, it's hard not to wonder why Ohio State didn't conduct a full search after firing Chris Holtmann midway through last season.
Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire
15. Steve Pikiell (Rutgers)
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Previous Ranking: No. 15 (No change)
2024-25 Record: 15-17 (8-12 Big Ten)
Overall Record: 339-296 -- 147-140 in nine years at Rutgers
Rutgers recorded four consecutive winning seasons under Pikiell from 2019-20 to 2022-23. The last two years after that run have been a disappointment. 2024-25 was especially so, given the team's 15-17 overall record despite having two future top-five NBA draft picks in Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper.
14. Fred Hoiberg (Nebraska)
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Previous Ranking: No. 11 (Down 3)
2024-25 Record: 18-14 (7-13 Big Ten)
Overall Record: 196-164 -- 81-108 in six years at Nebraska
At the very least, Hoiberg is several tiers below his top-ranked salary would indicate. His top-end success at Iowa State has not translated to the Big Ten, as Nebraska has just one NCAA Tournament appearance in his six years at the helm (2023-24). The team was well on its way to a second this year before an incredible late-season collapse -- five consecutive losses, plus six in the team's last seven games. 2025-26 will be a big year as Hoiberg looks for a repeat of 2023-24.
Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire
13. Eric Musselman (USC)
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Previous Ranking: No. 7 (Down 6)
2024-25 Record: 17-17 (7-13 Big Ten)
Overall Record: 238-110 -- 17-17 in one year at USC
Musselman is the big faller in this year's power rankings. He took the USC job after terrific success at Arkansas, including two Elite Eight and a Sweet 16 trip from 2021-23, respectively. While time was likely needed to install his program and transition USC to a challenging Big Ten landscape, a 17-17 overall record and no NCAA Tournament appearance was a big disappointment. He'll need a strong transfer haul to reverse course entering 2025-26.
Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions on Trojans Wire
12. Niko Medved (Minnesota)
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Previous Ranking: N/A (New hire)
2024-25 Record (at Colorado State): 26-10 (16-4 Mountain West), NCAA Tournament second round
Overall Record: 222-173
Medved is the first of four new hires on this ranking. He is proven as a program-builder, with terrific success over seven years at Colorado State, including three NCAA Tournament appearances in the last four years. The experienced coach will have his hands full at Minnesota, unquestionably one of the tougher jobs in the conference.
11. Darian DeVries (Indiana)
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Previous Ranking: N/A (New hire)
2024-25 Record (at West Virginia): 19-13 (10-10 Big 12)
Overall Record: 169-68
DeVries joins a long list of coaches who take over at Indiana with expectations of a program resurgence. He brings a strong track record: a solid 2024-25 season at West Virginia after terrific success in six years at Drake. He won an average of 25 games per year with the Bulldogs, plus made three NCAA Tournament appearances in his final four years at the helm. It's Indiana, so DeVries shouldn't struggle with resources and brand recognition. If anything, he may struggle with the relentless top-end expectations.
10. Chris Collins (Northwestern)
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Previous Ranking: No. 9 (Down 1)
2024-25 Record: 17-16 (7-13 Big Ten)
Overall Record: 194-190 in 12 years at Northwestern
Chris Collins and Northwestern won't win at a high level -- it's Northwestern. However, there's an argument that Collins has the program operating at its absolute peak. It reached consecutive NCAA Tournaments in 2023 and 2024, plus it likely would have made another in 2025 had it not been for significant injuries to starting guards Jalen Leach and Brooks Barnhizer. This is a classic case of a coach doing a terrific job under challenging circumstances.
9. Ben McCollum (Iowa)
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Previous Ranking: N/A (New hire)
2024-25 Record (at Drake): 31-4 (17-3 Missouri Valley), NCAA Tournament second round
Overall Record: 31-4
Ben McCollum is a major name to watch entering the 2025-26 season. He won four D-II national titles at Northwest Missouri State before a breakthrough 2024-25 at the D-I level, leading Drake to a 31-4 overall record, conference title and NCAA Tournament berth. This slot is a bit of a projection, given McCollum's lack of power-conference experience. But his high-powered offense should be a seamless fit with the Hawkeyes program. Top transfer Bennett Stirtz also followed McCollum from Drake and could be one of the Big Ten's better players next season.
Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
8. Buzz Williams (Maryland)
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Previous Ranking: N/A (New hire)
2024-25 Record: 23-11 (11-7 SEC), NCAA Tournament second round
Overall Record: 373-228
Unlike McCollum, Williams has decades of major-conference experience at Marquette (2008-14), Virginia Tech (2014-19) and Texas A&M (2019-25). He made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances with the Aggies from 2023-25, though failed to make it out of the second weekend. He'll face a pretty major rebuild at Maryland with nearly Kevin Willard's entire 2024-25 team gone to the portal.
