(BIG TEN) – The Big Ten is the first conference to ever have nine teams ranked in three different Associated Press (AP) polls in a single season. With this week’s rankings, the Big Ten has had nine programs ranked in the AP poll four times, first achieved on Dec. 2, 2024, and is the only conference to have nine ranked teams since 1996. UCLA came in at No. 4, followed by No. 8 Maryland, No. 9 Michigan, No. 14 Iowa, No. 15 Michigan State, No. 19 Ohio State, No. 21 USC, No. 23 Washington and No. 25 Nebraska. Illinois received votes.
- With more than a week of Big Ten games in the books, Iowa and UCLA sit atop the conference standings at 4-0. Six teams are currently tied with a 3-1 mark – Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin.
- Washington’s Avery Howell was tabbed as one of five Ann Meyers Drysdale National Players of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) on Tuesday. Howell led the Huskies to an upset win over No. 6 Michigan with 22 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. She also tied for the team lead with 23 points against Northwestern and added five rebounds and three steals.
- UCLA’s Lauren Betts was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Monday, which included games from Dec. 22-Jan. 4. Betts averaged 20.3 points and 11.7 rebounds in a trio of victories for No. 4 UCLA. She finished with 18 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and three blocks at No. 19 Ohio State and added 25 points, seven boards and two helpers against Penn State. The senior notched a double-double (18 points, 12 rebounds) with four assists, three blocks and two steals versus crosstown rival No. 17 USC.
- Illinois’ Cearah Parchment earned her second Big Ten Freshman of the Week laurel after putting up 14 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two assists while going 10-for-11 at the charity stripe at Purdue. She tallied 17 points, eight rebounds, three steals and three blocks to help take down No. 7 Maryland.
- The Big Ten currently leads all Division I conferences in assists (17.1 apg), three-point field goal percentage (.339) and free throw percentage (.730), while ranking second in field goal percentage (.462) and scoring (78.0 ppg).
- Through games on Jan. 5, the Big Ten boasts eight teams in the top 25 and 12 in the top 50 of the NCAA’s NET Rankings, the top marks among all conferences. UCLA paces the Big Ten contingent at No. 2, followed by No. 6 Michigan, No. 8 Michigan State, No. 11 Maryland, No. 14 Iowa, No. 15 Minnesota, No. 16 Nebraska, No. 22 USC, No. 26 Oregon, No. 30 Ohio State, No. 31 Washington and No. 34 Illinois.
- Eight programs made an appearance in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)/USA Today Top 25 poll – No. 4 UCLA, No. 8 Maryland, No. 9 Michigan, No. 14 Iowa, No. 15 Michigan State, No. 19 Ohio State, No. 21 USC and No. 23 Washington. Nebraska, Illinois and Oregon garnered votes.
- The Big Ten has multiple individuals leading the country in statistical categories, including Northwestern’s Carolina Lau with 9.0 assists per game and Penn State’s Gracie Merkle in field goal percentage (.747). Ohio State’s Kennedy Cambridge’s steals per game (4.20) ranks second nationally.
- Offensive production continues to be the calling card of the Big Ten Conference. The league has eight teams ranked in the top 25 in field goal percentage – Nebraska (6th – .514), UCLA (7th – .510), Michigan State (8th – .504), Iowa (10th – .499), Maryland (13th – .485), Michigan (16th – .479), Indiana (21st – .475) and Oregon (24th – .471).
- Sharing the rock comes naturally for the Big Ten with seven teams featured in the top 25 rankings for assists per game, including three in the top 10 – UCLA (3rd – 22.3), Iowa (5th – 21.5), Michigan State (8th – 20.3), Nebraska (14th – 19.3), Ohio State (19th – 18.6), Northwestern (24th – 18.2) and Oregon (25th – 18.2).
- The Big Ten has posted a 169-32 (.841) combined record in non-conference play, which ranks second behind the SEC (195-24, .890) and ahead of the Big 12 (156-38, .804) and ACC (144-71, .670).
- Illinois upset No. 7 Maryland, 73-70, for its highest ranked win over a Big Ten opponent in program history and first victory over the Terrapins in Champaign.
- Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick earned her 250th win of her career as her Spartans took down Illinois, 81-75.
- Wisconsin erased a 21-point deficit to defeat Rutgers, 70-63. It was the second-largest comeback win in Badger history and tied for the seventh-largest comeback victory in Big Ten history.
- The 2025-26 season will be the final ride for storied Northwestern head coach Joe McKeown, who announced on March 24 that he intends to retire at the conclusion of season. McKeown is the longest-tenured and winningest head women’s basketball coach in Northwestern history. This is his 18th season in Evanston and his 40th season overall as a head coach.
- Each Big Ten institution will play an 18-game conference schedule for the seventh time in eight seasons. During the conference season, each program will play one school both home and away, while facing 16 teams once. Of the single-play opponents, institutions will face eight at home and eight on the road.
