How the Players Era tournament impacted Big Ten men's basketball rankings

Purdue press conference: Matt Painter on win over Eastern Illinois The Boilermakers coach on Daniel Jacobsen's all-around performance, the early turnovers, Fletcher Loyer's efficiency, Gicarri Harris and more. Purdue, Michigan, and Michigan State have established themselves as the top three frontrunners in the Big Ten.Seven to eight teams are considered legitimate contenders for the NCAA tournament as league play begins.The bottom half of the conference has struggled, with several teams suffering significant losses in early season tournaments. The Big Ten picture began to thicken as November closed, with contenders and tournament hopefuls beginning to come into focus just as the bottom of...