7. Mick Cronin (UCLA)
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Previous Ranking: No. 4 (Down 3)
2024-25 Record: 23-11 (13-7 Big Ten), NCAA Tournament second round
Overall Record: 503-235 -- 138-64 in six years at UCLA
Cronin and UCLA had a strong debut season in the Big Ten, finishing fourth in the conference regular-season standings. That season was a key bounce-back after a 16-17 2023-24 campaign. Cronin boasts recent top-end success, including a Final Four trip in 2021 and consecutive Sweet 16s in 2022 and 2023. His place at No. 7 has to do far more with the quality of coaches in the conference than any of his shortcomings.
Get more (UCLA) news, analysis and opinions on UCLA Wire
6. Brad Underwood (Illinois)
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Previous Ranking: No. 3 (Down 3)
2024-25 Record: 22-13 (12-8 Big Ten), NCAA Tournament second round
Overall Record: 274-128 -- 165-101 in eight years at Illinois
Illinois took a step back in 2024-25 after a program-best run from 2020-24. Still, the team finished with 20-plus wins, including one in the NCAA Tournament. Underwood and the Fighting Illini need a great offseason, however, with a meaningful chunk of the roster gone to the transfer portal or NBA draft.
5. Dana Altman (Oregon)
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Previous Ranking: No. 5 (No change)
2024-25 Record: 25-10 (12-8 Big Ten), NCAA Tournament second round
Overall Record: 780-405 -- 370-162 in 14 years at Oregon.
Altman has not won fewer than 20 games in any of his 14 seasons with the Ducks. That terrific run includes nine NCAA Tournament appearances (10 including the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season), five Sweet 16s, one Elite Eight and a Final Four in 2017. Oregon appears the best-equipped of any former Pac-12 power to succeed in the new Big Ten landscape. While the team may not capture a conference title, it can be written in for a perennial top-seven finish.
Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire
4. Dusty May (Michigan)
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Previous Ranking: No. 10 (Up 6)
2024-25 Record: 27-10 (14-6 Big Ten), NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
Overall Record: 153-79 -- 27-10 in one year at Michigan
Sometimes, recency bias is necessary. Dusty May took a Michigan program that went 8-24 in 2023-24 and took it to the brink of a Big Ten regular-season title, won the conference tournament, then reached the Sweet 16. That alone should warrant a position near the top of these rankings. His position is further bolstered by a Final Four run at FAU in 2023. The only real thing holding him back from a top-three position is a conference regular-season title.
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3. Greg Gard (Wisconsin)
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Previous Ranking: No. 6 (Up 3)
2024-25 Record: 27-10 (13-7 Big Ten), NCAA Tournament second round
Overall Record: 213-117 in 10 years at Wisconsin
Yes, Greg Gard and the Badgers have not reached the Sweet 16 since 2017. But since that time, they boast six 20-plus-win seasons and two conference titles. The team's form throughout the 2024-25 season should matter far more than its NCAA Tournament second-round loss to a strong BYU team. After stars Chucky Hepburn and A.J. Storr transferred out last offseason, Gard reloaded the roster, revamped the program's approach and delivered one of the best seasons of his tenure. Some of the March losses should not fool anyone into thinking Wisconsin is not one of the top programs in the conference, and Gard not one of the top coaches.
2. Matt Painter (Purdue)
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Previous Ranking: No. 1 (Down 1)
2024-25 Record: 24-12 (13-7 Big Ten), NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
Overall Record: 496-220 -- 471-215 in 20 years at Purdue
Matt Painter is arguably one of the top three coaches in the entire sport. But since Purdue took a minor step back this season after losing star center Zach Edey to the NBA, he dropped slightly from the No. 1 position. Painter and the conference's current top coach create an exclusive tier, where another coach may have to win a national title, something a Big Ten team hasn't done in 25 years, to join it.
1. Tom Izzo (Michigan State)
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Previous Ranking: No. 2 (Up 1)
2024-25 Record: 30-7 (17-3 Big Ten), NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
Overall Record: 737-302 in 30 years at Michigan State
Izzo's place on this ranking shouldn't require much explanation. The legendary coach added another Big Ten title and deep NCAA Tournament run to his resume in 2024-25 -- that with far from the best team of his tenure. He and the Spartans continue to be the conference's standard.
Get more (Michigan State) news, analysis and opinions on Spartans Wire
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Big Ten basketball head coach power ranking after 2024-25 season
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