Minnesota men's basketball viewed as bottom five job in Big Ten
Over recent weeks, The Field of 68 has been releasing rankings of every job in every league across the country, by polling anonymous veteran coaches in each conference. Those being polled are both head coaches and assistant coaches.
On Tuesday, the Big Ten basketball job rankings were released, and the Minnesota men’s basketball head coaching position is not viewed highly by its peers.
According to 20 Big Ten coaches, the Minnesota job is considered a bottom-five job in the Big Ten. Out of 18 programs in the Big Ten, Minnesota ranked 15th, with a healthy gap between the Gophers at No. 15 and Iowa at No. 14.
Minnesota received 96 voting points in the poll, notably 40 more than Northwestern at No. 16 (56), followed by Rutgers at No. 17 (46) and Penn State at No. 18 (28).
Currently, Minnesota is 10-10 in its first season under head coach Niko Medved, including 3-6 in conference play. The Gophers have lost each of their last five games, including a 76-57 loss to Nebraska over the weekend, and will face the Wisconsin Badgers on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. CT in Madison.
How do coaches view the Big Ten jobs?
Notably, the voting provides a quality tiering of the Big Ten jobs as well, based on points received. While not a perfect way to tier the jobs themselves, it provides a strong baseline.
The schools at the top of the conference will be no surprise.
Leading the way is Michigan at No. 1, receiving eight first-place votes and 322 total voting points. Indiana is ranked second with 320 points and four first-place votes, while Michigan State is ranked third, although they hold the same number of points and first-place votes.
Illinois is ranked fourth with 306 total voting points, Purdue fifth with 282 and two first-place votes, and UCLA sixth with 268 total points and two first-place votes.
The second tier of programs starts at No. 7 with Ohio State receiving 234 points, followed by Oregon in eighth with 210, Wisconsin in ninth with 190, and Maryland ranked tenth with 184.
The third tier consists of just two schools, Washington at the 11th spot with 166 points, and USC ranked 12th with 140.
The fourth tier consists of No. 13 Nebraska with 126 points, No. 14 Iowa with 120, and No. 15 Minnesota with 96.
The final tier of schools is Northwestern, ranked 16th with 56 points, Rutgers at No. 17 with 46, and Penn State at No. 18 with 28.
BIG TEN JOB RANKINGS:
1. Michigan – 322 (8)
2. Indiana – 320 (4)
3. Michigan State – 320 (4)
4. Illinois – 306
5. Purdue – 282 (2)
6. UCLA – 268 (2)
7. Ohio State – 234
8. Oregon – 210
9. Wisconsin – 190
10. Maryland – 184
11. Washington – 166
12. USC – 140
13. Nebraska – 126
14. Iowa – 120
15. Minnesota – 96
16. Northwestern – 56
17. Rutgers – 46
18. Penn State – 28
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